Training the next generation of physician assistants — from Scarborough to Northern Ontario

Ontario has more than 600 registered physician assistants (PAs) — clinicians trained in the medical model who work alongside physicians and other health professionals in hospital and community settings, helping teams care for more patients.

To strengthen health care across the province, Temerty Medicine's PA Program is undergoing an expansion. The university's 24-month, second-entry PA Program is expanding its cohort, relocating to the U of T Scarborough campus, developing a new Northern Stream with NOSM University and preparing to transition from a Bachelor of Science Physician Assistant to a master's-level program in 2027 housed within the Institute of Medical Science..

Jeff Golisky, director of the Consortium of Physician Assistant Education Programs at Temerty Medicine, and Aurthi Muthukumaran, the program’s academic co-ordinator and interprofessional education lead, sat down with Temerty Medicine News to discuss what these changes mean for PA education, the profession and access to care across Ontario.

Muthukumaran, an alumna of the program, also practises as a physician assistant in emergency medicine and orthopaedic surgery at Scarborough Health Network.

What exactly does a physician assistant do, and why should physicians consider working with one?

Muthukumaran: The PA role can look different depending on the physician and clinical setting. In the emergency department, for example, I can assess a patient, take their history, order investigations and medications, and perform procedures such as suturing a laceration or casting a broken bone — all in collaboration with the supervising physician.

In a surgical specialty, a PA can work alongside the surgeon in the operating room, fracture clinic or ward. We share the workload, which helps improve patient care while giving physicians another skilled clinician they can rely on.

Temerty Medicine’s PA Program recently marked 15 years. How has it evolved, and where is it headed?

Golisky: The growth has been tremendous. We doubled the class size from 28 learners in 2022 to 56 in 2024, and this spring we celebrated the graduation of our first enlarged cohort. We have been asked by the Ontario Ministry of Health to expand the program further, with 10 additional seats September 2026 and another 15 planned for September 2027.

What distinguishes Temerty Medicine’s approach to PA education?

Muthukumaran: Our 24-month program combines on-campus and virtual learning with clinical experiences, and we were one of the first three PA programs established in Canada.

One of our admission requirements is previous health-care experience, so we attract learners who have worked as physiotherapists, kinesiologists, nurses and paramedics, as well as international medical graduates. That brings a real diversity of experience to the classroom, and everyone learns from one another.

The program is moving to the U of T Scarborough campus this summer. What makes this the right home for its next phase?

Golisky: The move to the Scarborough Academy of Medicine and Integrated Health (SAMIH) at U of T Scarborough's new Myron and Berna Garron Health Sciences Complex marks a new chapter for our program. For the first time, PA students will train side by side with students from U of T’s physical therapy, nursing, pharmacy and health sciences programs.

And with the launch of the Scarborough Academy of Medicine’s inaugural medical cohort next fall, they will be learning alongside future physicians from day one.

Muthukumaran: Training alongside medical students gives PAs and future physicians an opportunity to understand each other's roles from the beginning. When those physicians go into practice, they'll already understand how PAs can contribute to a health-care team.

The location is important, too. Scarborough is a diverse community and patients can face barriers to accessing care, including language and familiarity with the health care system. Some patients have told me, ‘I waited three days to come in because I didn’t know how to speak the language and I didn’t know if I would be comfortable talking to someone.’

Being based at UTSC, with opportunities for placements at Scarborough Health Network, Toronto East Health Network - Michael Garron Hospital and other local clinical partners, will allow our students to learn within this diverse community and better understand the needs of these patients.

The program has a longstanding partnership with Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) University. What has that meant for PA training in Northern Ontario?

Muthukumaran: The Consortium of PA programs includes our partnership with NOSM, with learners from Thunder Bay, Sudbury and other northern communities — and they’re part of the same curriculum.

The learners will come to Scarborough for in-person campus blocks. Their placements also include a mix of southern Ontario communities as well as northern, so for some of these students they will be closer to home, which down the line helps them secure jobs closer to their community.

Each of these locations provide unique experiences. In Northern communities, limited resources can require you to rely heavily on your clinical judgment. When I worked in Sturgeon Falls, for example, the hospital didn't have a CT scanner. If you thought a patient needed a CT, you had to be very thorough in your history and physical exam and determine whether a transfer to North Bay was necessary. Experiences like that push you to develop very strong clinical skills.

The province recently announced new funding to expand PA training in Northern and rural communities through Temerty Medicine’s longstanding partnership with NOSM. What does this mean for the program?

Golisky:Until now, our students have had opportunities to complete individual clinical placements in Northern Ontario. The new Northern Stream allows us to build a complete training pathway rooted in the region. Beginning in 2027–28, we expect to welcome an initial cohort of six students who will complete most of their clinical rotations in Northern communities, with plans to grow the cohort to 10.

An important part of that work is building local capacity. We’ll be recruiting practising PAs as regional liaisons, strengthening our network of clinical preceptors and reaching out to prospective students from Northern and rural communities. The goal is to train people in the communities where they are needed, while building a sustainable PA workforce in the North.

Muthukumaran: Adding a PA to a practice can increase the team's capacity to see patients and help improve timely access to care. That can be particularly important in Northern and rural communities, where access gaps are significant and patients may face long waits for primary care.

The program is transitioning to a master’s degree in 2027. What will change for students?

Golisky: The transition from Bachelor of Science Physician Assistant (BScPA) degree to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies brings us into alignment with all programs across Canada. As the PA profession has become more established, a graduate-level program is necessary to fully prepare and position future PAs as skilled clinicians who can also meaningfully contribute to health advances, achieve leadership positions in hospitals and community healthcare settings, and successfully advocate for the diverse patient populations they serve. The MPAS is designed to ensure that its graduates contribute to the scholarship and academic leadership of healthcare and health education, advancing and integrating scientific knowledge and scholarship with professional practice.

Muthukumaran: The master’s curriculum will now include a mandatory research and quality improvement project, equipping graduates to contribute to evidence-based practice alongside their supervising physicians in academic centres.

PAs became regulated under the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) in April 2025. What does this mean for the profession?

Golisky: PAs are now members of the CPSO. This strengthens the profession, reinforces interprofessional collaboration and ensures patients receive care that is held to the highest standards.

Muthukumaran: From an employer's perspective, regulation also provides greater clarity around the PA role, which can help employers feel more comfortable hiring PAs. Title protection matters, too: there are now clear requirements around who can use the physician assistant title and practise as a PA in Ontario.

What does success look like for the profession 10 years from now?

Muthukumaran: I hope the profession continues to grow alongside the expansion of PA education, with opportunities for our graduates to build successful careers across the province.

I’d love to reach a point where, when I tell someone I’m a physician assistant, they don’t ask, “What’s a physician assistant?” Instead they say, “Oh, I know what a PA is — I’ve received care from one before.”

At the systems level, success means PAs helping to address gaps in care and improve access for Ontarians. That’s the big picture we’re working toward.

Interested in the PA Program?

Learn more and apply: https://paconsortium.ca/admissions-process