Master of Science Physician Assistant (MPAS) Program
The Howard University Department of Physician Assistant offers an entry-level Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program which prepares culturally and clinically competent healthcare providers who will have a positive impact on today's healthcare workforce and beyond.
The mission of the Howard University Physician Assistant Program is to educate and cultivate compassionate, competent, and culturally diverse physician assistants committed to increasing access to health care in medically underserved communities.
The program will provide an exceptional educational opportunity and experience for professional and ethical students of high academic potential, with an emphasis on Black students and other underrepresented minorities in medicine.
The program faculty is dedicated to preparing, empowering, and training healthcare professionals who are inclusive in their delivery of care to meet the needs and improve healthcare disparities in diverse populations.
Department Chair
Dionne M. Soares, MPAS, PA-C Phone:
202-388-8808
Email:
HUPAProgram@howard.edu
- Prepare physician assistant students to be clinically efficient, knowledgeable, compassionate, competent, and professional members of their healthcare teams.
- Recruit and retain qualified and disciplined students, inclusive of those from multicultural and diverse backgrounds underrepresented in medicine.
- Educate culturally competent Physician Assistants who will contribute to the healthcare provider workforce, inclusive of underserved communities.
- Prepare and cultivate physician assistant students to successfully pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).
- Establish, develop, and maintain an educational environment which fosters interprofessional and interdisciplinary team collaboration to provide optimal patient care.
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Howard University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Howard University.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-howard-university/
3325 Paddocks Parkway
Suite 345
Suwanee, Georgia 30024
Phone: 770-476-1224
Email: accreditationservices@arc-pa.org
Website: www.arc-pa.org
The National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) is the credentialing organization for Physician Assistants (PA) in the United States. The Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) is the national certification examination all graduates must pass to practice as a certified PA.
In compliance with the 6th edition accreditation standard A3.11c, the program must report the “NCCPA PANCE Exam Performance Summary Reports Last 5 Years” with the most current information.
The Howard University Physician Assistant Program graduated its first cohort in December 2025. The following report illustrates PANCE pass rates for first-time test takers in the graduating class. To view the report, click on the link below:
In compliance with the 6th edition accreditation standard A3.11i, the program must complete the ARC-PA Student Graduation Rate TEMPLATE with its most current information.
The Howard University Physician Assistant Program graduated its first cohort in December 2025.
To view the graduation rate for the 2025 graduating class, click on the link below: