SAHP to grant degrees to Canadian military

Mark Christiansen, Ph.D., associate director of the SAHP PA program, is shown along with Lt. Col. Robert Hart, commandant, CFMSS/CFDSS Borden, and Col. David Weger director, Health Services Personnel for the Department of National Defense, at the MOU signing ceremony on June 23 at Borden Base, Canada.

Mark Christiansen, Ph.D., associate director of the SAHP PA program, is shown with members of the Canadian Forces PA Program class of 2010.

The School of Allied Health Professions (SAHP) physician assistant program has completed a memorandum of understanding with the Canadian Forces physician assistant program to award bachelor of science degrees to its graduates beginning in 2009.

The University of Nebraska has been the degree-granting institution for the U.S. military Interservice Physician Assistant Program for a number of years, and now will provide this service to the Canadian military.

“Our physician assistant education program has an outstanding reputation and a long-standing commitment to the education of military PAs in the United States,” said Kyle Meyer, Ph.D., associate dean of the SAHP. “This new agreement presents a unique opportunity for our PA education program to contribute to the development of the PA profession in Canada.”

“We’re very pleased to have been contacted by the Canadian Forces because of our experience with the U.S. military,” said Jim Somers, Ph.D., program director for the PA program at UNMC. “We look forward to a great relationship.”

As the degree-granting institution, UNMC’s SAHP will oversee and approve the curriculum, Dr. Somers said.

“This new agreement presents a unique opportunity for our PA education program to contribute to the development of the PA profession in Canada.” Kyle Meyer, Ph.D.

“International relations are important to any world-class institution,” said Mark Christiansen, Ph.D., associate director of the SAHP PA program. “It’s also important for the PA profession because the concept is so new in Canada, especially in the civilian world. It’s an honor to have this tremendous opportunity to encourage the development of the physician assistant profession in Canada.”

The first graduating class of 26 students will be honored at a convocation ceremony at Borden Base, Canada, on July 28 and receive their degrees from UNMC in August. The ceremony will be attended by a number of dignitaries including the Canadian surgeon general as guest speaker.

The PA profession has been a part of the Canadian military for many years, but the profession is very new in the civilian sector in Canada. These Canadian Forces PA graduates will be the first PAs in Canada to receive academic degrees of any kind.