Winston-Salem State University partners with Wake Forest University School of Medicine to create pathway program for PA Students

Wake Forest University School of Medicine and Winston-Salem State University have created a pathway program to encourage more Winston-Salem State students to pursue careers as Physician Assistants (PA) and apply to Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s PA program.

This new initiative builds on the longstanding relationship between the Department of PA Studies at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and the School of Health Sciences at Winston-Salem State.

The multi-year partnership has enabled pre-PA students to receive important professional guidance from PA faculty and current students who have elected to participate in the RLW Mentorship Certificate Program. Named in honor of PA Studies faculty member Robert Lee Wooten, the certificate program provides a series of workshops designed to equip PA students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become effective mentors.

“For some time, our PA faculty and students have been mentoring Winston-Salem State students who are interested in pursuing careers in health care, so we are delighted to take this next step forward in our relationship,” said Dr. Ebony Boulware, dean of Wake Forest University School of Medicine and chief science officer of Advocate Health. “We are grateful to Winston-Salem State for their partnership in our mission to educate the next generation of health care leaders and we eagerly look forward to working much closer with their faculty and students.”

Through the pathway program, Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s PA program will recruit Winston-Salem State graduates who meet the admission requirements and have been formally recommended by their leadership.

“Most of our students interested in pursuing careers in healthcare are attracted to the Physician Assistants program,” said Dr. Manju Bhat, dean of the College of Arts, Sciences, Business and Education at WSSU. “Our close partnership over the last few years with the faculty and students from the PA program at Wake Forest University and their dedication have benefited our students. This agreement is the obvious next step in our commitment to prepare the next generation of health care professionals, and we appreciate our partners at Wake Forest University.”

Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s PA program is ranked #16 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report. The program uses an inquiry-based learning model complemented by instruction in basic sciences, pharmacology and evidence-based medicine with a focus on primary health care delivery.

The WSSU School of Health Sciences is an ethnically diverse school that embraces health equity in education, research and service. Innovative learning experiences include a virtual hospital, mobile unit, free clinics run by students and study abroad opportunities. Students excel in their educational programs, on licensure examinations and in the workplace. Visit this link to learn more.

More than 170 students are enrolled in Wake Forest University School of Medicine’s PA program on campuses in Winston-Salem and in Boone.

More information about the PA program can be found on its website or by emailing paadmit@wakehealth.edu. See photos from the signing reception.

Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist (www.wakehealth.edu) is a pre-eminent academic health system based in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and part of Advocate Health, the third-largest nonprofit health system in the United States, which was created through the combination of Atrium Health and Advocate Aurora Health. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist’s two main components are an integrated clinical system – anchored by Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, an 885-bed tertiary-care hospital in Winston-Salem – that includes Atrium Health Levine Children’s Brenner Children’s Hospital, five community hospitals, more than 300 primary and specialty care locations and more than 2,700 physicians; and Wake Forest University School of Medicine, the academic core of Advocate Health and a recognized leader in experiential medical education and groundbreaking research that includes Wake Forest Innovations, a commercialization enterprise focused on advancing health care through new medical technologies and biomedical discovery. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist employs more than 22,000 teammates, part of Advocate Health’s 150,000 teammates. Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist provided a record-setting $767.5 million in community benefit in 2022, which includes unreimbursed care, financial assistance, education and research, and community health improvement. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.

Winston-Salem State University fosters the creative thinking, analytical problem-solving, and depth of character needed to transform the world. Rooted in liberal education, WSSU’s curriculum prepares students to be thought leaders who have the skills and knowledge needed to develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Founded in 1892, WSSU is a historically Black constituent institution of the University of North Carolina with a rich tradition of contributing to the social, cultural, intellectual, and economic growth of North Carolina, the region, and beyond. It is ranked the No. 1 university in North Carolina for social mobility by U.S. News & World Report. Guided by the motto, “Enter to Learn, Depart to Serve,” WSSU develops leaders who advance social justice by serving the world with compassion and commitment. For more information, visit www.wssu.edu. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X.