Physician assistants have a surprising number of career paths available to them. While you may associate the title with hospitals and operating rooms, this isn’t always the case. Faulkner University is a Christian liberal arts school based in Alabama. Here, we explore some of the career paths available to students who earn their Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies through our program located at our Montgomery campus.
Hospital Medicine
A large number of physician assistants (PAs) – about 30% – work in hospital settings, including inpatient wards, emergency departments, and urgent care. They’re responsible for admitting patients, ordering treatments, and providing coverage in the operating room and clinic.
Hospital careers are ideal for health sciences graduates who enjoy thinking on their feet. They also have the advantage of growth. In these settings, trained PAs are likely to fill leadership positions. Large healthcare facilities also offer plenty of room for advancement or movement between wards. This provides a clear and robust career pathway for PAs looking to improve their position or salary.
Locum Tenens
Physician assistants can also find lucrative job opportunities as locum tenens. Derived from a Latin phrase meaning “to hold the place,” these professionals fill in for other clinicians while they are unavailable. Nationwide staffing shortages have created a high demand for locum tenens, who may find work in hospitals, solo practices, urgent care facilities, and more.
Locum tenens enjoy a large amount of flexibility. They can set their schedule, choose where they want to work and fill positions that don’t interfere with other obligations. It’s also a great way to experience a variety of healthcare environments. If one of your short-term placements feels like a good long-term fit, your previous work there will make you a more desirable applicant.
Pharmaceutics and Biotechnology
If clinical work isn’t right for you, physician assistants can also find positions with pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers. These companies often seek trained physician assistants for research work, clinical trials, quality control, and more. PAs may also work as communicators and liaisons, connecting medical technology developers with the healthcare providers and patients who will most benefit from new products.
These careers allow PAs to support the medical industry from behind the scenes. For graduates who don’t prefer working in a hospital or medical practice, they present a rewarding opportunity to apply medical skills and knowledge without day-to-day clinical work.
Public Health Advocacy
If you’re more focused on the big picture, health advocacy offers an alternative way to support the industry. This career is focused on removing barriers to healthcare and helping other PAs and professionals provide the most effective care possible.
In the public health sector, PAs work to improve the healthcare system through policy development, education, and resource management. Alternatively, they may work alongside federal and state lawmakers to ensure important health-related decisions are influenced by knowledgeable voices. Though challenging, these career paths are rewarding in the opportunity to implement real change. Health advocates make a positive impact not just for patients, but for other professionals in the field.
Earn Your Master’s in Physician Assistant Today
Do any of these career options sound promising? Our Christian liberal arts institution offers a high-quality education to students in and around Montgomery, Birmingham, Mobile, and Huntsville, Alabama. At our Montgomery campus, our Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies program prepares students for success in a wide variety of careers ranging from healthcare to technology development and advocacy. Contact us to request info about our course offerings, or apply now to get started.