PA Diversity and Inclusion

Mission Statement

The University of Tampa Physician Assistant Medicine Program’s Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) committee works to ensure that every student, staff and faculty member feels that they are a vital member of our community regardless of ethnicity or cultural beliefs that may otherwise be depicted as different from the majority. We strive to develop cultural competency among all members of our community via programming designed to increase every individual’s exposure to learning experiences that demonstrate the commonality of all humans and an appreciation and understanding of all cultures, lifestyles and ethnicities.

Motto

"Diverse in culture, united in purpose"

We value diversity and insist on inclusion because we recognize the health benefits of a diverse and inclusive clinical workforce. Diversity encompasses all that we are, including our innate demographics and cumulative life experiences, creating resiliency, empathy, compassion, and maturity. Recruiting, matriculating, and graduating diverse physician assistants with these valuable characteristics contributes to a healthcare system that is better prepared to treat all patients with dignity and respect.

Meet Rhonda Feldman, Associate Professor and PA Program Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair 

Click here to learn more about our Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.

Service, Scholarship and Diversity

Our commitment to diversity and service is manifest in a student population that is participating in several scholarship opportunities to provide care for the most vulnerable. We currently have five students participating in the Health Professions Scholarship Program. Upon completing their physician assistant training, they will either provide care for veterans through the VA system or to military service members as members of the military.

Learn more about these programs at https://va-ams-info.intelliworxit.com/hpsp/ and https://veteran.com/hpsp/.

We have two students who are Health Resources and Services Administration: National Health Service Corps (HRSA NHSC) scholars. This program awards scholarships to students who are pursuing primary care careers in underserved areas. These scholarships are highly competitive and graduates are placed in areas of highest need of medical care upon graduation.

Learn more about the HRSA NHSC at https://nhsc.hrsa.gov/.

Other scholarships our students earned are the Navy Health Scholars Collegiate Program, the American Warriors Association, the Vietnamese Healthcare Professionals Association and the KML Foundation. In addition to this, over 30% of our students are using their GI Bill benefits to attend PA training.