Pre-Physician Assistant
Available as a pre-professional advising track
Physician assistants are licensed to diagnose and treat illness as well as to prescribe medication for patients. As part of a primary care team, they can provide nearly all of the clinical services of a licensed MD.
Here at Roanoke College, we offer a rigorous preparation in the sciences, along with a strong liberal arts background and access to clinical experiences and research opportunities. That gives our students an edge in gaining admission to top-quality graduate programs across the country.
Student Experiences
Kate Yukuboff: Research will give her an edge applying to grad schools
US News & World Report ranked Physician Assistant as the 5th best job in America in 2016.
Pursuing their dreams
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Emergency medicine is his passion
After Roanoke, Michael Gil '09 received his master's in Physician Assistant Studies from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, then returned to Virginia to participate in the Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant fellowship program at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Michael is now working as an emergency medicine physician assistant at Emergency Physicians of Tidewater in Norfolk, VA.
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Athletic injuries spark interest in future career
Brayden Gerrie '13 was an All-American lacrosse player at Roanoke. His own athletic injuries sparked an interest in orthopedics and sports medicine, leading him to conduct a physiological study of his teammates, where he looked at measures of oxygen efficiencies, anaerobic responses, and body composition. "I was able to show them the scientific work I was doing," Gerrie said, "and how it related to our performance on the field."
Learn By Doing
Internships give you the experience you need to get into top graduate programs
We've established relationships with internship and placement sponsors in a wide range of medical organizations. Our students have completed internships at organizations such as:
- Blue Ridge Behavioral Healthcare
- Brandon Animal Hospital
- Carilion Community Hospital
- Child Abuse Prevention Council
- Lewis-Gale Clinic
- Merck Laboratories
- Physicians to Children
- Q-Biochem, LLC
- Thompson's Brain Injury Rehabilitation Center
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the demand for physician assistants to grow by more than 30% from 2014-2024.
News
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Your faculty and staff are contributing to important conversations across disciplines. Check out some of their latest achievements.
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Roanoke College faculty are accomplishing exciting things! Catch up on some of the latest news.
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Catch up on the latest news from our exceptional faculty members.
Contact
Health Careers Advising Board
A team of faculty advisors dedicated to supporting students pursuing healthcare professions
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Join us for an insightful look at the science, trends, and health research into cannabis across the lifespan.
- Date:
- March 23, 2026
- Time:
- 7:30 - 8:30 p.m.
- Location:
Virtual
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Enhancing our children's genes: moral obligation or travesty? In this year's Crumley Lecture, sponsored by the Benne Center for Church & Society, Dr. James Peterson explores a life-changing ethical question that has presented itself.
- Date:
- March 26, 2026
- Time:
- 7 - 8 p.m.
- Location:
Wortmann Ballroom
