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Harris College of Nursing & Health Sciences

Physician Associate (PA) Studies

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Located in the Medical Innovation District of vibrant Fort Worth, TCU’s PA Program is built on the core TCU values of integrity, engagement, community and excellence. The program utilizes a highly accomplished faculty, top clinical sites, and new facilities including state-of-the-art simulation labs. With a strong student-centered culture and robust support, PA students learn alongside students from the medical school, nursing, and other health sciences programs and collaborate with diverse health professionals including NPs, OTs, and SLPs. The students are guided by a highly credentialed faculty with 70% holding doctoral degrees—led by a director with a doctorate in PA education and experience leading multiple programs to success.

PAs practice in every work setting. According to the AAPA Salary Survey 51.8% work in outpatient or clinic setting, 40.7% work in a hospital setting, 4.9% work in unrgent care center setting and 2.6% work in other settings including but not limited to schools/universities, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and correctional facilities.
PAs practice in every work setting. 51.8% in outpatient office or clinic; 40.7% in hospital; 4.9% in urgent care; 2.6% in other*. (2024 AAPA Salary Survey. All data based on clinically practicing PAs in the US.) *Other refers to a variety of work settings including but not limited to schools/universities, rehabilitation facilities, nursing homes and correctional facilities.
PAs practice medicine in all specialties. According to the 2024 AAPA Salary Sruvey, 27.8% work in surgical, 20.1% in primary care, 13.2% in internal medicine, 7.4% in emergency medicine, 1.7% in pediatric, 3.4% did not designate a specialty and 26.4% work in settings included but not limited to psychiatry, hospice and palliative are, obstetrics and gynecology, addiction medicine, pain management, public health and dermatology.
PAs practice medicine in all specialties. 27.8% surgical subspecialties; 26.4% other*; 20.1% primary care; 13.2% internal medicine subspecialties; 7.4% emergency medicine; 3.4% no specialty; 1.7% pediatric subspecialties. (2024 AAPA Salary Survey. All data based on clinically practicing PAs in the US.) *Other refers to a variety of work settings including but not limited to psychiatry, hospice and palliative care, obstetrics and gynecology, addiction medicine, pain management, public health and dermatology.
Gary Pérez, DMSc, PA-C

Gary Pérez, DMSc, PA-C

Meet the Founding Director of the Physician Associate (PA) Studies program at TCU.

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Accreditation

The Physician Associate Studies program at Texas Christian University has applied for Accreditation-Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The Physician Associate Studies program anticipates matriculating its first class in January 2027, pending achieving Accreditation-Provisional status at the  October 2026 ARC-PA meeting.

Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appears to demonstrate the program's ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

Updates will be made to this site as they are confirmed. To learn more about TCU's Physician Associate (PA) Studies program, submit the interest form at the top of this page or email TCUPhysicianAssociateStudies@tcu.edu.