Thiel College physician assistant program director has Op-Ed published in regional newspaper

GREENVILLE, Pa.-- Thiel College Physician Assistant Program Director, Associate Professor of physician assistant studies and a clinically practicing PA James E. Tkacik had an opinion piece celebrating National Physician Assistant Week published in The Meadville Tribune on Wednesday.

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In the piece, Tkacik discusses the projected expansion of the profession, citing the more than 168,318 PAs who are working across the country, and the expected growth of more than 30 percent in the next 10 years. National Physician Assistant week continues through Oct. 12.

• Learn more about National Physician Assistant Week.

He also mentions Thiel College’s role in that anticipated growth. Thiel College graduated its first cohort of Master of Science in physician assistant studies in August and currently has more students in its second and third cohorts. These students will join the more than 11,000 PAs providing high-quality health care in Pennsylvania.

PA students complete approximately 2,000 hours of clinical rotations in a range of specialties, including family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, general surgery, emergency medicine and psychiatry.

The piece also mentions two Thiel College PA students.

“I chose to be a PA because of the numerous opportunities to help others. Being a PA allows for forming deep, genuine connections with your patients while changing lives,” first-year PA student Sophia Antonopoulos said.

PAs are well-positioned to treat our nation’s most vulnerable populations, including those in rural and underserved communities, which also appealed to one of the college’s students.

“I chose the PA profession to have the ability to positively impact underserved communities via primary care services,” first-year PA student Kalissa Krapf said.

Thiel’s innovative program features two distinct paths to earn a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.

• Read more about the physician assistant studies program.

Path 1 is for motivated high school seniors who can enroll in the accelerated five-year program. Students will earn a traditional four-year bachelor’s degree and continue at Thiel for a fifth year to complete the master's degree program.

Path 2 is for students who have already completed a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Science degree and wish to attain a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Thiel College.

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