MGH Institute of Health Professions proposes to add new MPAS program

MGH Institute of Health Professions plans to add a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program to its menu of health professions degrees beginning in May 2015.

The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education recently approved the Boston graduate school's application to grant the two-year degree.

Building on its success over the last 36 years of preparing health care leaders, the MGH Institute created the MPAS program to complement its existing suite of post-baccalaureate degree programs in physical therapy, speech-language pathology, and occupational therapy in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences (SHRS), as well as several programs in the School of Nursing.

The 25-month, full-time MPAS program will provide students with the knowledge and skills necessary to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant. Under the supervision of a licensed physician, physician assistants diagnose and treat a wide range of acute and chronic conditions, counsel and educate patients, prescribe medications, and perform low- and high-tech procedures in both inpatient and outpatient settings.

"Our new Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree is designed for the person who wants to become a physician assistant leader, contributing to the future growth of the profession and the well-being of the public," said SHRS Dean Leslie Portney, PT, DPT, PhD, FAPTA.

Program Director Lisa K. Walker, PA-C, MPAS, a clinician and educator with more than 15 years of experience in the field, noted, "The opportunities for interprofessional education at the Institute combined with training in the nation's pre-eminent healthcare institutions in the greater Boston area will offer a unique educational experience for our students. Graduates of the PA program will be highly effective members of the health care team, prepared to meet the needs of patients and employers in a variety of settings."

Employment for physician assistants, who perform many of the same duties as a physician, is among the fastest-growing sectors of the economy. Forbes lists physician assistants as the third best masters degree to have, while CNN/Money.com in 2013 ranked physician assistants as the 21st best job in the country.

The median mid-career salary for a physician assistant is more than $96,000. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the field is projected to grow by 30% over the next 10 years - much faster than the average for all professions.

Upon completing the program, graduates will be eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), and become a licensed physician assistant.