The Surgical Physician Assistant Program at UAB is one of only two entry-level surgical specialty program out of 137 physician assistant programs in the nation. Graduates are considered highly trained to work as physician’s assistants in any medical setting when a surgeon is responsible, including pre-operative care, the operating room, recovery room, intensive care unit, and surgeon's office.
Duties of the surgical physician assistant vary and may include tasks such as:
- assisting in surgery;
- taking patient histories;
- performing physical examinations;
- inserting and removing various catheters and devices; and
- performing wound care.