IFPACS: Creating a Global Federation of Physician Assistant and Comparable Students

The physician assistant (PA) students of the world, in addition to being caring, ambitious, and curious, are technologically savvy and accustomed to communicating in a virtual environment. They are discovering that they are not alone in the world and that there are many types of PAs, whether called by that or another name, whether recognized as matching professions or not, and there exists an unmet need to bring them together. There is a tremendous potential in uniting this future health care workforce. They are a smart and capable group of motivated individuals who demonstrate a level of interest and involvement that can be harnessed to produce real change. The advances of modern communication technology have enabled this coming-Together of likeminded students from around the world in a way that may not have previously been possible. The COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc, forcing PA education to adapt in response. This article describes an association in its infancy, but one born out of an opportunity, during a global crisis, and demonstrates the momentum of this generation of PA and comparable students.