Pre-Professional: Physician Assistant

Physician Assistant

Students who would like to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician should consider becoming a physician assistant (PA). A physician assistant can record medical histories, perform physical examinations, make diagnoses, counsel patients, order and administer laboratory tests, assist in surgery, set fractures, and prescribe drugs. Each graduate program determines their prerequisite courses, and since there is so much variability from one program to another, Calvin does not offer a specific program for students who want to prepare for a career of Christian service as a physician assistant. Rather, students can major in any discipline so long as they complete the prerequisite courses for the graduate program to which they intend to apply. Students who desire to pursue a career as a physician assistant should contact R. Nyhof for advice about preparatory courses and hours of direct patient care required by particular clinical training programs.