The benefits and limitations of establishing the PA profession globally: A systematic review and mixed-methods study.

Objective: Physician associates/assistants (PAs) and their equivalents offer a solution to the supply and demand crisis to alleviate global healthcare needs. This study investigated how PA and PA equivalents address global healthcare needs across different healthcare systems, revealing recommendations for their use. The study also sought to catalog the global healthcare needs that PAs and equivalents are successfully alleviating, the roles in which they function, and the barriers facing implementation.

Exploring Potential Challenges in Implementing a Standardized Curriculum for the Physician Associate Program in India: Insights From Stakeholder Discussions.

Introduction: This article explores the potential challenges in implementing a national-level standardized curriculum for physician associate (PA) programs in India, an initiative under the directions of the National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professionals Act of 2021.

Methods: Initiated in August 2023, a multistage process began with emailing a draft curriculum for review to key stakeholders, followed by a virtual meeting on September 3. Key stakeholders, including faculty from various universities, participated in focus group discussions (FGDs) at the International Association of Physician Associate Educators and the Indian Association of Physician Assistants annual conference on September 21, 2023, in Gandhinagar.

Investigation of the diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging within the undergraduate student population within the Department of Animal Science at Iowa State University.

Iowa State University (ISU) provides resources for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEI-B) to provide students with a comfortable academic home regardless of their demographics or prior experiences. The objective of this study was to investigate undergraduate students' DEI-B perspectives in the Department of Animal Science at ISU. One survey instrument was developed containing 14 questions that covered demographics, feelings of inclusion, comfort-seeking tools, and ways to improve DEI-B.

Systems Thinking and Sustainable Food Systems in Dietetics Education: A Survey of Directors.

Background: Systems thinking is recommended, but not required, for teaching food and water system sustainability in nutrition and dietetics education.

Objective: This study investigated systems thinking and sustainable, resilient, and healthy food and water systems (SRHFWS) in nutrition and dietetics programs. It examined program directors' practices, values, attitudes, confidence levels, and the relationships between systems thinking, teaching SRHFWS topics, confidence levels, and years of experience as a dietitian and program director.