The History of the American Association of Pathologists' Assistants and of a Profession Built the Hard Way

R. Wright's1 excellent recent article in the Archives sheds light on the creation of 2 similar health care professions, the physician assistant and the pathologists' assistant professions, both using physician extenders. The first formal physician assistant training program was established in 1965 by Eugene A. Stead Jr, MD, at Duke University (Durham, North carolina). The concept of physician assistants was immediately championed by the American Medical Association (AMA),2 which provided certification, program accreditation, licensing, and even professional advertising for the profession, virtually ensuring its rapid success.