ACADEMICS

The first Physician Assistant (PA) program in Orange County will be started by the Southern California College of Optometry (SCCO), via a two-year graduate degree. The program, approved by the College's Board of Trustees, will fill a critical need in the delivery of health care. The new PA program is targeted to begin as early as the fall of 2014.

"The changing health-care landscape has created a high demand for PAs who provide frontline medical care and SCCO is pleased to take the lead in establishing a quality educational program in Orange County," said SCCO President Kevin L. Alexander, O.D., Ph.D. "The need to cut health-care expenses, to treat an aging population, and to fight costly chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes fuels the demand for PAs as does the shortage of general physicians.

"Offering a physician assistant program is a great fit for SCCO thanks to our 107 years of experience in health-care education. The SCCO Family is excited to take on this new challenge that will help to fill the increasing need for well-educated physician assistants," noted President Alexander.

Dr. Alexander named, SCCO's Vice President of Interprofessional Affairs John H. Nishimoto, O.D., M.B.A., to lead the search for the new director of the PA program.

SCCO will offer a two-year Master of Science degree for the Physician Assistant program. PAs are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions.

For more information about the physician assistant program at the Southern California College of Optometry contact SCCO's Office of Interprofessional Affairs at 714.449.7404.