Buffalo, NY – Two student teams from Canisius University’s Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program finished in the top third of all competing schools, nationwide, at the 2026 American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA) iScan Competition, held in New Orleans. The Canisius teams competed against 44 programs from across the country and placed 6th and 13th. This is the second consecutive year Canisius placed in the top tier of the national competition.
“These results don’t happen by accident,” said Shawn O’Rourke, PhD, dean of the Division of Business, Communication and Health Studies. “Our students benefit from an intentionally small cohort, hands-on simulation training and faculty who are deeply invested in their individual successes. To see that preparation validated on a national stage – two years running – is incredibly gratifying.”
Hosted by the American Academy of Physician Associates, the AAPA iScan Competition is a highly competitive, gamified ultrasound challenge designed specifically for PA students. The event tests knowledge, speed and technical proficiency in point-of-care ultrasound through hands-on clinical scenarios and timed skill stations. The simulations are designed to mirror the high-pressure, real-world demands students will face in clinical practice.
“What you see in these results is what we build every day – confident, capable students who can perform under pressure and deliver excellent care,” added Aimee Larson, DMSc, PA-C, director of the PA Studies Program. “That’s exactly what the profession needs and it’s what our program is designed to produce.”
Point-of-care ultrasound has become one of the most valued diagnostic tools in modern healthcare, enabling providers to rapidly assess patients and make real-time decisions at their bedside. Competitions such as the AAPA iScan help the next generation of physician assistants develop the advanced skills and composure the profession demands.
At Canisius, that preparation is built into the fabric of the program. Students learn in a dedicated PA classroom supported by state-of-the-art simulation technology, a digital medical library with more than 120 core textbooks and leading journals, and strong clinical partnerships with major healthcare systems across Western New York. Unlike many PA programs with cohorts of 60 or more, Canisius intentionally limits cohort size to approximately 30 to ensure every student receives individualized faculty attention and a more collaborative learning environment.
The program’s seven-semester, master’s-level curriculum moves students from an intensive didactic phase into immersive clinical rotations across family medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, pediatrics, behavioral health and more. The PA Studies Program at Canisius holds Accreditation-Continued status from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), confirming it meets the highest national standards for PA education.
To learn more about the Physician Assistant Studies Program at Canisius University, click here.
Canisius was founded in 1870 in Buffalo, NY, and is one of 27 Jesuit colleges and universities in the U.S. Consistently ranked among the top institutions in the Northeast, Canisius offers undergraduate, graduate and pre-professional programs distinguished by close student-faculty collaboration, mentoring and an emphasis on ethical, purpose-driven leadership.
