Johnson & Wales University today unveiled the design of its new Center for Physician Assistant Studies, located at 157 Clifford Street in Providence’s Knowledge District, the home of Rhode Island’s first Physician Assistant Program. The university anticipates a June 2014 start date for JWU’s inaugural class seeking a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.
“This day marks an important step forward in the development of a broader professional academic program at Johnson & Wales University,” said Jeffrey Senese, Ph.D., JWU vice president of Academic Affairs, noting that the university began incorporating health science education several years ago with an accredited Bachelor of Science degree in Culinary Nutrition. “We are here today to launch a master’s program in Physician Assistant Studies that will be the first leap forward in providing an exceptional clinical health sciences curriculum.”
Johnson & Wales purchased the Clifford Street building and two parcels of land for parking in October 2012 for $2.8 million and estimates the cost for design and construction to be $10.5 million. The project is expected to generate 90-100 temporary construction jobs and an additional 30 temporary architectural and engineering-related jobs. The university is planning to renovate the 18,000 square foot building into a state-of-the-art facility that will contain lecture halls with global teleconferencing capabilities, small group conference rooms, a clinical skills lab, and a cadaver-based anatomy lab.
Click here for more information on JWU’s Physician Assistant program