-
Four Navy Corpsman become first class of PAs at Duke University
Dr. Eugene A. Stead Jr from Duke University Medical Center put together the first class of Physicians Assistants in 1965 by choosing four Navy Hospital Corpsmen with extensive medical training. -
AAPA incorporated
American Association of Physician Assistants (later became the American Academy of Physician Assistants) is incorporated in North Carolina. William D. Stanhope, PA-C is the first president. -
Kaiser employs first PA
Kaiser Permanente becomes the first HMO to employ a PA. -
PA profession recognized by AMA
The American Medical Association (AMA) recognizes the PA profession and begins work on national certification and codification of its practice characteristics. -
National Certification standards established for PAs
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) established in Atlanta, Georgia, to determine eligibility criteria and to administer national certifying exam. David Glazer selected as NCCPA’s first executive director. He serves until 1996. -
Air Force is first military branch to employ PAs
USAF begins appointing PAs as noncommissioned officers, but senior enlisted members in 1971.
U.S. Air Force begins appointing PAs as commissioned officers in 1978. -
PAs have prescriptive authority in 10 states
Physician assistants have prescriptive authority in 10 states. It is unclear exactly which states these were as sources are conflicting, however, it is clear that it varied between different classes of substances. -
Prescriptive authority for PAs triples over past 10 years
Physician assistants have prescriptive authority in 30 states and the District of Columbia. -
U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard PAs are commissioned as officers
U.S. Army and U.S. Coast Guard PAs are commissioned as officers. Up until this time the army recognized PAs as warrant officers and the air force was recognizing PAs as senior non commissioned officers and later followed suit. -
The Department of State agrees to hire PAs as Foreign Service health practitioners.
The Department of State agrees to hire PAs as Foreign Service health practitioners. At this time there are roughly 30, 000 graduated physicians assistants
