What does 'PA' mean after a doctor's name?

Answer 1

'PA' stands for Physician Assistant. Physician Assistants are healthcare professionals who are trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive healthcare services under the supervision of a licensed physician.

Answer 2

It's a legal term to describe a separate legal entity - Professional Association. It's a form of incorporating a group of professionals, such as physicians, or dentists, or attorneys, or Accountants to allow the individuals protection from lawsuits.

Answer 3

it means their not a doctor yet, their just a physician's assistant.

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PA's are physicians assistants, and they are not training to become physicians (unlike stated above). They go through 2 years of school (after undergrad) and learn how to treat patients in a "watered down" version of medical school. They are fantastic at treating common problems and are very knowledgeable about medicine, but don't have the same knowledge-base as physicians.