The UW-Madison Physician Assistant program of the Department of Family Medicine is one of fifteen programs in the nation awarded a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, HRSA Title VII Training Grant for 2008-2011. The requested federal and non-federal funds total $581,000.

Work is underway to implement the programs' intent to increase the number of students from underserved areas and minority groups by expanding recruitment strategies, establishing a mentoring program, increasing program flexibility and offering pre-enrollment opportunities to promising candidates to prepare them for successful admission.

To better prepare and encourage placement of graduates in primary care and areas of need, the program will create a Rural/Underserved Primary Care Track and share curricula with developing programs at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health (UWSMPH).

There is an urgent and growing need to increase the number of physician assistants who serve rural, inner city and minorities in Wisconsin. Hispanic, Southeast Asian and American Indian populations have increased significantly all over the state. In 2007, the number of HPSA's increased to 101, of which 85 were primary care. The 2007 AAPA Census showed 96.8% of state PA's were non-Hispanic whites; no respondents identified themselves as American Indian. The purpose of this grant is to develop an integrated model, from pre-admissions to graduate placement, into the curricular framework and service of the PA Program to help meet these present and future needs.

From an analysis of current recruitment data, an external consultant's report, talks with the Wisconsin Academy of Rural Medicine (WARM) program, and the Medical Scholars Program, the PA program clarified mutual needs and opportunities. These programs share the goal of increasing enrollment and placement of students and graduates in areas of need. The program now needs to build upon a network of established liaisons (health administrators, practicing health professionals, PA graduates, etc) in medically underserved communities (MUCs) to recruit students and support community based training.

With grant support, the program will reduce barriers and train graduates to serve in areas of need. Every PA student will have at least one significant educational experience in an underserved site, which will be made possible through contacts with community liaisons or collaboration with other educational programs. The program will share curricula, training elements, and technology with other UW programs.

Measurable Objectives of the 2008-2011 HRSA Grant:

1. Increase the percentage of students from underserved areas, disadvantaged backgrounds, or minority status, from 30% in 2007 to 40% by 2011, by expanding recruitment strategies, and reducing barriers to enrollment.
2. By 2010, develop new curricular modules to prepare all students to care for rural/underserved populations and encourage practice in areas of need.
3. Provide special educational programming for a subset of students who show strong interest in underserved practices by creating a Rural Primary Care Track for up to eight students and requiring 50% of all students to do Capstone Projects related to primary care in underserved areas by 2011.

The program will recruit a network of community partners from areas of need who are willing to advise us on PA recruitment and training. The liaisons will form a statewide Community Practice Advisory Council (CPAC) which will help guide our actions. Grant staff will work with UW System universities, community colleges, health organizations, UWSMPH Medical Scholars Program and Community Practice Advisory Council (CPAC) to identify promising disadvantaged students. They will create an innovative multimedia presentation designed to reach multiple audiences. Staff will create a mentoring program that will pair potential enrollees with a community based mentor as they prepare for guaranteed interview with the program.

The program will develop a pre-entry program to provide guidance and counseling for re-applicant students who are likely to return to underserved communities. It will allow promising students to enroll in basic required medical courses in their final years of college to give them experience with the curriculum, the confidence to apply and completed credits when they enroll. The distance education program will be expanded to provide more flexible training options for students from non-traditional backgrounds. The program will work with the UW WARM program and others to develop new curricular modules and the Rural/Underserved Primary Care Track.

Media Inquiries
Joey Johannsen, MAEd
skjohann@wisc.edu