Physician Assistants are health professionals who practice medicine as members of a team with their supervising physicians. PAs deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services to diverse populations in rural and urban settings. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, they conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and prescribe medications.

Because of their close working relationship with physicians, physician assistants are educated in the medical model designed to complement physician training. Upon graduation, physician assistants take a national certification examination developed by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

The primary mission of the Mississippi College Physician Assistant Program is to prepare physician assistants to provide primary health care services in medically underserved areas of Mississippi and surrounding states. Secondary missions are to prepare graduates for roles in surgery and as hospitalists.  Students are assigned to faculty mentored learning teams. Problem Based Learning, Team Based Learning, Lecture, Objective Structured Clinical Experiences, Lab Exercises and Supervised Clinical Experiences supported by technologic innovation and service are just a few strategies used to achieve this mission. The program encourages scholarship, is responsive to changing health care and societal needs, facilitates personal and professional growth and promotes life-long learning.

The program is now accepting applications.