** Breaking news ** Approved title changes, 65Ds in the United States Army are now Physician Associates!

Celebrating PA Week

"It’s official — the Army Surgeon General, LTG Mary Izaguirre, has approved and endorsed the title change from Physician Assistant to Physician Associate for all officers in the Army Medical Specialist Corps (AOC 65D).

This marks a historic milestone in our profession’s evolution — aligning our Army PAs with the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) and the broader national standard that reflects our leadership and scope of practice we bring to the fight.

From battlefield medicine to executive medicine, from trauma bays to humanitarian missions — Army Physician Associates are at the forefront of readiness, innovation, and patient care. This title change honors decades of service and signifies our continued modernization to meet the demands of tomorrow’s battlefield and the next generation of healthcare leadership.

As the 11th Physician Associate Consultant to The Surgeon General, I’m proud of the collective work that brought us here — from the first Army PA class in 1971 to today’s joint, interagency, and globally recognized force.

Congratulations to every Soldier-Clinician who wears this title with pride. You represent the best of Army Medicine — and our future is bright!"

Honoring Our Legacy

The Physician Associate profession grew from the skill and experience of returning military medics and corpsmen in the late 1960s. In 1971, the U.S. Army launched its first PA training program at Fort Sam Houston, laying the foundation for what is now the Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP). Since then, Army Physician Associates have served on every battlefield and humanitarian mission, advancing readiness, innovation, and patient care across the globe.

This PA Week, we celebrate the past, embrace this historic title change, and look forward to the future of Army Medicine. Thank you for your service and leadership.

- SAPA