Valley of the Sun

The Physician Assistant program through Northern Arizona University allows you to study in downtown Phoenix, the Valley of the Sun.

If you like warm weather, laid back lifestyles, and a city atmosphere, then Phoenix is right for you.

Downtown Phoenix is where all the action happens—sports games, theatre, art walks, concerts, and a vibrant nightlife.

Valley of opportunity

Phoenix provides opportunities for research and studies in one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S.

Your first year of the program will be conducted at the Phoenix Bioscience Core in downtown Phoenix.

Part of the Arizona Biomedical Collaborative, the Phoenix Bioscience Core is a 30-acre medical and bioscience campus right in the metropolitan area of downtown Phoenix.  The campus boasts more than six million square feet of research, academic, and clinical facilities.

The Bioscience Campus attracts high-caliber researchers, doctors, and doctorally prepared faculty ready to educate you and provide real-world experience.  Not only are there reputable educators, but the facilities alone provide great opportunities for professional growth.

Tenants include:

• The Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) and the International Genomics Consortium (IGC) headquarters opened in December 2004 in a six-story, 170,000 square foot laboratory and research facility that focuses on genetic investigation.
• The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders (NIDDK) works towards finding susceptibility genes for diabetes and obesity.
• The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix continues to grow and allow students to complete their training in Phoenix based hospitals.
• The University of Arizona College of Pharmacy – Phoenix opened an office in the city-owned TGen facility in 2007 and offer MS, PhD, pre-pharmacy, and PharmD degrees.
• St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center research laboratories is where collaboration begins between TGen and investigators from Barrow Neurological Institute, the Heart & Lung Institute and other academic and clinical divisions of St. Joseph’s Hospital.
• VisionGate, is another biomedical research entity committed to the early detection of lung cancer and will establish and operate a research lab within the TGen / IGC facility.
• BioAccel is a non-profit organization that drives economic development through the accelerated commercialization of late-stage basic and applied research in the life sciences.
• The Arizona Biomedical Collaborative I (ABC I) houses the ASU Department of Bioinformatics and wet lab space for the U of A College of Medicine, diabetes, cancer, and neurological research.
• Phoenix Union Bioscience High School educates future medical professionals by fostering intensive collaboration among students with the academic and scientific communities in downtown Phoenix.

See what the Phoenix Bioscience Core can offer you.

Big city means more hospitals

Your second year in the program will consist of clinical rotations located throughout Arizona. As you may know, Arizona is home to the well-known Mayo Clinic, Banner Health, Veterans Affairs Medical Center and a variety of specialized health centers.

• The Mayo Clinic in Phoenix was named the top Cardiovascular hospitals in the U.S. in 2010, providing care to people from all over the world.
•  St. Joseph’s was named one of the top ten hospitals by the U.S. News and World Report alongside the Barrow Neurological Institute.
• The Banner Health system offers over 20 hospitals and clinics in Arizona alone.