Portland, Ore.

Practicing physician assistants who want to earn a master's degree can do so completely online through the Oregon Health & Science University Physician Assistant Program. The online program offers a major emphasis in medical informatics and evidence-based medicine, and also includes relevant course work in medical genetics, pain management, and complementary and alternative medicine, enabling physician assistants to keep pace with their field.

The online master's degree completion program is for practicing physician assistants (PA) and PA educators with bachelor's degrees. The program has no on-campus requirements. The physician assistant profession is the one of the fastest growing occupations in the country, with a projected 48 percent increase in the demand for these professionals in this decade.

The registration deadline for the online winter term is Monday, Dec. 8, for classes beginning Monday, Jan. 5. For more information about the program, contact Colleen Schierholtz, 503 494-1408 or visit: www.ohsu.edu/pa.