
Buffalo, NY – Canisius University is the recipient of a $500,000 grant from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. The grant will be directed to the Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program and support the program’s goal to boost diversity in the allied health workforce across Western New York by providing scholarships to students from diverse backgrounds who pursue PA graduate degrees at Canisius. This is the fifth grant awarded to the PA Studies program from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation in recent years, for a total of nearly $2.2 million.
"This continued support from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is transformative for our PA Studies program and our mission to build a more diverse healthcare workforce in Western New York,” says Dr. Aimee Larson, director of Canisius University’s PA Studies program. “This grant will help remove financial barriers for talented students from underrepresented backgrounds, enabling them to pursue careers as physician assistants and ultimately provide culturally competent care to our region's most vulnerable populations."
Canisius welcomed its first cohort of 30 students to the PA program in January 2021. New cohorts enter the 27-month master’s degree program each spring. The program builds on the strong foundation of the college’s pre-medical and general science programs, and leverages partnerships with local hospitals and health systems. The curriculum includes clinical assignments and service-learning requirements in underserved communities to provide students with early exposure to vulnerable communities, and the social and medical issues that affect patient care and health outcomes of patients from diverse socioeconomic, religious and cultural backgrounds.
Students in the PA program learn in a state-of-the-art simulation lab equipped with simulation mannequins, four simulated examination rooms with audio/visual recording abilities, and multiple Anatomage virtual human anatomy tables. Highly sought-after, these tables are used in some of the finest teaching facilities around the country.
The Mother Cabrini Health Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization with the mission to improve the health and well-being of vulnerable New Yorkers, bolster the health outcomes of vulnerable communities, eliminate barriers to care, and bridge gaps in health services. Named after a tireless advocate for immigrants, children and the poor, the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation funds programs and initiatives across New York State that either provide direct healthcare services or address the social determinants of health. For more information on the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation, visit www.cabrinihealth.org .
To learn more about the master of science in Physician Assistant Studies or to apply, Email pastudies@canisius.edu , call 716-888-8550 or 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.