title: Accreditation and implications of clinical postgraduate PA training programs.
abstract: No consensus definition exists for postgraduate physician assistant (PA) training. This report from the AAPA Task Force on Accreditation of Postgraduate PA Training Programs describes the types of clinical training programs and their effects on hiring and compensation of PAs. Although completing a postgraduate program appears to have no effect on compensation, PAs who complete these programs may be favored in the hiring process and frequently report greater confidence in their skills. More research is needed and program accreditation is key to monitoring the effectiveness of these programs.
authors.affiliation: Sobia S. Hussaini is instructor and director of academic practice partnerships for Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, N.C. Reamer L. Bushardt is professor and chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies, professor of internal medicine, and professor and program leader in the Clinical Translational Science Institute at Wake Forest School of Medicine, and editor-in-chief of JAAPA. His clinical specialty is internal medicine. Wanda C. Gonsalves is professor and vice chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington, Ky., and a member of the board of directors of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Her clinical specialty is family medicine. Virginia O. Hilton is director of the Norwalk/Yale PA Surgical Residency at Norwalk (Conn.) Hospital and past president of the Association of Postgraduate PA Programs. Her clinical specialty is general surgery. Brad J. Hornberger is a faculty associate in the Department of Urology and director of the PA urology residency program at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. His clinical specialty is urology. Frank A. Labagnara practices at W.G. Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, N.C., and is director of medical education and a professor in the Department of Family Medicine at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Va. His clinical specialty is family medicine. Kevin M. O'Hara is an assistant professor in the PA program at Yale School of Medicine in New Haven, Conn., and a member of the AAPA's Commission on Continuing Professional Development and Education. His clinical specialties are internal medicine and infectious diseases. Cody Sasek is an assistant professor and academic director of the PA program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, Neb. His clinical specialties are orthopedics and emergency medicine. Benjamin J. Smith practices at McIntosh Clin
authors.forename: Sobia S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Hussaini
authors.forename: Reamer L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Bushardt
authors.forename: Wanda C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Gonsalves
authors.forename: Virginia O
authors.initials: VO
authors.lastname: Hilton
authors.forename: Brad J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Hornberger
authors.forename: Frank A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Labagnara
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: OʼHara
authors.forename: Cody
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sasek
authors.forename: Benjamin J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Jennifer S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D004500:Education, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education*