The mission of the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Department of Physician Assistant Studies is to:
- Excel in the art and science of physician assistant education
- Address the health care needs of a diverse and dynamic population
- Promote leadership, research, service and excellence among our students and graduates
- Foster a commitment to lifelong learning
Parkland Memorial Hospital is the main hospital of the Parkland Health & Hospital System and serves as the public hospital for Dallas county. Parkland Memorial Hospital has a well-established reputation in trauma and burn care, but is probably best known as the hospital where President John F. Kennedy was taken after he was shot by his alleged assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald in 1963. Parkland opened one of the largest civilian burn centers in the United States in 1961; and they opened the first and the largest skin bank in the country to provide grafts for burn patients in 1973. The leading burn resuscitation formula which is used worldwide was developed at Parkland. The surgical and anesthesia staff from Parkland and UT Southwestern published the first medical text on trauma in 1966; and Parkland opened the 4th surgical trauma unit in the U.S. in 1968. The first pediatric trauma center in the nation for the treatment of seriously injured children was opened by Parkland in 1984. Parkland has been named as one of America's Best Hospitals by US News & World Report for the past 16 years consecutively.
In response to the demand for additional training in medical and surgical subspecialties for graduate physician assistants, the Department of Physician Assistant Studies has developed postgraduate residency programs. The first program to be launched was the Dermatology Training Program which accepted their first student in 2001. The postgraduate residency program in trauma and burns which is developed in conjunction with Parkland Health & Hospital System hopes to launch their inaugural class in Fall 2009.
Program Description
The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in association with Parkland Health & Hospital System has developed a 12-month post-graduate residency program in trauma and burns for physician assistants. This program will consist of didactic instruction and clinical rotations on various surgical services designed to train physician assistants on the management of patients with traumatic and burn injuries.
PA residents will rotate through trauma surgery (4 months), emergency general surgery (2 months), and the burn unit (4 months). In addition, students will have one month for an elective rotation in a surgical subspecialty or the surgical intensive care unit. At the completion of the residency, the graduate will be required to serve a one-year position on a surgical service at Parkland Health & Hospital.
Credential Awarded
Upon graduation, the physician assistant trauma and burns resident will receive a UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas certificate documenting completion of a one year postgraduate training in trauma and burns.
