The Lake Erie College Physician Assistant (PA) Program has been awarded first place in the 2024 Project Access national competition, according to a release from the college. Competing against over 300 PA programs and 36 innovative proposals, Lake Erie College emerged victorious for its efforts to improve access to care and inspire underrepresented groups to pursue careers in the PA profession. Project Access, as defined by the Physician Assistant Education Association, is an outreach recruitment initiative that encourages high school students from underrepresented minoritized groups to consider the PA field as a viable career path. The program aims to increase the number of underrepresented PAs, enhance accessible primary care, and eliminate health disparities by preparing students early in their education to become competitive candidates for PA programs, the release stated. The successful proposal was developed by students Rachel Rogowski, Elyse Carlon, Jacqueline Clinger, Isabella Idris, Bailey Clark, and Arash Daraie, who facilitated outreach visits to local elementary, middle, and high schools. This achievement builds upon last year’s success, when the Lake Erie College PA Program placed second in the nation, thanks to the efforts of Ashley Moyo, Francesca Fabe, Twincy Modi, and Bond Brewster, the release said. “We are incredibly proud of our students and their commitment to fostering diversity in the PA profession,” Sean Kramer, PA Program director at Lake Erie College, said in the release. “This award not only recognizes their hard work but also underscores the importance of expanding access to healthcare for all communities.” As the winners of the Brenda Jasper Project Access Award, the Lake Erie College PA Program will receive the Champions Belt from the previous year’s champions, George Washington University, along with the opportunity to defend its title in next year’s competition. The programs placing second and third were Keck Graduate Institute and the University of Iowa, respectively, both receiving crystal trophies and well-deserved recognition for their contributions. For more information about the Lake Erie College PA Program and its ongoing initiatives, visit lec.edu/pa/.