submitted by paprog@augsburg.edu
Following approval by the School of Health Faculty, UCAP, the Faculty Senate, and the Board of Regents, Augsburg’s PA program has officially undergone a name change from the Physician Assistant Program to the Physician Associate Program. This change brings together the Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies and Doctor of Medical Science degrees into a combined Department of Physician Associate Medicine in the School of Health.
The name change aligns Augsburg’s programs with the professional title adopted nationally by the PA profession—a shift that aims to more accurately reflect PAs’ scope of practice, credentials, and role in delivering high-quality health care. The change will ensure consistency with professional standards and accreditation, while positioning Augsburg to support broader efforts across the state to modernize PA terminology in legislation and public understanding.