Physician assistant program officials are interviewing 300 applicants, which is 140 more than they interviewed last year.
The interviews will take place the week of Sept. 12.
The PA program was created in 2013 and will accept its second class of 36 students in January.
Dr. Daniel McNeill, clinical professor and director of the PA program, said he thinks the increase is due to OCU offering more than other PA programs.
“We built this program, beginning in 2013, to make it special and exceptional,” McNeill said. “We offer things that are not offered to that extent in other PA programs, like an emphasis on the humanities, charitable care and medical practice management.”
The program’s outreach to out-of-state students has been successful and should continue to improve.
“About 25 percent of our students are from out of state, so that’s pretty good, given that last year we weren’t even accredited, and now we are,” McNeill said.
With the PA program, students are able to spend 28 straight months after college preparing for a job that is well paid and easy to find, he said. Most of the students even have a job before they graduate.
PA programs are in increasing demand nationwide and were recognized as the No. 1 master’s degree for jobs by Forbes.com.
Taylor Henderson, first year PA student, said, although the PA program is selective, the purpose is to benefit each student.
“The PA program has allowed me to meet lifelong friends and build firm professional relationships with leaders of the PA profession, as well as the top practitioners of varying specialties,” she said.
“There is nothing greater than studying alongside your best friends and having the support of the program faculty and local practitioners in all that you strive to accomplish. I know that the professional and personal relationships I have built will continue to push me to attain a successful career as a PA in the near future.”
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