WV Wesleyan College announces new Physician Assistant Program

BUCKHANNON, W.Va. (WBOY) — West Virginia Wesleyan College (WVWC) will be launching a new physician assistant (PA) program, with the first class expected to begin in May of 2028 once approved.

According to a press release, the new program hopes to help fill the “hundreds of job openings for PAs in West Virginia,” and will be housed at Battler’s Knob in Philippi, the former campus of Alderson Broaddus University.

“As the region’s leader in care-centered healthcare education, we believe that it’s central to our mission to launch programs that will produce graduates who will improve the healthcare outcomes of West Virginians and Appalachians,” WVWC President James Moore said in the release.

By locating the program in Philippi, WVWC hopes to remedy a geographical gap in PA programs; out of the five programs in West Virginia, none of them are located between Morgantown and Charleston. Currently, West Virginia’s five PA programs are located in Morgantown, West Liberty, Huntington, Charleston and Athens.

In the release, WVWC’s provost said that “by launching this program, we are preparing skilled, compassionate providers who will expand access to care, strengthen healthcare systems, and build healthier communities.”

For the full release, you can visit the West Virginia Wesleyan College website.