July 15, 2024

By Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science staff

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Britney Blacker is among the first group of students to graduate from an innovative physician assistant master's program. The program is a collaboration between Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota Rochester.

Britney Blacker was a sophomore at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota and a fast-pitch softball player when she underwent surgery for hip dysplasia.

Complications from the surgery led to more surgeries and hospitalizations, and a long recovery. But her experience as a patient strengthened her resolve to continue on her path to a career in healthcare.

At the time of her surgery, Blacker was part of the first group of students in an accelerated bachelor's degree program at Saint Mary's that is offered in collaboration with Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences and the University of Minnesota Rochester. Students in the program earn a bachelor's degree at Saint Mary's or University of Minnesota Rochester in three years and move directly into a two-year master's program at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences.

Blacker says her health challenges made the rigorous academic path more daunting. But with a lot of hard work and the support of faculty and staff, she's on track — with nearly two dozen of her classmates — to receive her physician assistant master's degree on Friday, July 19, as part of the first graduates of the program.

"Growing up, I was always thinking about a career in healthcare," Blacker says. "Being on the patient side of things further inspired me to work hard in my studies and ensure that I can be the same type of provider that my providers were for me."

Innovative program sets students up for success

"What makes this program innovative is how each student entering the program as a freshman at Saint Mary's University or University of Minnesota Rochester is assigned a Mayo adviser to build a sense of community and help with preparations for the transition to the master's program," says Shekitta Acker, Ph.D., program director for Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences.

Blacker says this connection with the Mayo master's program was critical to her success.

"The biggest asset of this program is being able to make connections with classmates and the Mayo Clinic staff long before you start your time in Rochester," Blacker says. "When I was in the ICU during my sophomore year, I had to miss the first two weeks of the semester. Between that and my mobility — being limited to a wheelchair for a month or so — I was struggling. Because of my Mayo Clinic connections, they already knew who I was and coordinated with me to keep me on track."

Vision to meet healthcare demand

The physician assistant master's program at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences was envisioned by Fredric Meyer, M.D., Waugh Executive Dean for Education, as a way to increase the number of physician assistants across the region to keep pace with patient demand. The program was established in 2016.

The physician assistant master's degree 3+2 program, launched in 2019, took that vision a step further by partnering with area universities.

"By design, the 3+2 program offers young people from the region, who know they want to provide direct patient care, a faster educational pathway to a very rewarding career," says Troy Tynsky, former operations administrator for Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences. "By building the program in collaboration with one public and one private academic affiliate, students have choices with respect to the type of undergraduate experience they want before starting the professional curriculum at Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences."

The physician assistant master's 3+2 program is one of many affiliations that the School of Health Sciences has with colleges and universities that extend opportunities to grow the healthcare workforce and improve patient care.