In step with a growing national movement, St. Ambrose University (SAU) announced it is renaming its Physician Assistant program as the Physician Associate (PA) program.
The move comes as the industry is moving to modernize the profession’s title to physician associate to reflect the evolving role of these highly trained healthcare providers, the Davenport university said in a news release Friday, May 1.
Additionally, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds recently signed legislation updating Iowa statute to recognize “physician associate” as the official title. The new law, which goes into effect July 1, will make Iowa one of the first states in the nation to adopt the change.
According to the SAU release, the shift is part of a broader effort led by the American Academy of Physician Associates and state organizations, including the Iowa PA Society. The updated title, proponents say, more accurately represents the collaborative, patient-centered role PAs play in diagnosing, treating, and managing care.
“Modernizing the professional title acknowledges how the role of PAs has evolved and affirms the advanced training and responsibility our students assume from Day One of practice,” Suzanne Peppers, program director of SAU’s Master of PA Studies Program, said in the release.
She added that the name change “reinforces our commitment to preparing graduates who are ready to meet the changing needs of patients and healthcare systems.”
The SAU program has a reputation for preparing practice-ready graduates. Students benefit from hands-on clinical experiences, faculty mentorship, and strong placement into healthcare roles across the Quad Cities region and beyond.
“This title change reflects what PA education has prepared graduates to do for decades: practice medicine collaboratively, assume significant clinical responsibility, and deliver high‐quality care across every setting,” added Katie Browning, interim dean of SAU’s College of Health and Human Services. “Physician associate is an accurate, modern title that aligns with the education, training, and trust placed in our graduates by patients and healthcare systems.”
For more information about St. Ambrose’s PA program, visit www.sau.edu.
