The George Washington University (GW) School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS) announced the appointment of Brandon Beattie, MMSc, PA-C, assistant professor of Physician Assistant (PA) studies, to serve as the director of the PA Program.
As Program Director, Beattie is responsible for providing strategic leadership, overseeing the vision, mission, and long-term growth of the PA Program. He is tasked with guiding the curriculum content and structure, monitoring quality and graduate outcomes through ongoing evaluation and self-study and implementing curricular revisions to ensure GW SMHS succeeds in its mission to train the next generation of clinicians, educators, and health care leaders.
Beattie also will lead the accreditation process, ensuring the program meets or exceeds ARC-PA and institutional standards, maintaining the program maintains its 50-year history of continuous accreditation.
“We are thrilled to welcome our faculty member Brandon Beattie as the GW PA Program Director. I know he will continue to utilize his strong problem-solving, leadership, and communication skills to lead the exceptionally talented faculty, staff and students of our program, which is ranked 6th in the nation,” said Mary L. Warner, DBH, PA-C, chair of its Department of Physician Assistant Studies.
Beatie, who has served as director of didactic education for the PA program, joined GW in 2019. In that role he oversaw the development, management, and evaluation of the didactic phase of the two-year program, in addition to his scholarly activities. For the past four years, he’s also served as the coach of the program’s AAPA National Challenge Bowl.
Beattie also brings extensive clinical experience to the position, providing evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment in comprehensive outpatient neurology care facilities and high-volume urgent care settings. From 2003 to 2009, he also served as a combat medic and Sergeant (E-5) in the United States Army. Currently, he conducts comprehensive medical evaluations for veteran disability claims with Veteran Evaluation Services.
“It is an honor to step into the role of Program Director at The George Washington University,” Beatie said. “I am inspired every day by the excellence, dedication, and collaborative spirit of our faculty and staff, and I look forward to advancing our shared commitment to preparing the next generation of PAs.”
Named as one of the nation’s leading PA programs, as ranked by U.S. News and World Report, the program is recognized for its pioneering curriculum and unique focus on community outreach, patient advocacy, and leadership. In 2023, the program earned a 10-year reaccreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the highest level granted by the ARC-PA.
As one of the earliest programs established, GW’s PA program graduates and faculty have held multiple leadership roles across the four major PA organizations and provided high quality medical, surgical, and behavioral health care as members of interprofessional teams in numerous health systems, clinics, federally qualified health centers, and private health facilities.
“As a scholar, a clinician, and an educator, Brandon Beattie is the ideal person to lead our outstanding PA program. I am confident that his experience and collaborative leadership will propel the program to even further excellence,” said Barbara Lee Bass, MD, FACS, vice president for health affairs, dean of SMHS, and the Walter A. Bloedorn Chair of Administrative Medicine, and professor of surgery.
