As part of its mission to improve educational and healthcare outcomes for East Texas, The University of Texas at Tyler School of Medicine has received approval from The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board to establish a new Physician Assistant Studies Program. The program is the first in East Texas. Pending accreditation, the first class of master’s degree students will enroll in September 2027 for the 27-month program. The first cohort will enroll up to 37 students.
“Our rural region is vast, and we have a shortage of physicians to provide timely care to all who need it, said Dr. Jeffrey Pearl, medical director, physician assistant studies program. “Training highly skilled, practice-ready physician assistants is how we address our region’s access-to-care needs today.”
The new Physician Assistant (PA)program will include a 122-month didactic phase at UT Tyler’s Longview University Center and a 155-month residency/clinical phase at area hospitals and clinics. Admission preferences will include a connection to East Texas, reflecting the institution’s commitment to improving regional health outcomes and access. This connection may include community service, volunteerism, or a demonstrated commitment to serving rural or East Texas communities.
“As the very first Physician Assistant program in East Texas, this launch represents a monumental investment in the health and future of our region,” said Dr. Seth Holland, founding program director. “Establishing this program right here — with dedicated educational opportunities extending to our campuses like Longview — ensures that we are training local talent to care for local communities.”
While physician assistant programs typically are located within a college of health sciences or college of health professions, UT Tyler intentionally chose to locate its PA program in the School of Medicine to support the alignment between future physicians and future physician assistants. After completing the program, PAs will be ready to work alongside physicians in operating rooms, hospital ERs, surgical practices, and pediatric, internal medicine, and mental health clinics. “By training highly skilled PAs alongside our future physicians, we are fostering a collaborative, team-based care model that mirrors the real-life medical landscape,” said Dr. Sue Cox, School of Medicine dean. “This program strengthens our capability to meet the complex medical needs of East Texans.”
The 88th Texas Legislature appropriated $5 million to UT Tyler to expand the Longview University Center and launch the PA program. The expansion is designed with students in mind, adding large study spaces and a state-of-the-art anatomy lab. . Additional support came from local philanthropies and the community at large. “State and community support for our clinical education and training programs has been indispensable and demonstrates the public’s commitment to investing in growing our own clinical workforce,” said Pearl.
“Teaching Hospitals of Texas members continue to demonstrate their contribution to healthcare access, not just in major urban centers, but in our rural communities as well,” said Maureen Milligan, PhD, president and CEO, Teaching Hospitals of Texas. “The addition of physician assistant education and training to UT Tyler School of Medicine’s offerings is a shining example of a nationally renowned academic medical center having first and foremost a local footprint, commitment, and impact.”
