A Dalhousie University sign is seen in Halifax on Jan. 6, 2015. As thousands of Nova Scotians linger on a waiting list for a doctor, the provincial government has announced a new physicians assistant program at Dalhousie University, the first such program in Atlantic Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

N.S. invests $5.6 million for first physician assistant program in Atlantic Canada – Winnipeg Free Press

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HALIFAX – The Nova Scotia government has announced the creation of Atlantic Canada’s first physician assistant program, at Dalhousie University.

The province is investing $5.6 million to get the program up and running followed by $1.5 million in annual funding.

Physician assistants work under the supervision of doctors and can perform physical exams, make diagnoses, create treatment plans and prescribe medication.


A Dalhousie University sign is seen in Halifax on Jan. 6, 2015. As thousands of Nova Scotians linger on a waiting list for a doctor, the provincial government has announced a new physicians assistant program at Dalhousie University, the first such program in Atlantic Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
A Dalhousie University sign is seen in Halifax on Jan. 6, 2015. As thousands of Nova Scotians linger on a waiting list for a doctor, the provincial government has announced a new physicians assistant program at Dalhousie University, the first such program in Atlantic Canada. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan

The two-year master’s program will be open to 24 students, with preference given to applicants from Nova Scotia.

Dr. David Anderson, dean of Dalhousie’s faculty of medicine, says training physician assistants will lift a burden off the province’s doctors.