UW Medical School Expanding Program To Wausau

6/3/12 – The U-W Medical School in Madison says it will expand its physician assistant training program to Wausau. The goal is to encourage more people to become P-A’s in northern Wisconsin, at a time when the Badger State is dealing with a predicted shortage of doctors. The U-W Marathon County campus in Wausau will accept four students in the summer of 2014, and it expects to add 24 students by 2016. Doctor Elizabeth Perry says students will complete at least five clinical rotations, in addition to their classroom work. The U-W Medical School currently has 81 P-A students taking courses in Madison as well as a remote learning program. Roger Lucas of the Aspirus health system in Wausau says the new program will address a shortage of health care workers that’s expected to be more severe in the next four-to-five years as more Baby Boomers retire. Physician assistants can conduct routine physicals, order exams, and treat illnesses under a doctor’s supervision.