Program Wins Grant to Boost Diverse PA Workforce

Program officials say the grant will help the University achieve its mission to shape the future of health care.

Bridge Program Spans More Than a Decade

This year's grant of $91,000 will power the first-year Physician Assistant student curriculum and fortify the groundbreaking two-week Bridge Program. The University’s success shines brightly among the selected recipients, as its application emerged triumphant among 18 other deserving contenders.

“Starting in 2012, we’ve provided a two-week Bridge Program for up to 10 incoming students. The Bridge Program helps incoming students that may need extra support whether because they are anxious about the transition to PA school or if they have been out of school for a long time,” says Dr. Joy Moverley (MSPAS/MPH Class of 2013), Assistant Dean of the College of Education and Health Sciences and Director of the Joint MSPAS/MPH Program.

“We are also using funds to support an eight-week faculty fellowship. Our new graduates will be available after they graduate to help with tutoring and learn more about the specialty of academic medicine. All our previous fellows have gone on to continue to support the program either as part-time adjunct faculty or clinical preceptors,” Moverley says. 

The Song-Brown Healthcare Workforce Training Programs Grant provides funding to programs to provide clinical training and education in underserved areas, to incentivize programs to increase the number of underrepresented minority primary care practitioners, and to increase access to health care to the state’s underserved population.

Funded programs are evaluated based on the percentage of graduates from underserved areas, the percentage of disadvantaged students, and the percentage of graduates serving underserved areas in the state.

Program Injects Public Health into PA Training

TUC’s Joint MSPAS/MPH Program since 2002 has prepared students to become PAs with a public health perspective.

By integrating coursework, students earn two degrees simultaneously over a 33-month period. This overlapping structure and the fact that all of the PA students also earn a Master of Public Health degree distinguishes the University’s joint program from other PA programs where the two courses of study are pursued independently.

As part of the program, students choose a specialized public health track: the Community Health track for those who will work with state, community, and nonprofit public health organizations; the Global Health track that prepares students to be effective leaders and advocates for global health; or the newly created Health Equity and Criminal Justice track that prepares students to advocate for and address the health needs of populations involved in the justice system.

“As a recipient of the Song-Brown Healthcare Workforce Training Programs Grant, our Joint MSPAS/MPH Program at Touro University California takes great pride in its commitment to addressing health care disparities and serving underserved populations,” says Dr. Tami Hendriksz (DO Class of 2006), who serves as Interim Chief Academic Officer at the University, and is also Dean and CAO of the College of Osteopathic Medicine.

“Our unique approach, integrating clinical training with a public health perspective, not only prepares students to become skilled PAs but also equips them with the knowledge and tools to make a meaningful impact in their communities. This grant reinforces our dedication to producing health care professionals who are equipped to meet the diverse needs of California's underserved areas,” Hendriksz says.

The funding was linked to the 2023-2024 grant cycle.