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12 of 15 new physician assistants plan practice in Alaska

August 23rd 8:42 pm | Alaska Newspapers Staff Print this article   Email this article   Create a Shortlink for this article

Twelve of 15 new graduates of the University of Alaska Anchorage's first physician assistant program, including Katie Copps-Wilson of the Levelock/Naknek area, and Cordella Sewall of Kodiak, say they plan to work in Alaska.

Even Evanson of Cordova, another of the graduates, has not yet decided where to work, but others planning to stay in Alaska include Jennifer Amstadter, Heather Burnell, and Jennifer Davis, all of Anchorage; Jannelle Dupuis, Washington State; Laura Luebke, eagle River; Neil Nardini, Palmer; Megan Rolinger, Chugiak; Donna Strigle, Fairbanks; Michelle Graham Traver, Colorado; and Morwenna Unger, Canada.

Margaret Walker, of Washington State, said she plans to practice in Washington, but Bradley Newhart, also of Washington, has not yet indicated where he plans to work.

PAs are licensed health care professionals who practice medicine with physician supervision. They do physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery and can write prescriptions in all 50 states.

In many cases, a PA may be the only health care provider for hundreds of miles, UAA officials noted.

For this reason, Alaska's PA students take a veterinary medicine workshop so they are able to provide care to ill or injured animals when no other medical options are available. PAs may work autonomously in remote locations, but have around the clock access to their collaborative physician by phone, in addition to monthly site visits.

The 15 students received their physician assistant certificates from the University of Washington School of Medicine in ceremonies in Anchorage on Aug. 18. They are also eligible to earn bachelor of science degrees in ehalth sciences from UAA. Upon successful completion of the program, they are eligible to sit for the national certifying exam for physician assistants.

The program, through the MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program, is a collaborative partnership between the University of Washington School of Medicine and UAA. The program's flagship site is in Seattle, with locations in Spokane, Yakima and now Anchorage.

 

Alaska Newspapers Staff can be reached at editor@alaskanewspapers.com, or by phone at 907-348-2449

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