Physician Assistant Studies Specialized Tracks

Rural Health Care Track

Applicable to current students only (see course syllabus for full details)

Pacific University graduates are more than twice as likely to work in rural areas or medically underserved communities than their counterparts nationally. In support of its students and in the spirit of its mission to provide primary healthcare to the underserved, the Pacific University School of Physician Assistant Studies has developed the Rural Health Care Track (RHCT).

During their first year, physician assistant students will be invited to apply to be a member of the RHCT. The RHCT is designed to better prepare students who plan to work in rural locations, particularly in Oregon and Hawai‘i. The RHCT students will be selected through a separate admission process which will include an application and an in-person interview to evaluate the applicant's commitment to practicing in an underserved community.

RHCT students' interest in rural medicine will be nurtured through several structured opportunities during their physician assistant education. During the didactic phase of the curriculum, the RHCT cohort will participate in additional small group sessions to better prepare them to work in a rural setting. In the clinical phase, the RHCT students will complete their 12-week family medicine rotation and up to 2 additional 6-week rotations in a rural community. The students will live in the rural community and will be encouraged to be actively involved in the community during their stay. RHCT students will also complete a graduate project which focuses on a rural health or rural community topic. If you are interested in practicing in rural and medically underserved areas, we hope you will apply to be part of this exciting program at Pacific University.

Global Health Care Track

Applicable to current students only (see course syllabus for full details)

In the spirit of our mission, values, and vision to mentor students to provide high-quality health care to a globally diverse community, the School of PA Studies has developed the Global Health Care Track (GHCT). 

During their first year, physician assistant students will be invited to apply for membership in the GHCT. The GHCT is designed to better prepare students who plan to work with globally diverse patients, both locally and abroad. The GHCT students will be selected through a process which includes an application and an in-person interview to evaluate the applicant's commitment to advocating for patient-centered, culturally appropriate, and accessible care.

GHCT students' interest in global health will be nurtured through several structured opportunities during their physician assistant education. During the didactic phase of the curriculum, the GHCT cohort will participate in additional interprofessional global health courses and small group sessions, to better prepare them to work in global/local settings. During the clinical phase, the GHCT students will complete one of their 6-week Primary Care rotations in an international or global/local community. GHCT students will also complete a graduate project which focuses on a global health topic. If you are interested in serving a diverse global population, we hope you will apply to be part of this exciting program at Pacific University.