Become a Physician Assistant at UTMB
Collaborative, hands-on training at one of the first PA programs in Texas. Where purpose meets PAssion!
Welcome to The University of Texas Medical Branch Physician Assistant Studies Program. Where Calling Meets Community, and where your journey to becoming a physician assistant truly begins.
UTMB has spent more than a century training healthcare professionals through purpose, service, and an unwavering commitment to the communities that need them most. Located on Galveston Island, our campus pairs a world-class academic medical center with the warmth and character of coastal Texas. There is a moment, crossing the causeway, with the salt air and open sky ahead of you, when you realize this place is something special.
Our 26-month Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program welcomes approximately 90 students each July, and from day one, you will be immersed in rigorous, hands-on education. You won't simply study medicine; you will practice it, working alongside dedicated faculty and interprofessional teams across diverse clinical settings. From serving underserved patient populations to training within one of the nation's premier academic health systems, our students graduate with a depth of experience and adaptability that sets them apart.
Our admissions process reflects our values. We invite competitive applicants to Galveston for an in-person Multi-Station Interview, because getting to know you -your story, your reasoning, your character- matters just as much as your academic record. We want to see the person behind the application, and we want you to see us, too.
What defines this program above all is our people. You will find a community that knows your name, invests in your growth, and walks alongside you from your first day to the moment you earn your white coat and beyond. The passion and heart our students bring inspire me every single day. If you are looking for a place where your desire to serve is matched by the training to do it exceptionally well; we invite you to join us on the island.
Katrina M. Jackson MHSc, PA-C
Chair of Admissions