Dr. Marie Patterson, left, assistant professor in the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, is the guest on the “MTSU On the Record” radio program that first aired Sept. 21 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5. You can listen to the conversation at the SoundCloud link above. (Background photo by Ivan Samkov from Pexels)

A new MTSU program that will help fill important needs in the health care field was in the spotlight on a recent “MTSU On the Record” radio show.

Gina K. Logue

Host Gina Logue’s interview with Dr. Marie Patterson, an assistant professor in the College of Behavioral and Health Sciences, first aired Sept. 21 on WMOT-FM Roots Radio 89.5 and www.wmot.org.

You can hear their conversation via the SoundCloud link above.

Patterson is director of the new physician assistant master’s degree program, which is accepting applications at the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants. The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified the need for physician assistants, who are licensed to diagnose and treat illness and disease, prescribe medication and perform medical procedures.

“We practice in collaboration with a physician,” said Patterson, who also is a physician assistant.

“We really love and are fond of the team atmosphere. We’re trained as generalists so we don’t have to specialize.”

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission has granted the program its final approval, which clears the way for the university to pursue program accreditation. The MTSU Board of Trustees gave the program its endorsement in December 2020, and the proposed enrollment date for the first class is May 2022.

To hear previous “MTSU On the Record” programs, visit the searchable “Audio Clips” archives at www.mtsunews.com.

For more information about the radio program, contact Logue at 615-898-5081 or WMOT-FM at 615-898-2800.