History

1997

Program founded and provisionally accredited by Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
Program admits first students

Program granted full accreditation by Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs
First graduating class

The Physician Assistant Program was awarded a three–year grant of $439,917 by the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration Bureau of Health Professions. The Barry University Primary Care PA Training Project focused on the development of a Cultural Competency Curriculum and improved computer and online capability of the program. The major focus was delivery of primary care to rural, medically underserved and disadvantaged communities.
100% of first–time test takers pass the national certifying examination.

Program accreditation renewed for five years by Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant
Service Learning component added to curriculum

Fund–raiser in Palm Beach County for endowed student scholarship
Problem based learning component added to the curriculum
The Physician Assistant Program was awarded a one–year supplemental grant of $75,000 by the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions. This supplemented the existing grant awarded in 2001.

Planning began for an expansion program serving place–bound students on Florida’s west coast.
The Physician Assistant Program was awarded over $475,000 for its third three–year grant from the Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Health Professions to support distance education.

First–year students enroll in the expansion program at the University Partnership Center at St. Petersburg College in St. Petersburg, Florida. Students began attending first-year didactic lectures delivered simultaneously between St. Petersburg and Miami Shores.

Hurricane Wilma forces the SGMS into temporary quarters.
Lisa Wharry was awarded the Service Above Self Award by the North Miami Foundation for Senior Citizens for placements in service learning experiences.
Second–year students enrolled in the expansion program at St. Petersburg, Florida began their first rotations on Florida’s west coast.
Division of Medicine established to include School of Podiatric Medicine and School of Graduate Medical Sciences

Ground breaking for the Center for Community Health and Minority Medicine
Program accreditation renewed for two years by Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant
PA Student Association was selected as the 2007 Outstanding Student Society in the country by the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants
First graduating class including the expansion program at St. Petersburg, Florida as well as Miami Shores students.

Travis Rogers, PA class of 2009 was the recipient of the national Physician Assistant Foundation Scholarship. The scholarship is awarded nationally on the basis of financial need, academic achievement, extracurricular activities, and future goals as a PA.

Program accreditation renewed for seven years by Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant; the maximum number of years the Commission will accredit physician assistant programs.

First - year students enroll in the expansion program on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. Students began attending first-year didactic lectures delivered simultaneously between St. Croix, St. Petersburg and Miami Shores.