When was the Physician Assistant profession established?

The Physician Assistant profession was established in 1965 by Dr. Eugene Stead at Duke University. Dr. Stead recognized the need for a new type of healthcare provider to help alleviate the shortage of physicians and improve patient care. He developed the PA educational program, which drew on the training models used for military corpsmen who had gained substantial medical experience but lacked formal credentials. By establishing this program at Duke University, Stead laid the groundwork for what would become a significant and rapidly growing profession in healthcare.

The foundational year of 1965 is critical because it marks the beginning of formal education and training for PAs, allowing them to practice medicine in a collaborative environment with physicians. Consequently, this is the landmark date that delineates the start of the PA profession as we know it today.