Webinar: Potential Factors Contributing to Low-Matriculation Rates for URiM PA Applicants  

In PAEA’s first Deep Dive into EDI Research webinar, facilitators will discuss factors contributing to low matriculation rates for health professions students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine (URiM), by examining the influence of healthcare-related pre-admission experiences on PA program matriculation.

Although academic metrics are known to predict PA program matriculation, researchers found that preadmission experiences may also play a role. For instance, the study found that students who have patient care, shadowing, or volunteer experience improve their likelihood of matriculation, but URiM applicants can be at a disadvantage because they are less likely to obtain these experiences.

The facilitators of this webinar will be the authors of the JPAE article, “The Influence of Patient Care, Shadowing, and Volunteer Experience on Diverse Applicant Matriculation Into Physician Assistant/Associate Programs,” Mirela Bruza-Augatis, MS, PA-C, National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Seton Hall University; Bettie Coplan, PhD, PA-C, Northern Arizona University; Wendiann Sethi, PhD, Seton Hall University; and M. Jane McDaniel, MS, MLS(ASCP)SC, Yale Physician Assistant Online Program at Yale University School of Medicine.