Institute Welcomes First Cohort of Physician Associate Students

The Institute of Medical Sciences is pleased to announce the first cohort of Physician Associate (PA) students commenced their studies at the beginning of April.

The two year Postgraduate Diploma Physician Associate Studies commenced with an intensive two week induction programme.

The induction programme concluded with a unique ‘Pinning Ceremony’ at which the student, watched by friends and relatives were welcomed into the university and profession by the Programme Director, Sue Graham.

As part of the proceeding the students were invited to join together and read out a Physician Associate pledge:

I promise:

• To diligently acquire and maintain the medical knowledge I will need from this day forward until I retire from the practice of medicine.
• To recognise and work within my scope of practice and professional knowledge.
• To put the interest of my patients before my own.
• To respect, support and encourage my classmates and colleagues.
• To respect and value fellow health care professionals.
• To follow the leadership of my supervising physician.
• To be tolerant, compassionate and honest with my patients, colleagues and myself.
• To behave well and honourably throughout my career.
• And to continually strive to be worthy of the privilege of being a Physician Associate.

The event was an opportunity for staff, family and friends to congratulate the students on entering this exciting, dynamic new profession.

We would like to wish all of our students every success in their studies and we are looking forward to them flourishing as Physician Associates.

The programme director, Sue Graham, commented:

"We are pleased to be the first University in the Kent, Surrey and Sussex area to open a Physician Associate programme and are delighted that it is off to such a good start.

Students have begun their first clinical placements with area GPs and are already looking forward the day they become qualified Physician Associates. I have every confidence that our students will represent both the University and the Physician Associate profession well as they progress in their training and careers."

If you would like to find out more about studying to become a Physician Associate, please visit one of our upcoming Open Evenings or view our online prospectus.