mistercire Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 This is from the MEDEX website. http://www.washington.edu/medicine/som/depts/medex/news/tacomacampus.html [h=1]MEDEX program expands to UW Tacoma[/h]Excerpt from UW Medicine Online News, October 5, 2012 MEDEX Northwest, the UW School of Medicine’s physician assistant training program, has received $887,301 in federal funding to expand its training program to the University of Washington Tacoma campus. The funding is part of a national initiative to increase educational and employment opportunities for returning military veterans and to boost the healthcare workforce in primary care in rural and underserved areas. Last year, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) gave funding priority to universities and colleges with physician assistant programs that actively recruit, retain and mentor military veterans. They were also seeking model programs that could be replicated across the country to increase the healthcare labor workforce. Physician assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and in virtually all states can write prescriptions. Within the physician-PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. A PA's practice may also include education, research, and administrative services. All PA education programs must be accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). “Of all the PA programs in the country, we are seen as the number one champion for physician assistant training among experienced healthcare workers and the military,” said Ruth Ballweg, MEDEX director. “A big part of our history is training military personnel. Of our nearly 1,900 graduates, about 620 are military people. This funding allows us to add 24 training slots to the UW Tacoma campus, which is actively engaged in outreach with the returning military community and has a good working relationship and partnership with Joint Base Lewis-McChord.” The new Tacoma training site will join existing MEDEX sites located in Seattle, Yakima, Spokane, Wash., and Anchorage, Alaska. Bachelor’s degree programs will be offered at the Anchorage, Yakima and Tacoma sites, while master’s degree programs will be offered at the Seattle and Spokane sites. The Tacoma program will begin officially in spring 2013 with an online lead-in to later classroom instruction. The site director is Henry Stoll. Ballweg said the goal of the MEDEX program is to increase educational access for qualified applicants but also to provide affordable primary care in rural and underserved communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Ballweg noted that, ironically, veterans with medical backgrounds have the highest unemployment among all veterans because members of the civilian community have a hard time translating the medical experience of military medics and corpsmen into actual jobs in healthcare. “Their training and experience on the battlefield is not understood. They’re not civilian nurses; they’re not paramedics. So, the community asks, ‘What are they?’ The MEDEX program values the experiences and qualities that military folks bring to the table,” Ballweg said. “Since we’ve been training physician assistants since 1969, we know that military personnel are highly likely to go into primary care and have the experience of, and often the preference for, working in rural and remote communities. They are used to having a lot of responsibility and taking charge.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MediMike Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 Good to hear! Both for the program as well as it's applicants *cough*me*cough* :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted October 18, 2012 Moderator Share Posted October 18, 2012 I'm thinking about applying for a part time faculty position there when they post them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToppDog Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 I'm thinking about applying for a part time faculty position there when they post them They've had a page with some postings up for quite a while already, but maybe you mean something more specific. Anyway, here it is: http://www.washington.edu/medicine/som/depts/medex/facultyjobs/medex_uwtacoma.htm I'm glad it finally official now. When I read that last bit from Ruth towards the end about vets & their training, & difficulty finding jobs in healthcare, & their proclivity for primary care, she basically described me to a "T". I hope this is my year. It's been a long time coming. And, it would be awesome to have E as an instructor :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uscbigdawg Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 That's great news! Of course...now I think I should have applied to the BS program instead of the MS. :wink: Rich Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerlily Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 This is from the MEDEX website.http://www.washington.edu/medicine/som/depts/medex/news/tacomacampus.html MEDEX program expands to UW Tacoma Excerpt from UW Medicine Online News, October 5, 2012 MEDEX Northwest, the UW School of Medicine’s physician assistant training program, has received $887,301 in federal funding to expand its training program to the University of Washington Tacoma campus. The funding is part of a national initiative to increase educational and employment opportunities for returning military veterans and to boost the healthcare workforce in primary care in rural and underserved areas. Last year, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) gave funding priority to universities and colleges with physician assistant programs that actively recruit, retain and mentor military veterans. They were also seeking model programs that could be replicated across the country to increase the healthcare labor workforce. Physician assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and in virtually all states can write prescriptions. Within the physician-PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. A PA's practice may also include education, research, and administrative services. All PA education programs must be accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). “Of all the PA programs in the country, we are seen as the number one champion for physician assistant training among experienced healthcare workers and the military,” said Ruth Ballweg, MEDEX director. “A big part of our history is training military personnel. Of our nearly 1,900 graduates, about 620 are military people. This funding allows us to add 24 training slots to the UW Tacoma campus, which is actively engaged in outreach with the returning military