title: The evolution of PAs in the Canadian Armed Forces.
abstract: This study documents the growing role of the physician assistant (PA) in the Canadian Armed Forces. PAs have served as the backbone of the Royal Canadian Medical Services' frontline medical operations since 1984, on land, aboard ships and submarines, and domestically in garrison. Candidates begin as medical technicians and receive advanced training to become PAs at midcareer. The current rank of PAs as warrant officers is evolving and a commissioned status is under consideration.
authors.affiliation: Jonathan Mertens is a senior physician assistant aboard the Royal Canadian Navy's HMCS Montréal out of Halifax, Nova Scotia. Marc Descoteaux is a senior physician assistant at the Royal Canadian Air Force's Canadian Forces Health Services Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mertens
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Descoteaux
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods*; D008889:Military Personnel; D010823:Physician Assistants