The Weill Cornell Medicine Physician Assistants Program provides a rigorous and engaging 27-month educational experience that prepares students to excel in today's healthcare environment. Through an integrated curriculum that combines foundational sciences, clinical medicine, hands-on skills training, and 14 supervised clinical practice experiences, students develop the knowledge, clinical reasoning, and professional skills needed to deliver exceptional patient-centered care. Graduates are prepared to enter practice with the confidence to serve diverse patient populations and contribute meaningfully to the future of healthcare.
Program Overview
Degree and Certification
Upon successful completion of all program requirements, Cornell University awards the Master of Science in Health Sciences degree. Graduates are then eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
Student Voices
“Coming from a small town in Massachusetts, moving to New York City to train as a PA at Weill Cornell Medicine has been both challenging and incredibly rewarding, and the breadth of clinical exposure in my first year has exceeded my expectations. Through the LEAP program and my involvement on the Medical School Executive Committee, I’ve had early opportunities to work closely with medical students and other healthcare professionals, which has shaped how I approach collaboration and teamwork. The faculty are deeply committed to teaching and mentorship, and even halfway through the program, it’s clear how much WCM has helped me grow into a more capable, compassionate, and confident future PA.”
Jessica Allan
PA-S
"My experience as a PA student at Weill Cornell’s PA program has been eye-opening, formative, and deeply humbling. Over the past year, I’ve had opportunities to learn through simulated patient encounters, hands-on skills like suturing and splinting, and even how to approach complex trauma cases.
As clinical rotations begin, I'm excited to get out of the classroom, learn directly from patients and clinicians, and keep growing into the PA I’ve been working toward. I feel so grateful to be in NYC at Weill Cornell, surrounded by incredible educators and diverse patient populations that push me to be a better student and future provider every single day."
Elisabeth Lee
PA-S