For more information contact:
Email: paadm@gwumc.edu
Phone: (202) 994-7644

Physician Assistant Program

Welcome

On behalf of the faculty, staff and students of The George Washington University Physician Assistant Program, I would like to welcome you to our website. The site is designed to serve those interested in applying to the Program, to assist the current students in the Program, to update the alumni on Program activities and to provide an overview for all other interested parties.

The George Washington University was chartered as "Columbian College" in 1821. Since George Washington himself provided an endowment to establish the college, the name was changed in 1904 to The George Washington University. The School of Medicine opened in 1825 and is the 11th oldest medical school in the United States. The Physician Assistant Program began in 1972, was one of the first in the nation to be established in an academic medical center, and has graduated over 1500 PAs.

The Program is situated in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood in the northwest section of the nation's capital. The School of Medicine and Health Sciences is housed in Ross Hall where the primary classroom for PA students can be found. The faculty offices are located on the sixth floor of the George Washington University Hospital immediately adjacent to Ross Hall.

The entire sixth floor of the George Washington University Hospital is dedicated to clinical education. In addition to classrooms and conference rooms, the facility has 12 clinic rooms that are fully equipped to record students interviewing and examining Standardized Patients. This educational unit also houses a Surgical Training Suite with highly sophisticated mannequins. The educational facility provides a whole new dimension to PA student education.

The George Washington University Physician Assistant Program is a special place to learn. The Program has a student-friendly faculty and staff, and a strong respect for students as learners. The Program has a "can do” attitude, in that there is a total commitment to each and every student successfully completing the Program.

Achievements of the Program include full accreditation (2001-2008) by the Accreditation Review Commission for Physician Assistants. Graduates of the Program have been highly successful in passing the PA National Certifying Examination (PANCE) with scores well above the national means. Most importantly, GW graduates are highly regarded health care professionals on the regional and national level. In 2007, the GW Program is ranked as tied for fourth in the Nation by U.S. News and World Report. 

The GW PA student body has a strong tradition of contributing to the profession and the community at several different levels. Locally, the students are actively involved in community service in the greater Washington DC area. As one example, the students participate in special clinics for the homeless and the underserved. Cultural competence is an important ingredient in the student’s overall education. Regionally the students are involved in the professional activities of the District of Columbia Academy of Physician Assistants, the Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants and the Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants. In addition, the Program faculty and staff are very proud of the GW PA student teams who have won the Southeast Regional Medical Challenge Bowl on four occasions’ in the past six years. On the national level, the students are involved in the Student Assembly of Representatives and the Graduate House of Delegates of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). At a recent annual AAPA conference, The George Washington University Physician Assistant Program Student Society was recognized by the Student Academy of the AAPA as the Outstanding Student Society of the Year.

I hope the information on the website is helpful to you. If you have any questions or suggestions please don't hesitate to call or to send an email.