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Marshall University Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine
Marshall University physician assistant program receives $ 1.5 million for rural training
The physician assistant ( PA ) program at the Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine has received a $ 1.46 million grant from the United States Health Resources and Services Administration to enhance the rural training experience of every PA student at Marshall University .
The five-year grant will support the addition of a four-week rural primary care rotation requirement that may be completed at a site affiliated with Lincoln Primary Care Center in Southern West Virginia or Pleasant Valley Hospital in Point Pleasant , with the option of an additional four-week rotation at the other site .
“ We prioritize training that prepares students to meet the unique healthcare needs of Appalachia and hope they will decide to stay in West Virginia after they complete their training ,” said PA Program Director Ginger R . Boles , MS , PA-C , who serves as principal investigator on the project . “ The hands-on learning that will happen through this grant ensures a well-rounded PA training program and helps our students hone a love for rural medicine in a real-world environment .”
Lincoln Primary Care Center and Pleasant Valley Hospital will also benefit from access to additional equipment , including portable ultrasound scanners and simulators , software , guest lectures , and other supplies through the grant .
The PA program was established in 2018 and is provisionally accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant , Inc . Its first class began in January 2021 and will complete the 28-month program in May 2023 .
Image : Marshall University ’ s physician assistant class of 2023 following its white coat ceremony in 2021 . The class began clinical training earlier this year .
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