Post-Grad Physician Assistant Programs 1st in PA to Receive ARC Accreditation

St. Luke’s University Health Network’s (SLUHN) Critical Care & Emergency Medicine Advanced Practitioner Fellowship programs have received accreditation from The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The accreditation validates that St. Luke’s academic programs meet the highest standards and offer the best experience for PA trainees exploring post-graduate education in the critical care and emergency medicine specialties.

St. Luke’s University Health Network’s post-graduate PA programs are the first to receive this accreditation in the state of Pennsylvania and 15th in the country.  

“Educating healthcare professionals has been a priority for St. Luke’s for over a century,” said SLUHN’s John Gillard, PA-C, Chairman, Department of Advanced Practice. “Nurse practitioner and physician assistant trainees join learners from all disciplines in a patient-centered and educationally focused atmosphere. Physicians and advanced practitioners at St. Luke’s are part of the teaching team and make exceptional efforts to work with all trainees. St. Luke’s accreditation from the ARC-PA confirms this commitment, hopefully inspiring like-minded, purpose-driven professionals to join our team.”

The ARC-PA awards accreditation to programs through a peer review process that includes documentation and periodic site visit evaluation to substantiate compliance with the Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education. The accreditation process is designed to encourage sound educational practices and innovation by programs and to stimulate continuous self-study and improvement.

The ARC-PA is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).

About ARC-PA

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) is the accrediting agency that protects the interests of the public and PA profession by defining the standards for PA education and evaluating PA educational programs within the territorial United States to ensure their compliance with those standards.

In addition to establishing educational standards and fostering excellence in PA programs, the ARC-PA provides information and guidance to individuals and organizations regarding PA program accreditation.

The American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the American College of Physicians, the American College of Surgeons, the American Medical Association, and the Physician Assistant Education Association (formerly the Association of Physician Assistant Programs) all cooperate with the ARC-PA as collaborating organizations to establish, maintain, and promote appropriate standards of quality for entry level education of physician assistants (PAs) and to provide recognition for educational programs that meet the minimum requirements outlined in these Standards. These Standards are to be used for the development, evaluation, and self-analysis of physician assistant programs.