Breaking News

The PA History Society will be hosting another small-group CME session at AAPA 2026! Preserving PA History: Pearls and Pitfalls will be on Monday, May 18th, 8am. Seats are going fast, so please make sure to RSVP. Click Here.

PA History Society®

Dedicated to the history and legacy of the PA profession

We understand the importance of preserving the physician assistant profession’s history and achievements by identifying and collecting appropriate papers, manuscripts, magazine and newspaper clippings, newsletters,
reports, dissertations, oral histories, and visual artifacts.

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RSVP for PAHx CME at AAPA 2026

Women’s History Month 2026

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Research Collection

Explore PA history by clicking on the images in this section.

ILLUSTRATED TIMELINE

This Timeline contains important milestones and events in the development of the physician assistant (PA) profession. It provides the reader with an introduction to the people, events and activities that have shaped the growth of the profession from concept to reality. The Timeline presents a decade by decade progression of the PA profession.

MUSEUM AND ONLINE COLLECTIONS

The Society's Museum Collection features artwork, artifacts and exhibitions (online and physical) that interpret the story of physician assistant profession from its inception and development in the United States in the 20th Century to its expansion internationally in the 21st Century.

PHOTOGRAPH COLLECTIONS

The Still Image Collection contains images created by the Society and by organizations, institutions and individuals who have donated their collections to the Society to be maintained or added to the Society’s digital collection.

Biography Collection

The Biography Collection highlights the individuals who have contributed to the establishment, growth and development of the PA profession.

ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION

The Oral History Collection contains audiotapes, videos and DVDs with corresponding transcripts produced either by the Society or by others and then donated to the Society. While there is no substitute for original correspondence and other primary source materials, interviews help us understand better the context in which decisions were made, offer fresh insights, and suggest directions for further research.

Share Your Story

Help Us By Adding To Our Oral History

Help the PAHx grow our Oral History Collection which features a variety of interesting stories from PAs around the globe. Share your piece of PA history for future generations to enjoy!