Our physician assistant program takes place in two phases: didactic and clinical. Your first 12 months is spent in the classroom on the Vermillion campus learning important medical concepts necessary to succeed. During the final 12 months, you will gain supervised clinical experience from licensed physicians and physician assistant preceptors in a number of clinical areas ranging from family medicine to surgery to emergency medicine.<br>Physician assistants (PAs) play an essential role on the health care team. These advanced health care practitioners practice in all areas of medicine, diagnosing injuries or illnesses, creating treatment plans, prescribing medications, researching treatments and ensuring high quality patient care.<br><br>As a physician assistant student at USD, you will gain the training, flexibility and agility needed to deliver the highest quality care to your patients. Our program offers a variety of strengths, including an evidence-based approach to patient care, curriculum that centers compassion in the health care setting, and an emphasis on primary care in rural populations. Plus, as a student in the state's only comprehensive health sciences, you'll have the opportunity to learn collaboratively with students in a variety of health sciences disciplines uniquely preparing you to succeed on the health care team. Over the course of 24 months, you'll take your learning from the classroom to the clinical setting, gaining supervised clinical experience from licensed physicians and physician assistant preceptors in a number of clinical areas.