International medical graduates as physician assistants

UNLABELLED: This study describes the MEDEX physician assistant (PA) program's experience with screening, educating, and graduating PA students who were international medical graduates (IMGs). METHODS: The study reviewed IMG-PA demographics including country of origin; prior primary care practice; and current practice location, specialty, and medically underserved designation. Descriptive statistics and chi-square analysis or Fisher exact test summarize outcomes. RESULTS: Thirty-nine IMG-PAs were graduated from 1991 through 2013. IMGs came from central and eastern Europe (48.7%), Asia (33.3%), and other regions. Most (69.2%) are women. Almost all (91.7%) practice in urban settings, 55.6% are in primary care, and 30.6% work in medically underserved areas. IMG-PAs in primary care were more likely to practice in underserved areas (P=0.009). CONCLUSION: MEDEX has graduated IMG-PAs who possess appropriate clinical and professional PA skills.