Agnes Scott College has been awarded $1 million to train
physician assistants and clinical mental health counselors in maternal and pediatric
care as a part of the 2024 omnibus appropriations bill signed by President Biden
on March 23.
The grant will support the equipment, curriculum development and technology
needed for the college’s physician assistant and clinical mental health counseling
graduate programs. This will position the college to prepare more than 160
master’s students annually to practice as licensed professional counselors and
certified physician assistants by 2027.
“We are immensely grateful to Senators Ossoff and Warnock for their support of our
work to educate healthcare professionals, especially those who can make a difference
in the lives of women and children,” said Leocadia I. Zak, president of Agnes Scott
College.
“This legislation makes strong investments that will lower childcare costs, support
small businesses, strengthen rural health care and more,” said Senator Warnock,
speaking about the appropriations act. “I’m proud it reflects my commitment to
serving Georgians from Rome to Valdosta.”
Georgia has the nation’s highest maternal death rate and is 16th in infant mortality.
In metro Atlanta, demand for physician assistants is expected to grow by 34 percent
from 2023 to 2033, 26 percent higher than the national average. Demand for licensed
professional counselors is also expected to increase significantly over the same period.
Agnes Scott is driving solutions by developing mission-aligned, health-focused
graduate programs to address community and workforce needs while providing
pathways for meaningful careers in healthcare. Based on an analysis of workforce
demand and feedback from local healthcare partners, Agnes Scott launched its clinical
mental health counseling program in 2022 to address the state’s mental health crisis and will launch a physician assistant program in 2025 to meet the growing demand
for…
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