Two students from the Franklin College Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program have been chosen to participate in the class of 2025 Indiana Area Health Education Center’s (AHEC) Scholars Program.

The Indiana AHEC Scholars Program is part of a national initiative to prepare tomorrow’s health professionals to become leaders in inter-professional, transformative practice who serve those who need it the most.

Kaylyn Brown, of Indianapolis, and Aanchal Lal, of High Point, NC, both have a history of working to better communities in need of assistance, and throughout AHEC’s two-year scholars program they will work to improve their practice readiness skillsets. The two will undergo a combination of community-based training and online training to continue building valuable expertise that they can contribute to communities in need.

“I researched food deserts in Bloomington and wrote a blueprint plan to the mayor on how to help eradicate them. Ever since then, I have been looking for opportunities to volunteer in my community. I discovered AHEC by a representative coming to speak with us and saw how flexible they were with my school schedule while also helping me make a difference in the community. Now I am excited to be able to volunteer and engage with my current community while still being a student,” said Brown.

“I am excited to be learning ways to serve a diverse group of patient populations as a future provider and AHEC will provide me with the tools and resources to make connections within my community. I was part of AHEC back in my hometown, and I am looking forward to serving the community here in Indiana,” said Aanchal.

The AHEC Scholars Program is a two-year, competitive program designed for those motivated to providing care to communities where medical services are inaccessible or struggling. Through the span of the program, AHEC Scholars will undergo rigorous training and first-hand experiences to provide professional help to those in Indiana who need assistance the most. These experiences emphasize the integration of eight core topics: Behavioral health integration, cultural competency and humility, inter-professional practice, practice transformation, social determinants of health, connecting communities and supporting health professionals, virtual learning and telehealth and current/emerging issues (such as COVID-19, opioid epidemic and maternal-child health). 

The Indiana AHEC Network is a proud part of the Department of Family Medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine.

Franklin College received Accreditation-Provisional for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program in the fall of 2018 and enrolled its first cohort in January 2019. The college’s MSPAS program is a 25-month course of study. Graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) and become licensed as a physician assistant in any state.

About the Franklin College Physician Assistant Program:

Franklin College received Accreditation-Provisional for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program in the fall of 2018 and enrolled its first cohort in January 2019. The college’s MSPAS program is a 25-month course of study. Graduates are eligible to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) and become licensed as a physician assistant in any state. 

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies is made possible by a nearly $1 million grant awarded to the college in 2014 from the Lilly Endowment, as part of its Initiative to Promote Opportunities Through Educational Collaborations. It is the second master’s program launched by the college.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Franklin College Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program sponsored by Franklin College. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be 2033. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-franklin-college/.

For more information, contact the Franklin College Office of Communications at (317) 738-8185.

By: Preston Bertram ’24, Pulliam Fellow

POSTED Jan 16, 2024