The MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program

The MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program was created at the University of Washington in 1968 as one of the nation's first physician assistant (PA) programs. A joint project of the Washington State Medical Association and the University of Washington School of Medicine, MEDEX was designed to meet the needs of overworked physicians in rural communities. As envisioned by MEDEX founder Dr. Richard A. Smith, "Physician Assistants were created by physicians, for physicians." Initially, all MEDE