The Mount hopes to start the program in January, 2026.
Emmitsburg, Md (KM) There’s some good news for Mount Saint Mary’s University. Its physician assistant program received provisional accreditation from the commission which oversees PA education the country. “Physician assistants, or PA’s, are national certified state-licensed health care professionals. And we practice medicine as part of the health care team with physicians and other providers and oftentimes people will see a PA as their clinician That’s the only person in that encounter,” says Mary Jackson, the Director of the Physician Assistant program at the Mount.
Physician assistants can diagnose illnesses, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, work in every medical specialty and serve as professional health care providers.
Jackson says the program is located within the town of Emmitsburg. “We are in partnership with the Daughters of Charity,” she says. “Located right in Emmitsburg, we are renting space. And we have 20,000-ish square feet that has been renovated in one of the wings of the Daughters of Charity facility there.”
She says the renovations have resulted in a state-of-the-art facility for students who want to be physician assistants. “We have a simulation laboratory. We have a clinical skills lab. We have a beautiful lecture hall. Lots of natural light in the building. Lots of space for education and learning. And spaces for individual and group learning as well,” says Jackson.
The 24-month program will start in January, 2026. “The first year of the program is the didactic phase where students are largely in the classroom . They’re in the lab with us learning all of the foundational skills and knowledge that they’ll need. In the second year, In the clinical phase., they go off on clinical rotation through ten rotating with our local clinical affiliates,” says Jackson.
The students eventually earn a Master of Medical Science degree, and the ability to sit for the National PA certification exam.
The physician assistant job is expected to grow by 28 percent through 2033. “There is a large physician shortage. And in the midst of this physician shortage, we have escalating need for health care services and access to health care. Physician assistants are one type of clinician that can help fill those gaps,” she says.
Applications for the 42 seats in the Mount’s physician assistant program will be accepted through August 1st. Jackson says each of the applicants will be interviewed during September.
To apply for the program, go on line to https://caspa.liaisonca.com/. For more information on the program, go to at https://msmary.edu/academics/graduate-
school/master-of-medical-science-physician-assistant/admissions.html.
By Kevin McManus