Physician Assistant (M.P.A.)

Earn your degree at a top Physician Assistant program of 2025 according to U.S. News & World Report.

Physician Assistant (M.P.A.)

Celebrating the White Coat Ceremony

The White Coat Ceremony marks a student's entry as a junior colleague into the field of medicine. Just before Commencement, the Class of 2025 received their white coats and took the Physician Assistant Professional Oath.

Why become a PA?

High demand

Join a fast-growing career field. Employment of PAs is projected to grow 28% from 2023 to 2033.

Less class time

Finish graduate school and receive training in just half the time of traditional medical school.

Career flexibility

Choose between specialties and work in different areas of medicine.

Program Benefits

Students gathered around a table studying

Named a top program

U.S. News & World Report ranks the M.P.A. program among its ‘Best Health Schools.’

The 2025 edition of U.S. News & World Report’s Best Health Schools rankings — a peer-assessed category of its Best Graduate Schools — ranks the Physician Assistant (M.P.A.) program 35th among the nation’s 310 physician assistant programs.

The program’s rigorous 28-month, full-time curriculum ensures graduates are well equipped to provide care and work collaboratively in a variety of healthcare settings, including hospitals, urgent care centers, outpatient offices and clinics.

Read more on Pulse.

Medical school environment

Learn through instruction based on the medical model of education on the campus of a medical school.

Medical school environment

The PA program is divided into two phases, spanning 28 consecutive months.

Phase I: The 16-month pre-clinical year includes traditional classroom instruction and simulated patient interaction.

Phase II: Nine clinical field experiences provide direct supervised patient care in a variety of medical and surgical disciplines.

PA students conduct cadaver dissections in the Anatomy Lab. >>

Community focus

Give back to others through Community-Engaged Learning and volunteer opportunities.

Community focus

Our Community-Engaged Learning program combines meaningful community service with structured learning and reflection to enhance PA students’ overall learning experience. Learn more.

Named a top program

U.S. News & World Report ranks the M.P.A. program among its ‘Best Health Schools.’

Medical school environment

Learn through instruction based on the medical model of education on the campus of a medical school.

Read more on Pulse.

Medical school environment

The PA program is divided into two phases, spanning 28 consecutive months.

Phase I: The 16-month pre-clinical year includes traditional classroom instruction and simulated patient interaction.

Phase II: Nine clinical field experiences provide direct supervised patient care in a variety of medical and surgical disciplines.

PA students conduct cadaver dissections in the Anatomy Lab. >>

A female student taking care of an elderly female in clinic

Community focus

Give back to others through Community-Engaged Learning and volunteer opportunities.

Community focus

Our Community-Engaged Learning program combines meaningful community service with structured learning and reflection to enhance PA students’ overall learning experience. Learn more.

Named a top program

U.S. News & World Report ranks the M.P.A. program among its ‘Best Health Schools.’

Medical school environment

Learn through instruction based on the medical model of education on the campus of a medical school.

Community focus

Give back to others through Community-Engaged Learning and volunteer opportunities.

Read more on Pulse.

Medical school environment

The PA program is divided into two phases, spanning 28 consecutive months.

Phase I: The 16-month pre-clinical year includes traditional classroom instruction and simulated patient interaction.

Phase II: Nine clinical field experiences provide direct supervised patient care in a variety of medical and surgical disciplines.

PA students conduct cadaver dissections in the Anatomy Lab. >>

Community focus

Our Community-Engaged Learning program combines meaningful community service with structured learning and reflection to enhance PA students’ overall learning experience. Learn more.

Play a critical role in healthcare. Become a Physician Assistant.

Apply Now

Learn by doing

Work with standardized patients in the Sentara Center for Simulation & Immersive Learning. Standardized patients are individuals trained to:

portray a patient with a specific condition in a realistic, standardized and repeatable way,
document learner performance,
provide feedback on both clinical and interpersonal skills and
realistically represent patient satisfaction.

Caring and accessible faculty

Join a program with compassionate mentors and teachers who are dedicated to seeing their students succeed.

"The unparalleled opportunities for early clinical immersion, coupled with the exceptional academic instruction from the PA faculty, were key factors in my decision to pursue further education here.” — Clarissa Bielema, M.P.A. Class of 2026

An instructor works with two PA students as they practice splinting.

Did you know this school also offers a one-year Medical Science (D.M.Sc.) program?

Learn more

Contact Us

Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences
Physician Assistant
at Old Dominion University
P. O. Box 1980
Norfolk, VA 23501

757-446-7158

VHS-PAProg@odu.edu

Get Directions

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This website reflects current program information, including admission criteria and curricula. Information is subject to change.

Physician Assistant (M.P.A.)

Earn your degree at a top Physician Assistant program of 2025 according to U.S. News & World Report.