History and Overview
The Primary Care Associate Program began in 1971 with the enactment of regulations by the State Board of Medical Examiners which pertain to the education and practice of physician assistants. The subsequent expansion of the Nurse Practice Act and regulations adopted in 1979 provided authorization for nurse practitioner education and practice. The Program is a cooperative effort between Stanford University School of Medicine and Foothill College, aimed to prepare physician assistants and family nurse practitioners who function in the maintenance and delivery of primary health care, working with and under the supervision of family physicians in medically underserved areas of the state. The Program has emphasized the recruitment of qualified minority students.
Early experience suggested that students trained within the Stanford area were likely to remain in the area after graduation. Students residing in the Stanford area when entering the Program and those established there during preceptorships tended to remain for employment and practice. Similarly, students who reside (or have resided) in rural areas are more likely to practice there. In order to deploy graduates more effectively and impact upon the health care needs of the state, the structure of the basic educational program was changed and a community-based educational network was established. Formal linkages were established with a consortium of five community colleges in different geographic areas of California and with clinical institutions, specifically, family practice residency programs in each area. Selection procedures were modified to incorporate residence as a criterion. The Program was decentralized in order to allow selection of students who have social and economic ties to an area in need of more health care services and to enable the Program to assess and respond better to the health care needs of communities.
In 2003 Stanford University School of Medicine became the Program's sole sponsor for PA accreditation, including responsibility for admissions, curriculum development and evaluation, student evaluation, faculty and staff, and awarding the Certificate of Clinical Proficiency. The Program maintains an administrative relationship with Foothill College. Students enroll in Foothill College , pay tuition and fees and receive student services through Foothill.
Effective with the admissions cycle for the class of 2009 (students matriculating in the fall quarter 2008), the PCA Program will discontinue the FNP option. This was a difficult decision, based on the evolution of the NP profession and new requirements for full scope of practice. The class of 2008 (students matriculating in the fall quarter 2007) is the last class to be offered an FNP option, and those graduates will be required by the California Board of Nursing to obtain a Masters degree for licensing in this state.
We will continue the Program’s excellent education for PAs, with our community orientation and focus on medically underserved populations. We expect to continue our collegial relationships with NP educators, site visitors and clinical NPs, as we all work together to address the health care needs of our state.
For detailed information on the background and rationale for discontinuation of the FNP option, go to 
Discontinuation of FNP Option.
