Physician Assistant is ranked #1 Job by US News

(ABILENE, Texas) US News and World Report just ranked Physician Assistant as the #1 Best Job in the US for 2021. This ranking was based on several factors including room for advancement, matching skills and talent, and providing work-life balance.

This is exciting news for Hardin-Simmons University graduates, whose entire first and second class achieved a 100% pass rate on their national qualifying exams.

Physician Assistants are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider.

PA’s practice in every state and every medical setting and specialty; improving healthcare access and quality. Physician Assistants have been around for more than 50 years and are a growing profession that is in high demand in the healthcare industry. The Bureau of Labor Statistics projects 31.3 percent employment growth for physician assistants between 2019 and 2029. In that period, an estimated 39,300 jobs should open up.

Hardin-Simmons began the Masters of Physician Assistant Studies program in 2017, with the first year’s cohort of 30 students selected out of 1,900 nationwide applicants.

Recent graduate, Mark Chaney, had this to say about his experience at HSU,

“A week before graduation, I got the call from Dr. Fred White at Endocrinology Associates with a job offer before I even started looking. The HSU PA Program and its professors had been instrumental in preparing me for that day and the days to come.  I love my new job in endocrinology, I still cannot believe I am getting paid to do this. Life as a PA-C is better than I could have imagined, it fills my cup to the brim. God has blessed me with the absolute best place where I can learn from a Physician who is patient, loving, kind, and knows the Lord intimately. I am so thankful to the faculty and staff of the HSU PA program for believing in me and preparing me for the #1 career of 2021.”  Mark D. Chaney, MPAS, PA-C

The Hardin-Simmons University Physician Assistant program is fortunate to be one of only 10 accredited PA programs in the state of Texas. Its instructors are dedicated to academic excellence in medical education with a mission to develop and prepare compassionate, professional PA providers who are committed to life-long leadership, learning, and community service.

“We are proud to have our graduates work as part of the healthcare team to deliver exceptional healthcare to rural West Texas and under-served communities worldwide.”  Dr. Jennifer Eames, Hardin-Simmons PA Program Director

Hardin-Simmons PA students give back to their community by volunteering their services where possible. During a recent Taylor County Health Department vaccine clinic, the students were thrilled to put their skills into practice by volunteering to help administer 1,200 COVID-19 vaccines to the local community.

For more information about HSU’s PA program visit https://www.hsutx.edu/academics/graduate-programs/physician-assistant-program/