The Training and Utilization of Surgical Physician Assistants

Abstract

• A community hospital's search for qualified surgical house staff in 1975 led to the development of a postgraduate residency program in surgery for physician assistants. Eleven years after its inception, the program's purpose and structure were reviewed, and its alumni, goals, and contributions were evaluated. A 1987 alumni survey provided data to assess the value of residency training to current employment and job satisfaction. (Arch Surg 1989;124:348-351)