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By Alex Branch 

 
The UNT Health Science Center Physician Assistant Studies Program was rated 33rd in the country by the U.S. News and World Report 2020 edition of Best Graduate Schools. 

The magazine ranked 169 schools, placing the UNTHSC Physician Assistant (PA) program in the top 20 percent of all PA programs that received a rating.  

“This national ranking is a recognition of the talented faculty, the motivated, dedicated staff, and the hardworking and brilliant students,” said Kirk Barron, PhD, Department Chair and Program Director. “Considering that there are 238 accredited PA programs in the country, this rating is a significant statement about the quality of our program.” 

The last 12 months have been full of achievements for the PA program. For the fourth straight year, every graduate passed the national certification exam on the first attempt, the second-longest streak among the eight programs in the state of Texas.  

Also, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant approved the program’s proposal to condense its curriculum from 34 to 30 months starting this fall. Previously, the UNTHSC program was among the longest in the country. 

The change has already positively impacted student recruitment, said J. Glenn Forister, PhD, PA-C, Dean of the School of Health Professions.  

“The number of PA programs is growing quickly nationwide,” Dr. Forister said. “To rank in the top quintile of all programs speaks to the tremendous value of our program to our students and the North Texas community we proudly serve.” 

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