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UF Health University of Florida
School of Physician Assistant Studies UF College of Medicine
About the PA School Overview

Program History

Milestones

  • 1972 PA Program (PAP), affiliated with the UF College of Medicine (COM), was established as an Associate of Science degree program at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville. First class begins.
  • 1974 First class graduates.
  • 1977 PAP moves to UF COM as a Bachelor of Science degree program.
  • 1983 PAP moves to UF College of Allied Health Professions with pledged resources and support from UF COM.
  • 1993 PAP returns to COM with the Department of Medicine as its academic home.
  • 1994 PAP doubles enrollment from classes of 30 to classes of 60 in response to legislative mandate.
  • 1996 PAP changes to a graduate level degree program offering the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree.
  • 2009 PAP becomes the School of Physician Assistant Studies (SPAS) and moves to department-level within the College of Medicine.
  • 2015 Through the generosity of one of its graduates, SPAS offices moved into the Randolph S. Mahoney, PA, School of Physician Assistant Studies Suite in the newly constructed Harrell Medical Education Building. The move signifies a first that UF’s medicine and physician assistant schools are housed exclusively together.
  • 2018 Nina Multak PhD, PA-C appointed the 1st endowed Randolph B. Mahoney director and 1st female director.
  • 2019 Expansion of experiential learning and simulation for UF PA students. Enhancement of alumni network.
  • 2020 Implementation of virtual learning.
  • 2021 Established a DEI Council. PA faculty involvement in state, national and international professional organization committees.
  • 2022 50th Anniversary of the UF School of PA Studies. Inaugural Continuing Medical education Series launched. Record number of UF National Health Service Student Scholars

Institutional and Degree History

The current School of Physician Assistant Studies at the University of Florida had its inception as the Physician Assistant Program at the local community college, Santa Fe Community College, in 1972, where it remained for five years, awarding the Associate of Science degree upon successful completion of the program. In 1977, the program moved to the College of Medicine at the University of Florida and began to confer the Bachelor of Science degree upon its graduates. The program moved to the College of Allied Health Professions in 1983, where it was housed for 10 years. In 1993, the program made its final move to the College of Medicine, where it has permanently remained.

In 1994, enrollment doubled from 30 students per class to 60 students per class, and in 1996, the program was upgraded to a graduate-level program with graduates receiving the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree upon successful completion of the program.

In 2009, the Board of Trustees granted the status of “School” to the program, and the School of Physician Assistant Studies now holds a department-level status equivalent to all other departments within the College of Medicine.