Physician Assistant Program

Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University (LKSOM) has continued its history of excellence in medical education to deliver a Physician Assistant (PA) training program which will lead to a Master of Medical Science degree (MMS). Predictions of physician workforce shortages have led to innovation in medical practice design and the call for expert physician extenders. This need is most pressing in our historically underserved urban community. When coupled with the School of Medicine’s call for patient-centered, interprofessional education and care, we see an intuitive link between the education of the trainees who will practice in these teams and the eventual practice setting.

The PA training program housed in our School of Medicine, with a reputation for excellence in medical science, clinical education and unparalleled commitment to the urban, underserved community, is a unique, highly desirable option for PA program candidates. This Masters in Medical Science program serves to: train outstanding PAs who will enhance patient care in our North Philadelphia community and beyond; facilitate innovative curriculum with the use of interprofessional exercises; and utilize existing School of Medicine faculty, clinical training and physical plant resources. The details provided on our website frame the rationale and mission for this program, as well as provide an overview of the innovation in the curricular design that brings physician assistant students and medical students together to learn side-by-side, just as they will practice.

Founded in 1901 as Pennsylvania’s first co-educational medical school, the Lewis Katz School of Medicine has attained a national reputation for training humanistic clinicians and biomedical scientists. The school attracts students and faculty committed to making a difference in patient care, research, education, and public service — at home and across the globe.

The School of Medicine and Temple University Hospital (TUH), its chief clinical training site, provide care for patients from throughout the region seeking advanced tertiary- and quaternary-level care. In addition, TUH serves one of the most vulnerable populations in the nation, providing more free and under-reimbursed care than any other hospital in Pennsylvania.