Bryant University’s College of Health and Behavioral Sciences is launching the Bryant Early Assurance Pathway (EAP) in fall 2027, creating a clearer route from undergraduate study to its Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program.
As Bryant’s PA program prepares to graduate its 11th class, the university continues to build on its longstanding commitment to health education. The new Bryant EAP brings that experience to undergraduates earlier in their journey. It is health sciences the Bryant way: An interdisciplinary curriculum, faculty mentors who know their students, hands-on learning that’s early and often, and a clear connection between education and career. Together, these experiences prepare aspiring PAs for what’s next in graduate study and in patient care.
Students selected as PA Scholars when they enter Bryant will receive tailored advising, faculty mentorship, and opportunities to explore clinical practice. Those who meet the pathway’s academic, clinical, and professional requirements may apply in their junior year for a conditional reserved seat in the university’s PA program, which boasts a 100 percent PANCE pass rate with 94 percent of graduates employed within three months of Commencement. The new offering is available exclusively to incoming first-year students who are selected to enroll in the college’s Pathway to Clinical Medicine (PCM) program as PA Scholars; a select number of seats will be held for conditional admission to the PA program.
“This pathway reflects Bryant’s commitment to preparing students for healthcare careers with intention, beginning well before they enter the PA program,” says College of Health and Behavioral Sciences Dean Kirsten Hokeness, Ph.D. “It connects strong undergraduate preparation with a PA program focused on clinical skill, collaboration, and patient-centered care. That connected curriculum is a meaningful advantage for students who know they want to serve as PAs.”
Hokeness adds that the new offering creates a clearer pathway into the PA profession by helping students understand early on what they need to accomplish, from science coursework and patient care experience to shadowing and professional development. Incoming Bryant first-years accepted as PA Scholars declare a major in Biology, Health Sciences, or Exercise and Movement Science and then, in their junior year, eligible students apply for early assurance while completing requirements for final PA admission.
“During their undergraduate journey, students work closely with faculty and advisors who know their goals and help them take the next step. Through clinical observation, simulation, research, and other hands-on experiences, they can connect what they learn in class to patient care and grow more confident in their decision to pursue the PA profession,” Hokeness says, noting that students receive tailored pre-health advising, faculty mentorship, and structured clinical exposure.
Bryant PA Studies Program Director Ashley Iacone, DMSc, MSPAS, PA-C, explains that there’s a strong demand for PAs as the healthcare environment requires more access, continuity, and clinicians who can respond to patients’ needs across a range of settings.
“Patients are living longer and often managing multiple chronic conditions, which means they need ongoing care, careful follow up, education, and coordination between different parts of the healthcare system,” says Iacone. “At the same time, many communities are experiencing staffing shortages and long waits for appointments, especially in primary care and in rural areas.”
Iacone notes that healthcare has become increasingly complex and no single clinician can meet every need alone. Strong care depends on teams with different skills working together effectively.
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“PAs are needed because they bring medical knowledge, clinical flexibility, and a patient-centered approach to those teams. They help healthcare organizations respond to growing demand while supporting access, continuity, and quality care for patients,” Iacone says.
Beyond their scientific and clinical preparation, Bryant students gain exposure to artificial intelligence and the business side of healthcare, which uniquely positions undergraduates for the evolving industry that they will enter.
“Today’s healthcare professionals need to understand both patient care and the systems in which that care is delivered. Bryant’s integration of applied AI and business education helps students think critically about new tools, use information responsibly, and understand how decisions about resources and operations affect patients. Those perspectives complement the scientific and clinical foundation students build on their path to becoming PAs,” Hokeness says.
The new pathway advances Bryant’s commitment to preparing the next generation of healthcare professionals through an education that connects disciplines, experience, and career preparation. As the industry continues to evolve, the university is helping students develop the knowledge, adaptability, and perspective needed to help improve care for the future patients and communities they will serve.