GIVING BACK Skyrocketing Education Costs Put PA Profession Out of Reach By Kelli Thompson, Oregon Medical Association Gabrielle Gonzalez, PA Student and OMA Medical Scholarship Recipient IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT how different your life would be if you’d not had the means to go to PA school. You had the drive and the passion to become a PA, but you had no way to afford it. For Gabrielle Gonzalez, one of the 2014 recipients of the OMA Medical Scholarship and recent graduate of Pacific University, the ability to pursue her dream was realized. “I’m thankful for the scholarship. It has truly inspired me to one day give back to those students who may be struggling financially and has showed me the importance of being involved in the medical community. This reward has encouraged me to continue my hard work and dedication to my education.” When considering PA school today, here are some facts that students must face: Œ According to a 2011 report from the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), the average in-state tuition for a public university’s PA program is $37,065 and the average tuition at a private institution is almost double that at $66,716. The average PA student graduates with about $100,000 in student debt. Œ Most PA students finance their studies with loans, but according to Bloomberg, those loans come with a large price tag, with some graduate students paying as much as 7.9% on federal loans. The great news is that the need for PAs is growing. Physician Assistants Percent change in employment, projected 2012–22 Physician assistants Health diagnosing and treating practitioners Total, all occupations 38% 20% 11% Note: All Occupations includes all occupations in the US Economy. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections program According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physician assistants is projected to grow 38 percent from 2012 to 2022, much faster than the average for all occupations. That means the job prospects are good, particularly for physician assistants working in rural and medically underserved areas, as well as physician assistants working in primary care. The problem is that the cost of education—and resulting debt—is so huge, we could likely have a market failure. We can’t let potential debt dissuade many qualified students from pursuing a career in high demand. You can help secure the future of medicine by contributing to the OMA's Medical Scholarship Fund today at www.theOMA.org/ scholarships. Make a donation to the OMA’s Medical Scholarship Fund today, and make a difference for Oregon’s next generation of physician assistants and ensure a healthy future for Oregon. Learn more at www. theOMA.org/scholarships. w ww.theOMA.org Winter 2015 35
OMA Winter 2015 Magazine
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