COVID-19, the quarantine, and all subsequent fallout has everyone struggling to figure out what to do next. Medical education is no exception.

Many PA students were abruptly pulled from clinical sites and PA programs are struggling to figure out how to keep their students on track to graduate. Some of these students are merely weeks away from finishing their rigorous programs.

ARC-PA released one statement early in the course of events (March 10th) with vague instructions on how to adapt during this crisis. They have not provided guidance to PA programs on any alternative clinical learning approaches.

PA students across the country have indicated their programs do not know how to proceed with clinical education, and feel ARC-PA has limited them on what they can do. These students have been left in limbo, without answers. They have spent thousands of dollars and months of their lives dedicated to this education, and are simply asking for answers right now.

We are asking ARC-PA to follow what AAMC (the association of American Medical Colleges) has done for medical students and provide guidance to PA programs and support PA students, with the goal of graduating on time when possible. We are asking them to make creative and innovative adjustments without sacrificing the high standards of education PAs are held too. We know this is possible.