community and has a good working relationship and partnership with Joint Base Lewis-McChord.” The new Tacoma training site will join existing MEDEX sites located in Seattle, Yakima, Spokane, Wash., and Anchorage, Alaska. Bachelor’s degree programs will be offered at the Anchorage, Yakima and Tacoma sites, while master’s degree programs will be offered at the Seattle and Spokane sites. The Tacoma program will begin officially in spring 2013 with an online lead-in to later classroom instruction. The site director is Henry Stoll. Ballweg said the goal of the MEDEX program is to increase educational access for qualified applicants but also to provide affordable primary care in rural and underserved communities throughout the Pacific Northwest. Ballweg noted that, ironically, veterans with medical backgrounds have the highest unemployment among all veterans because members of the civilian community have a hard time translating the medical experience of military medics and corpsmen into actual jobs in healthcare. “Their training and experience on the battlefield is not understood. They’re not civilian nurses; they’re not paramedics. So, the community asks, ‘What are they?’ The MEDEX program values the experiences and qualities that military folks bring to the table,” Ballweg said. “Since we’ve been training physician assistants since 1969, we know that military personnel are highly likely to go into primary care and have the experience of, and often the preference for, working in rural and remote communities. They are used to having a lot of responsibility and taking charge.” No FREAKING way~!! I am so excited! I am now shreaking like a little girl, God forbid I actually get in...:xD: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerlily Posted October 18, 2012 Share Posted October 18, 2012 I'm thinking about applying for a part time faculty position there when they post them Please, please , please do! That would be great! :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tstacy Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 I am member of WAPA and have seen them post it on there. I don't know if it's still up or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracie A. Posted October 20, 2012 Share Posted October 20, 2012 Excellent news! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquafresh11 Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 I file this one under be careful what you wish for. They are having epic difficulty finding clinical sites for the students they have now, adding another 30 a year will only make things worse. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted October 21, 2012 Administrator Share Posted October 21, 2012 I file this one under be careful what you wish for. They are having epic difficulty finding clinical sites for the students they have now, adding another 30 a year will only make things worse.Well, at least they have the reputation of a successful history, vs. starting a new school from scratch. All schools are hard up for rotation sites... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aquafresh11 Posted October 21, 2012 Share Posted October 21, 2012 Some a lot more than others. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MediMike Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Just Steve, if you're wandering around this thread would you mind adding your input on the difficulties with student placements in clinicals? Appreciate ya! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerlily Posted October 22, 2012 Share Posted October 22, 2012 Just Steve, if you're wandering around this thread would you mind adding your input on the difficulties with student placements in clinicals? Appreciate ya! I have a feeling the answer will be no bueno. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Guys, did anyone receive an email from Mariah asking an applicant to make a site preference for either Tacoma or Yakima? This is especially when you expressed interest in the Tacoma site upon submitting the supplemental application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistercire Posted October 23, 2012 Author Share Posted October 23, 2012 Yes I received it also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemieux66 Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 I received the email as well, just an hour or so ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted October 23, 2012 Share Posted October 23, 2012 Tossed between which site to go for. Might finally settle on Tacoma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerlily Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Tossed between which site to go for. Might finally settle on Tacoma I received it too. So what is everybody thinking? Country setting and less traffic vs. city life?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistercire Posted October 24, 2012 Author Share Posted October 24, 2012 I'm going with Tacoma. Although I think the smart choice would be Yakima. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracie A. Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 I am leaning towards Yakima... oh - and yes I got the email also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracie A. Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Has anyone done the survey yet? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 Yep. Went with Tacoma. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tigerlily Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 I will share my choice and reasoning folks. In my decision, there weren't too many factors to weigh out. I live very close to UW Tacoma, I could literally ride my bike there. Also, my kids are at a school they love, which happens to be very close to campus. Also, the hubby is supposed to come to Fort Lewis after he returns from Korea. I do not like the cost of living at all in this area, but overall, Tacoma is the best choice for my family. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToppDog Posted October 24, 2012 Share Posted October 24, 2012 That was hard! I want to do rural medicine, so symbolically Yakima would be the obvious choice. But, I am also really supportive of MEDEX's efforts to support vets, which would make being part of Tacoma Class #1 both symbolic & historic. Being closer to extended family makes Tacoma the better choice, but the fact that they're in-laws & drive me & my wife crazy most of the time makes Yakima the better choice. I couldn't decide, so I asked my wife. She said Tacoma... so being a typical goofball husband, I chose Yakima :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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