Physician assistants may still be an unknown quantity to you, but they’re one of the fastest growing occupational groups in the U.S. Since 1966, when the first two PAs graduated from Duke University’s pioneer training program, nearly 7,500 men and women have entered the field – more than 75% cent of them within the past four years.

In 1976, according to a survey published late last year by the American Academy of Physician Assistants, 55 training programs approved by the American Medical Association graduated 1,500 new PAs.