Hawai'i Outreach Initiative

Applicable to applicants from Hawai‘i only.

Pacific University has a long standing history with students from Hawai‘i and would like to extend that relationship to our School of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies. We are committed to addressing the physician assistant workforce issues in Hawai‘i.

The Hawai‘i Outreach Initiative is both an admissions opportunity as well as a clinical rotation priority in the state of Hawai’i. In order to show our commitment to Hawai’i, we will extend invitations to interview to the top five scoring Hawai’i Outreach applicants each year. While this does not guarantee admission, it is an acknowledgment of our dedication to Hawai‘i and the changing needs of the Islands.

In order to qualify for the Hawai’i Outreach Initiative, a prospective student must have a strong connection to Hawai’i and have active plans to return to the islands to practice as a PA. The strong connection may be shown by one or more of the following: current address, permanent address, high school diploma, college diploma, driver’s license, or Native Hawaiian ancestry.

If students from Hawai‘i are admitted to the program they will complete their didactic phase in Hillsboro, Oregon, with the rest of the incoming class. Students in the Hawai‘i Outreach Initiative will have preference for the available clinical rotations in Hawai‘i. Rotations are subject to availability. Pacific University continually seeks out rotation sites in Hawai‘i which will provide students with quality experiences and networking opportunities.

There is no separate application for the Hawai‘i Outreach Initiative. Students are initially identified through their application materials and their stated commitment, on the Supplemental Application, to return to Hawai‘i following graduation to work as a PA. Please contact Graduate Admissions if you have any questions.

Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program

If you are Native Hawaiian and interested in serving in medically underserved areas in Hawai'i after graduation, you might be interested in the following program. The Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP) addresses access to health care by developing a Native Hawaiian health care workforce of professionals committed to serve the unique health needs of Hawaiian communities. The program recruits and nurtures professionals in-training for primary health care disciplines and specialties most needed to deliver quality, culturally competent health services to Native Hawaiians throughout the State of Hawai‘i. Please visit their website for details and deadlines as they are not affiliated with Pacific University.