Physician Assistant Program

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Physician Assistant Program offers an exceptional value as the most affordable PA program in Tennessee, with the lowest total tuition and fees in the state. Beyond tuition, students benefit from the financial advantages of living in Memphis, where the cost of living is significantly below national averages—rent is approximately 35% lower, utilities about 25% lower, and overall cost of living roughly 15% lower. This combination of reduced educational expenses and a more affordable daily living environment allows students to minimize debt while maintaining a high quality of life, making UTHSC a clear leader in both value and return on investment for PA education. 

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Physician Assistant Program delivers a comprehensive didactic year entirely in Memphis, providing students with a stable, resource-rich learning environment at a major academic health science center. Students gain hands-on anatomical mastery through a full dissection cadaver laboratory, an experience that reinforces three-dimensional clinical understanding far beyond prosection-based or virtual models. Clinical skills are further advanced at the UTHSC CHIPS Center, where high-fidelity simulation and standardized patient encounters develop real-world decision-making and team-based care competencies. Complementing this foundation is a 9-week, total-immersion Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) curriculum, equipping students with practical imaging skills that are immediately applicable across clinical settings. Together, these elements create a rigorous, clinically integrated didactic experience designed to produce confident, practice-ready graduates. 

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Physician Assistant Program offers a uniquely flexible clinical year, with training opportunities in Memphis, Nashville, Knoxville, or Chattanooga. Students select their preferred region and, in most cases, remain there for the entirety of the clinical year, providing continuity in training, reduced relocation burden, and the ability to build meaningful relationships within a single healthcare community. As part of the UTHSC College of Medicine statewide clinical network, students train alongside other medical learners, including resident physicians and medical students, and are integrated into healthcare teams across diverse practice settings, gaining exposure to high-quality clinical education within an established academic medical infrastructure. This regional model combines flexibility, stability, and depth of experience—preparing graduates for seamless transition into clinical practice.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Physician Assistant Program intentionally maintains a small cohort of just 30 students, creating a highly personalized and supportive learning environment. This low student-to-faculty ratio allows for individualized instruction, meaningful mentorship, and timely academic feedback, ensuring each student’s strengths and areas for growth are actively supported. In the classroom, laboratory, and clinical skills settings, students benefit from greater hands-on opportunities, direct faculty engagement, and enhanced collaboration with peers. This close-knit structure not only strengthens academic performance and clinical skill development but also fosters a strong sense of community—preparing graduates with the confidence, competence, and professional relationships essential for success in clinical practice. 

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center Physician Assistant Program is distinguished by its supportive and highly engaged faculty, who are deeply invested in student success. Faculty maintain an open-door culture, providing accessible mentorship, individualized academic guidance, and timely, constructive feedback throughout both the didactic and clinical phases of training. This level of engagement fosters a learning environment where students feel supported, challenged, and confident in their development, promoting stronger clinical reasoning, professional growth, and resilience. By building meaningful relationships with experienced clinician-educators, students benefit from real-world insights, career guidance, and advocacy, ultimately enhancing both their educational experience and long-term success as practicing physician assistants. 

The UTHSC Office of Student Success provides a comprehensive, student-centered support system designed to help learners thrive academically, professionally, and personally throughout their training. Through an integrated model that brings together academic coaching, tutoring, disability services, counseling, financial aid, student life, and leadership development, the Office ensures that every student has access to the resources needed to succeed in a rigorous health sciences environment. Students benefit from personalized academic support, 24/7 wellness and crisis resources, and a coordinated CARE Team approach, creating a safety net that promotes resilience, well-being, and sustained performance. By centralizing these services into a collaborative, accessible hub, UTHSC empowers students to overcome challenges, enhance their learning, and achieve their full potential as future healthcare professionals.