EvergreenHealth Partners with Northwest University To Help Teach Physician Assistant Students

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Students receive hands-on experience while also supporting community's need for more health care professionals.

KIRKLAND, WA—EvergreenHealth and Northwest University's School of PA Medicine have joined forces to help students complete their degree and give them an opportunity to jumpstart their careers as physician assistants. This partnership is another example of how the two Kirkland-based organizations have collaborated to support health care professionals and the community's health and wellness.

"EvergreenHealth has faithfully partnered with our health professions programs at Northwest University for two decades, first welcoming nursing students into their facilities to train, and now, our PA students," said Northwest University School of PA Medicine Dean Heather Deibler, PA-C. "Many of our NU nurses went on to careers at EvergreenHealth, and we look forward to the day when our PA graduates serve there as clinicians. We sincerely appreciate EvergreenHealth's commitment to help equip the next generation of health care professionals who will serve this community and Washington state for years to come."

Through the new partnership, EvergreenHealth accepted 10 students per cohort to join the hospital system's team and receive hands-on experience caring for patients. These students are required to complete their didactic coursework prior to beginning their supervised clinical practice experiences.

"Our partnership with Northwest University is a great benefit for not only our organizations but also our growing region," said EvergreenHealth Chief Strategy & Operations Officer Chris Bredeson, MBA. "Our expert staff is able to guide these students, along with their instructors, and give them the tools to continue our tradition of providing excellent, high-quality care for everyone in our community."