A PA student puts on his white coat during the PA White Coat Ceremony, signifying his transition from student to practitioner.

Physician Assistant (M.P.A.)

Work directly with patients and impact community health with your Physician Assistant degree.

Physician Assistant (M.P.A.)

Celebrating the White Coat Ceremony

The White Coat Ceremony marks a student's entry as a junior colleague into the field of medicine. On Friday, the Class of 2024 students received their white coats and took the Physician Assistant Professional Oath.

Read the ceremony program

Students wearing white medical coats with EVMS logos read together from their programs.

Why become a PA?

High demand

Join a fast-growing career field. Employment of PAs is projected to grow 28% from 2023 to 2033.

Less class time

Finish graduate school and receive training in just a quarter of the time of traditional medical school.

Career flexibility

Choose between specialties and work in different areas of medicine.

Program Benefits

Students gathered around a table studying

Outstanding outcomes

Master the knowledge needed to excel on your certification exam and gain employment.

Outstanding outcomes

Our institute regularly shares the success of its students on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), as directed by its accrediting body, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA). The alumni pass the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) on their first attempt at a higher rate than the national average. Learn more about PANCE pass and attrition rates.

95% of our graduates are working as physician assistants. Many of them secured employment before graduation.

Medical school environment

Learn through instruction modeled after school of medicine curriculum on the campus of a medical school.

Medical school environment

The PA program is divided into two phases, spanning 28 consecutive months.

Phase I: The 16-month pre-clinical year includes traditional classroom instruction and simulated patient interaction.

Phase II: Nine clinical field experiences provide direct supervised patient care in a variety of medical and surgical disciplines.

PA students also conduct a full cadaver dissection. >>

Community focus

Give back to others through Community-Engaged Learning and volunteer opportunities.

Community focus

PA students run and work in the HOPES student-run free clinic, volunteer with various community organizations and participate in Community Impact Day.

Read about how PA students Kyle Dubay, Demetrio Gant, Jeff Illinik and Elyse Troxell helped two disabled veterans enjoy the thrill of whitewater rafting. >>

Outstanding outcomes

Master the knowledge needed to excel on your certification exam and gain employment.

Medical school environment

Learn through instruction modeled after school of medicine curriculum on the campus of a medical school.

Outstanding outcomes

95% of our graduates are working as physician assistants. Many of them secured employment before graduation.

Medical school environment

The PA program is divided into two phases, spanning 28 consecutive months.

Phase I: The 16-month pre-clinical year includes traditional classroom instruction and simulated patient interaction.

Phase II: Nine clinical field experiences provide direct supervised patient care in a variety of medical and surgical disciplines.

PA students also conduct a full cadaver dissection. >>

A female student taking care of an elderly female in clinic

Community focus

Give back to others through Community-Engaged Learning and volunteer opportunities.

Community focus

PA students run and work in the HOPES student-run free clinic, volunteer with various community organizations and participate in Community Impact Day.

Read about how PA students Kyle Dubay, Demetrio Gant, Jeff Illinik and Elyse Troxell helped two disabled veterans enjoy the thrill of whitewater rafting. >>

Outstanding outcomes

Master the knowledge needed to excel on your certification exam and gain employment.

Medical school environment

Learn through instruction modeled after school of medicine curriculum on the campus of a medical school.

Community focus

Give back to others through Community-Engaged Learning and volunteer opportunities.

Outstanding outcomes

95% of our graduates are working as physician assistants. Many of them secured employment before graduation.

Medical school environment

The PA program is divided into two phases, spanning 28 consecutive months.

Phase I: The 16-month pre-clinical year includes traditional classroom instruction and simulated patient interaction.

Phase II: Nine clinical field experiences provide direct supervised patient care in a variety of medical and surgical disciplines.

PA students also conduct a full cadaver dissection. >>

Community focus

PA students run and work in the HOPES student-run free clinic, volunteer with various community organizations and participate in Community Impact Day.

Read about how PA students Kyle Dubay, Demetrio Gant, Jeff Illinik and Elyse Troxell helped two disabled veterans enjoy the thrill of whitewater rafting. >>

Play a critical role in healthcare. Become a Physician Assistant.

Apply Now

Learn by doing

Work with standardized patients in the Sentara Center for Simulation & Immersive Learning. Standardized patients are individuals trained to:

portray a patient with a specific condition in a realistic, standardized and repeatable way,
document learner performance,
provide feedback on both clinical and interpersonal skills and
realistically represent patient satisfaction.

Caring and accessible faculty

Join a program with compassionate mentors and teachers who are dedicated to seeing their students succeed.

"I don't think my experience would be as rich or rewarding as it has been without the authentic support and guidance of my professors." - David Taylor, MPA Class of 2019

Meet Our Faculty

An instructor works with two PA students as they practice splinting.

Did you know this school also offers a one-year Medical Science (D.M.Sc.) program?

Learn more

Contact Us

Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences
Physician Assistant
at Old Dominion University
P. O. Box 1980
Norfolk, VA 23501

757.446.7158
VHS-PAProg@odu.edu

Get Directions

This website reflects current program information, including admission criteria and curricula. Information is subject to change.

Physician Assistant (M.P.A.)

Work directly with patients and impact community health with your Physician Assistant degree.