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The Master of Physician Assistant Studies program expanded to Laredo in summer 2021 and the first cohort has completed its first two semesters of the 30-month program.

The PA program, based in the School of Health Professions, is located at the UT Education and Research Center at Laredo. The center was dedicated on Nov. 30 and is part of an effort by the University of Texas System to expand comprehensive degree and certification programs in Laredo. The center will offer programs taught by faculty from �����Թ�, The University of Texas at San Antonio and �����Թ� Science Center at Houston, with the goal of better serving the health care needs of the fast-growing region.

“It’s exciting, because I think the dedication was an instrument to spread the word about the PA profession in the community,” said Assistant Professor Rosalyn Rosas, MMS, PA-C, associate academic coordinator and full-time faculty member for the program in Laredo.

Offering the PA program in Laredo will hopefully increase the number of health care providers committed to serving in the region, said PA studies Assistant Professor-Clinical and Admissions Chair Leticia Bland, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C.

“Our effort is to address workforce shortages and limited access to care and establish a graduate medical education program with the goal of recruiting and retaining health care providers in the communities where they grew up, live and hopefully want to stay and practice,” Dr. Bland said.

UT Center Laredo is located at the former �����Թ� Laredo Regional Campus near the Laredo Medical Center and is led by Executive Director Adriana Nunemaker. .