Robbins College Launches Unique Hybrid PA Program
In October 2025, Baylor University welcomes its inaugural cohort of Master of Physician Assistant Studies students. Positioned at #3 in U.S. News & World Report’s “100 Best Jobs” rankings, the physician assistant (PA) profession is growing rapidly — both in terms of interest and need. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of PAs is projected to grow 28% over the next 10 years.
“Like much of the country, Texas is experiencing significant healthcare shortages — and it is especially evident in rural communities,” said Meredith Quinene, B.S. ’98, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, inaugural program director for Baylor’s PA program. “With an increasing number of places where it is difficult to get in with healthcare providers, having PAs as clinicians to take care of patients can help fill some of that shortage.”
Housed in Robbins College of Health and Human Sciences, Quinene was hired in October 2023 to build the PA program from the ground up. A Baylor alumna (former Songleader and longtime football season ticketholder), Quinene has utilized her expertise as a PA practitioner and educator to develop a truly unique program.
“One of our goals is to make the Baylor program accessible to people who may not have the ability to move to another city to attend PA school. Our program design allows students to stay where they are and take care of whatever responsibilities are keeping them in that location,” Quinene said. “But, even more, we hope people stay in their communities after graduation to practice and provide healthcare in areas that may not have a sufficient number of providers.”
Baylor is one of very few PA programs in the world offering a hybrid curriculum — combining online learning experiences, intensive on-site immersions in Waco and clinical experiences close to home and across the country. While hybrid learning is just emerging in PA education, Baylor has a reputable track record for providing outstanding hybrid learning experiences through the University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy and Doctor of Occupational Therapy programs — which both boast impressive placement and licensure exam pass rates.
To deliver an exceptional hybrid curriculum, the Baylor PA program will utilize advanced online learning technologies as well as state-of-the-art facilities, including a new $4.5 million simulation and skills facility located on the Waco campus. Under the direction of expert PA faculty and with the support of University resources, the program is poised to educate and prepare highly skilled, mindful and empathetic healthcare leaders — undergirded by Baylor’s Christian mission.
“I believe that every healthcare provider, whether they are Christian or not, needs to have a compassionate, caring demeanor toward patients. That’s why so many of us choose to enter the field — we want to take care of people,” Quinene said. “We know that not all of our students are going to be Christian. They may not have a faith at all. But if we can use our Christianity to instill love into our providers, regardless of where they are on their faith journey, I think that we are going to make better providers in the long run.”
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Baylor University Physician Assistant Program. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.