Building the Foundation

Parker, who is originally from Oklahoma, was stationed in San Diego while serving on active duty in the Navy. He says the palm trees and 70-degree winters convinced him to make San Diego his permanent home. He applied to the program at UC San Diego in part because of the School of Medicine’s reputation.

“Applying to UC San Diego was an easy choice,” said Parker. “Why settle for less when the best option is in your backyard?”

Since enrolling, Parker says the program has continually reinforced that he made the right choice. “This program is challenging and rewarding in equal measure, that’s part of what makes it so special,” he said. “However, the faculty are what really set it apart. Each faculty member has gotten to know us personally and it genuinely feels like they care about our success as much as our own families do. It’s not just about passing exams; they are invested in us as people.”

Another highlight for Parker has been the camaraderie he's found with medical students during his clinical rotations. With only 30 PA students and more than one hundred medical students in each cohort, Parker found he was more likely to cross paths with UC San Diego medical students at various clinical training sites.

“I found that I kept running into MD students who welcomed me in without hesitation,” said Parker. “We'd study together, swap notes, grab lunch and help each other through tough cases. Being part of the School of Medicine means being part of a family, and it doesn't matter what letters come after your name – MD, PA, or otherwise – you're treated like part of the same team.”

Parker says that sense of teamwork extended beyond UC San Diego. During his emergency medicine rotation at the El Centro Regional Medical Center (ECRMC), he found that all members of the medical team — physicians, PAs, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, technicians and others — all truly worked together for the best outcomes for the patients.

“In that emergency room, everyone is on the same team. There is no hierarchy, just people doing the work,” he said. “It was the clearest picture I got of how PAs expand access to care and make a real difference on the medical team.”

Learning in the classroom and clinic

The PA education program is completed in two phases. Each student begins with 15 months of didact training which includes curriculum related to basic and clinical sciences, principles of human behavior and research methodology. The students then move on to the clinical phase of the program, which includes 40 weeks of hands-on training at various clinical sites. They complete seven core rotations, plus three elective rotations, while concurrently completing a capstone project and preparation courses for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination.

For their clinical rotations, the PA students are encouraged to complete at least one clinical rotation at ECRMC in Imperial County. The students are provided with shared housing, that is located approximately one block from ECRMC, at no cost during this part of their clinical training.

“Training in Imperial County gives our students a firsthand understanding of what it means to practice medicine in a rural border community,” said Jorge Romo, MPA, PA-C, assistant director of clinical education for the Atkinson Physician Assistant Education Program. “They encounter unique health care challenges, including limited resources and workforce shortages, while learning to provide thoughtful, adaptable, and culturally responsive care.”

Parker completed his emergency medicine rotation as well as a portion of his women’s health and pediatrics rotations at ECRMC. He said that El Centro has become almost like a second home where he has been able to reconnect with his classmates while learning how to help patients navigate some of the challenges they face in a rural border community.

As he prepares to graduate with the program's inaugural class, Parker is eager to carry those experiences into practice, helping patients while knowing he also helped shape the future of PA education at UC San Diego.

“People don't always realize their health is the one thing they truly have,” said Parker. “Being able to walk alongside someone through sickness and health is a privilege I don't take lightly. I also love that a PA career offers flexibility. I can move between specialties and settings throughout my career, always working alongside a great team.”

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