Her name is Emily Neel. She works for me as a physician assistant. Emily is one of the growing number of physician assistants in Brevard who have become integrated into existing medical practices, performing such widely varying roles as surgical assistants, family practice physician assistants or, in Emily’s case, she is a dermatology PA.

I have worked with PAs since 1986, when I joined the Air Force. So, I have a long, productive relationship with PAs. I trained them while at Eglin Air Force Base near Fort Walton Beach in the Panhandle, and while in the Air Force discovered them to be incredible allies in our war against illness.

Physician assistants first got their start in 1965 at Duke University, where Dr. Eugene Stead recruited Navy corpsmen fresh from Vietnam, then designed a curriculum that was modeled after the fast-track curriculum many doctors received during World War II. One of my patients was in Stead’s first graduating class. He was the beginning of the tidal wave that has changed the face of medical field today.

Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. They can conduct physical examinations, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, and write prescriptions. Given the requisite training, they can perform skin cancer surgery, research and operate with a wide range of autonomy in medical therapeutics.

Physician assistants go through a rigorous educational process, beginning with a bachelor’s degree as well as extensive experience in the health care field before admission to PA school. Then, a formal curriculum as dictated by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education ensues with 26 months of study, followed by a national licensure examination, which covers medical and surgical comprehension. Then, the real work begins.

After joining a medical practice, the PA learns what the scope of his or her practice will entail. My PAs are required to have a fundamental knowledge of the pathology of skin diseases, a broad knowledge of all aspects of dermatology as well as in-depth understanding of the therapeutics of skin disease. Their supervision and training on surgical removal of skin cancers rivals many dermatology residencies. My PAs display meticulous technique, which wins them admiration from colleagues and patients.

The demands on our medical resources are increasing at an accelerating pace. As the pressure increases for health care providers to see and treat more patients, PAs will provide excellent care. Just ask Emily’s patients.