Division of Physician Assistant Education and Sciences

Amanda Leigh Elrod, DPAS, PA-C, MPAS

Division Chair

The Division of Physician Assistant Education and Sciences at the School of Medicine promotes accessible, fair, high-quality patient centered health care through innovative and requisite education, clinical care, leadership, scholarship, health policy and advocacy, and global community partner engagement. In addition to providing excellent clinical care and research expertise, our division houses the 4th nationally ranked (public) University of Utah PA program.

Message from the Chair

PA Program

Our mission is to improve the quality of health and access to care, with a commitment to the medically underserved, by educating students to become highly proficient, socially conscious, and accountable physician assistants (PAs) in the primary care model.

Learn more about our Program

How to Get Involved

PAEA 50th Anniversary
Fast Facts About the Utah Physician Assistant Program (UPAP) at the University of Utah

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Recent News

Archived News

News

Apr 08, 2025

Physician Assistant (PA) Program has been ranked #3 in the nation

The University of Utah Physician Assistant (PA) Program has been ranked #3 in the nation in the latest U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 rankings of Best Graduate Schools for...

News

Apr 07, 2025

Guatemala International Rotation A Success

In March 2025, eleven physician assistant (PA) students from the University of Utah, along with four PA faculty members and one pharmacist, participated in the Guatemala International Rotation—an immersive experience...

News

Feb 11, 2025

Congratulations to Nicole Washington for being a recipient of the National Health Service Corps scholarship

"We are thrilled to announce that Nicole Washington (she/her), a first-year Physician Assistant (PA) student at the University of Utah, has been accepted into the highly competitive National Health Service...

News

Feb 10, 2025

Congratulations to Victoria Pallares for being a recipient of the National Health Service Corps scholarship

Growing up as a first-generation Mexican American, my personal experience with health disparities has impassioned me to work with underserved communities.

News

Oct 25, 2024

Analyzing LGBTQ+ Inclusion in PA Education

Joanne Rolls, MPAS, MEHP, PA-C, joins the Journal of PA Education podcast to discuss LGBTQ+ inclusion in PA curricula.

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News

Oct 23, 2024

Teresa Duarte Receives the 2024 David N. Sundwall Award

Recent physician assistant studies graduate Teresa Duarte, was awarded the 2024 David N. Sundwall Award from the Utah Area Health Education Center (AHEC) during the primary care summit on October...