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Feldshers
According to National Insitiute of Health (2018) “ The feldsher is a physician assistant prototype.” Feldshers were originally German military medical assistants ("field surgeon" or barber surgeons), are introduced into Russian armies by Peter the Great in the 17th Century. -
Loblolly boys
Loblolly boys assisted with the care of the sick and injured aboard U.S naval ships. -
Johanna Maria Heden
Johanna Maria Heden was a Swedish midwife who became the first known licensed female feldsher (barber surgeon) in Sweden and as such the first known formally educated and trained female surgeon in Sweden. She was a midwifery pioneer who founded Svenska Barnmorskeförbundet (“the Swedish Association of Midwives”). -
Dr. Amos Johnson and Mr. Henry Treadwell
Dr. Amos Johnson (1908-1975) personally trained and used a “doctor’s assistant” in his rural general medical practice in eastern North Carolina. This prototypical MD/PA practice influenced Dr. Eugene Stead, Jr.’s decision to establish a formal education program for physician assistants (PAs) at Duke University in 1965. -
Dr. Eugene A. Stead Jr.
Eugene A. Stead, Jr., MD, (1908-2005) is recognized as the founder of the PA profession. Disillusioned by organized nursing's rejection of the advanced nurse clinician program that he and nurse educator, Thelma Ingles, had developed, announces in a letter to Duke Hospital Administrator, Charles H. Frenzel, his intention to develop a program for the "physician's assistant." -
The first PA class
In 1965, Dr. Stead selected 4 Navy Hospital Corpsmen to form the first PA class. The curriculum was based on the fast-track medical training they received during their military service. In 1967 the first class would graduate. -
American Association of Physician’s Assistant AAPA
The American Association of Physician’s Assistant (AAPA) is established by Duke University PA students and alumni and is incorporated in NC on May 20th, 1968. Its stated purposes are to encourage its members to render honest, loyal and efficient service to the medical profession and quality care to the public whom they serve. William (Bill) Stanhope, PA, is elected as the first president. -
Dr. Thomas E. Piemme
Dr. Thomas E. Piemme established a PA program at George Washington University. He also was involved in helping the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and the Association of PA Programs (APAP) establish a joint office in Washington, DC and the development of a national certification process for physician assistants and the establishment of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) to oversee this process. -
National Commission on Certification of Physician's Assistants
NCCPA’s exam questions are developed by committees comprising PAs and physicians selected based on both their item writing skills, experience and demographic. The test committee members each independently write a certain number of test questions or items, and then, each item then goes through an intense review by content experts and medical editors from which only some items emerge for pre-testing. Every NCCPA exam includes both scored and pre-test items.” -
Legislation
AAPA asked Congress to support the Medicare Patient Access to Hospice Act (H.R. 1284), that would permanently update Medicare to allow PAs to provide and manage hospice care for their patients.
Congress passed into law a provision that allows PAs to manage and provide hospice care to Medicare patients. The new law also allows PAs to supervise cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation programs under the Medicare program.
