School of Physician Assistant Studies Receives Grant to Support Suture and Wound Treatment Training

Students in the Pacific University Physician Assistant Studies program will have more resources to learn emergency care skills, thanks to a recent grant of nearly $36,000 from Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Ethicon.

Brent Norris, assistant professor and director of simulation within the university’s School of Physician Assistant Studies, said the grant will provide about $2,000 in financial support and approximately $34,000 in products and services for him and other faculty to help train Pacific PA students in suturing and wound closure through a workshop simulating care in emergency, surgical and hospital settings.

During the workshop, students will practice various suture techniques on simulated patient tissue as well as pig’s feet, Norris said.

“Through previous grant funding, we have been able to expand our wound closure workshop to include laparoscopic surgery trainers for intraabdominal ligations and closures,” Norris said. “These funds allow us to update our equipment and provide sufficient suture supplies so that our students are proficient in this skill at the time they enter their clinical rotations.”

Pacific’s School of Physician Assistant Studies offers an accredited 27-month master’s degree program that prepares future physician assistants to provide quality primary and specialty care for a diverse global community.