Meeting the Accreditation Standard for Diversity

Jennifer Snyder; Karen Hills; Lisa Alexander; Michel Statler; Howard Straker; Jonathan Bowser; Elizabeth Alesbury

doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000488

Meeting the Accreditation Standard for Diversity

J Physician Assist Educ. 2023 Mar 1;34(1):46-53. doi: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000488. Epub 2023 Jan 23.

Authors

Jennifer Snyder^{1

2

3

4

5

6

7}, Karen Hills^{1

2

3

4

5

6

7}, Lisa Alexander^{1

2

3

4

5

6

7}, Michel Statler^{1

2

3

4

5

6

7}, Howard Straker^{1

2

3

4

5

6

7}, Jonathan Bowser^{1

2

3

4

5

6

7}, Elizabeth Alesbury^{1

2

3

4

5

6

7}

Affiliations

¹ Jennifer A. Snyder, PhD, PA-C, is a professor and associate dean for the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana.
² Karen Hills, MS, PA-C, is chief, educational development, for the PA Education Association in Washington, DC.
³ Lisa Alexander EdD, MPH, PA-C, is a professor and the director of the PA Programme at the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in Dublin, Ireland.
⁴ Michel Statler, MLA, PA-C, is an associate professor for the Physician Assistant Department at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas.
⁵ Howard Straker, EdD, MPH, PA-C, is an assistant professor and director of the Joint Degree PA/MPH Program, Department of PA Studies, School of Medicine & Health Sciences, at George Washington University in Washington, DC.
⁶ Jonathan Bowser, MS, PA-C, is an associate professor and director of the Child Health Associate/ Physician Assistant Program as well as associate dean of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Program in Aurora, Colorado.
⁷ Elizabeth Alesbury, BA, is the editorial director for the PA Education Association in Washington, DC.

PMID: 36727713
DOI: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000488

Abstract

While increasing diversity has been an ongoing concern in physician assistant (PA) education, there is now a concentrated focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice, elevating these to top priorities. To achieve the goal of diversifying the PA workforce, PA programs, with their institution's support, must systematically inculcate strategies for overcoming and dismantling barriers against students of color and students underrepresented in medicine (URiM). These strategies should disrupt the status quo and expand structural processes that ensure successful diversification of students, especially URiM students, LGBTQ students, students from medically underserved areas, and first-generation college students.

MeSH terms

Accreditation
Cultural Diversity
Humans
Minority Groups / education
Physician Assistants* / education
Students, Medical*
Workforce