MCPHS Physician Assistant Students Visit High Schools as Part of Project Access

Physician assistant students bring clinical skills and career insights to local high schools as part of Project Access.

More than 40 students and faculty from the MCPHS Physician Assistant (PA) Boston program visited two local high schools as part of the national Project Access initiative, an outreach program led by the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA). Designed to encourage students from underrepresented backgrounds to explore careers in healthcare, the initiative allows PA students to introduce high schoolers from the community to the profession through hands-on learning experiences.

At the English High School in Boston and the Holmes Innovation School in Dorchester, physician assistant students demonstrated clinical skills, including listening to heart and lung sounds, applying splints, using ultrasound, taking blood pressure, and assessing reflexes. They also shared their own experiences in becoming physician assistant students, offering insights into the profession and the difference PAs can make in the healthcare system.

The initiative was made possible with support from PA department faculty, who played an active role in mentoring students and shaping outreach efforts. Minh Tran, MPAS ’25, led the initiative for the second time, under the guidance of faculty advisor Dr. Afsoon Moktar.

“Our ultimate goal is to inspire and diversify the next generation of PAs,” Tran said. “The experience was incredibly meaningful for both our PA team members and the students.”