HHS grants to help veterans become physician assistants

The federal Health department will devote $2.3 million to helping train new physician assistants, focusing on veterans who want civilian jobs in healthcare.

"If you can save a life on the battlefield in Afghanistan, you can save a life here at home," said Health and Human Services Secretary (HHS) Kathleen Sebelius in a statement.

"These grants will help ensure veterans who served our country can use their military medical training and get good jobs serving patients."

Awards went to 12 medical programs in 10 states that train physician assistants to practice in primary-care settings.

Increasing the primary-care workforce has been a priority for the Obama administration as the United States faces a growing elderly population.

Finding work for a growing number of veterans is also a challenge, officials say, as the economy recovers from a recession.

In the new program, funding priority was given to grantees that have strong recruitment, retention and education programs for veteran applicants and students, including academic recognition of medical training and experience gained during military service," HHS stated.

---