Message from the Director
These are transformative times at Morehouse School of Medicine (MSM) as we continue to advance our Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program. We invite you to explore our website to learn more about joining one of the nation’s most dynamic, respected, and rapidly evolving healthcare professions.
Today, there are more than 300 accredited PA programs in the United States and over 175,000 certified PAs practicing nationwide. The PA profession—now officially titled Physician Associate/Physician Assistant—continues to experience sustained growth and national recognition for its impact on healthcare delivery, access, and quality. Consistently ranked among the top healthcare careers by U.S. News & World Report, the profession reflects strong demand, competitive compensation, and meaningful opportunities to serve diverse populations across all medical and surgical specialties.
Established more than 55 years ago, the PA profession was created to expand access to high-quality medical care by working in collaboration with physicians and other healthcare professionals. Today, PAs practice in every state and across every specialty area, improving patient outcomes and helping to address provider shortages—particularly in rural, urban underserved, and historically marginalized communities. PAs are educated in the medical model and are licensed clinicians who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as primary care providers.
In alignment with MSM’s mission to advance health equity and improve the health and well-being of individuals and communities, our PA Program prepares culturally responsive, clinically excellent, and community-focused healthcare leaders. Members of the MSM Executive Leadership Team strategically established the program to help increase the diversity of the healthcare workforce and strengthen care delivery in underserved communities throughout Georgia and beyond. Our students are trained to meet evolving healthcare demands while championing social justice, health equity, and patient-centered care.
The MSM PA Program emphasizes interprofessional education (IPE) and collaborative practice as foundational components of training. Learners engage alongside medical students, public health scholars, biomedical researchers, and other health professions trainees to foster teamwork, communication, and systems-based practice. Evidence continues to demonstrate that interprofessional education improves patient safety, enhances care coordination, increases productivity, and better prepares graduates for real-world healthcare environments.
As MSM builds upon its rich legacy of excellence, innovation, and service, the continued growth and success of the PA Program reflect our commitment to shaping the future of healthcare. By educating and training Physician Associates/Assistants as advanced clinical practitioners and servant leaders, we cultivate a transformative synergy—one that expands access, advances equity, and strengthens communities.
We invite you to continue exploring our website to learn more about the PA profession and the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta.
Pangela H. Dawson, Ph.D., MSPAS, PA-C
Founding Associate Deean, Department Chair, Program Director
Physician Assistant Studies
Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Success is the progressive realization of a worthy idea.
-Earl Nightingale