Globalizing the PA profession.

Abstract

US physician assistants (PAs) have long been working in other parts of the world. Recently, several countries in Western Europe have begun to investigate whether the PA concept can help their own predicted health provider shortages. The author, who was the first PA to work internationally with the humanitarian group Doctors Without Borders, reviews the current status of PAs around the world and identifies the emerging issues, obstacles, and opportunities associated with globalizing the profession.