Physician Assistants
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In this section, you’ll meet many of the physicians and practitioners who may play a part of your care team at Southwestern. But there are a few other members of your care team we’d also like to introduce you to—physician assistants. Every day they prove they are capable, knowledgeable, responsive and compassionate. While the care that these experienced and devoted healthcare professionals give is supplemental to the superior care provided by our physicians, they are essential to helping us provide our patients with the best care possible.
What is a Physician Assistant (PA)?
A physician assistant (also referred to as a “PA”) is a licensed healthcare professional who works under the supervision of a physician.
The education of a PA includes an undergraduate degree, followed by intensive medical programs that prepare him or her to work alongside a physician. PAs are taught in a similar manner to medical students to both diagnose and treat medical problems in order to prepare them to offer an extension of a physician’s care.
PAs are able to:
- Conduct physical exams
- Diagnose and treat illnesses
- Order and interpret tests
- Write prescriptions
- Counsel on preventive healthcare
- Exercise autonomy in decision making
- Provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services
- Assist in surgery
- Be involved in education, research and administrative services
How do PAs benefit you?
Our PAs are key to helping us promptly address your immediate needs and concerns. For example, they can answer questions you may have about treatment side effects. They are also able to address additional medical conditions you may have, such as diabetes or respiratory, heart and digestive disorders. Furthermore, they are able to quickly get in touch with your doctor to let him or her know if you are having any complications concerning your cancer. This allows our doctors to focus on your primary need—treating your cancer.
PAs at CTCA help you to receive better-quality care because they:
- Extend your doctor’s ability to care for your needs
- Enable you to more quickly see a medical professional
- Ensure that your doctor receives your most up-to-date reports
PAs at Southwestern
Our PAs are certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. The credentials that follow their names (“PA-C”) indicate their certification credentials.
Meet our PAs:
