Establishing Essential Physician Assistant Clinical Competencies Guidelines for Genetics and Genomics

The translation of genetic and genomic science to clinical care has significant implications for the physician assistant (PA) profession. Similar to other health care professionals, PAs will need to develop strategies for applying new knowledge in genetics. In response to this need, the authors have undertaken to define the essential genetic and genomic competencies for all PAs, regardless of academic preparation, role, or clinical specialty. The authors' intention in developing these genetics/genomics competencies is to encourage PA educators to seek out academic curriculum content/learning activities based on the most current genetic and evidence-based information. They are proposed to complement the Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession. Practicing PAs can also use these to chart a course for advancing their own practice. The proposed essential competencies were developed by a panel of physicians and PA leaders from clinical, research, and academic settings, whose goal was to establish the minimum basis by which to prepare the PA workforce to deliver competent genetic/genomic clinical care. This is an ad hoc group of academicians interested in promoting competency and has no official affiliation or sponsorship by any professional association.