PAs in Ireland: A Bright Future Ahead

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

4:55 PM – 5:20 PM East Coast USA Time

Location: Dogwood (Mezzanine Level)

CMEs: 0.5

Lead Author(s)

KH

Kris Himmerick, PhD, PA-C (they/them/theirs)

Director of Assessment
University of the Pacific
Sacramento, California

Slides

Co-Speaker(s)

Lisa Alexander, EdD MPH PA-C

Professor and Director
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Physician Associate Programme
Washington, District of Columbia

Disclosure(s):

Kris Himmerick, PhD, PA-C: No financial relationships to disclose

Lisa Alexander, EdD, MPH, PA-C: No financial relationships to disclose

Description: The physician associate (PA) profession is relatively new to the Republic of Ireland, and the first Irish PA program began in 2016. This qualitative study explores how the first PA graduates are integrating into health care teams.

Learning Objectives:

Describe the emergence and role of Physician Associates (PAs) in the Republic of Ireland
Recognize the fundamental principles of qualitative research methodology
Evaluate the factors that both facilitate and hinder the integration of Physician Assistants (PAs) into healthcare teams in Ireland