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Diversity Mission Statement

The University of Utah Physician Assistant Program (UPAP) is abidingly committed to Equity, Diversity and Inclusion as core values. UPAP fundamentally and unequivocally values all characteristics that make students, staff and faculty diverse (ethnicity, race, sex, gender identity, economic, educational, sexual orientation, religion, politics, age, body and ability). UPAP relies on this diversity in order to improve the education, learning and professional experiences of its students, staff and faculty through collective perspectives brought about by each individual’s world views and backgrounds. Moreover, creating and sustaining equity, inclusion and diversity are needed to realize our mission of inclusive academic excellence and to improve the collective health and lives of all individuals and communities and create the needed movement of positive societal transformation.

Key Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Highlights:

    • One of only a few programs in the nation with a Director of Inclusion and Diversity- faculty diversity officer responsible for DEI programming and oversight
    • DEI Committee that oversees all DEI aspects of the program
    • A commitment to inclusive excellence
    • Student Affinity Student Organization (PASSED=Physician Assistant Students Supporting Equity and Diversity)
    • A robust Community Engagement/Humility curriculum which includes in class lectures and outreach activities with many of our region’s vulnerable communities
    • Community engaged Master’s degree projects
    • Student retention program that supports and integrates resources and methods that address social determinants of education
    • Holistic Admissions Review
    • Student Centric Program Model
    • Holistic Advising, 1 faculty advisor to 8 students

Class Demographics by Race and Gender

Underrepresented in
Medicine Group (URIM)
Class 47
2016-2018
Class 48
2017-2019
Class 49
2018-2020
Class 50
2019-2021
Class 51
2020-2022
Hispanic/Latinx 17% 13% 18% 27% 15%
American Indian/Alaska Native 2% 4% 0% 5% 3%
Black or African American 2% 7% 3% 2% 6%
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander 2% 4% 3% 2% 1%
Asian underserved
(Vietnamese, Myanmar,
Nepalese, Bangladesh)
2% 0% 8% 5% 1%
Women 61% 60% 52% 58% 69%
Total URIM 26% 29% 32% 39% 26%
Total students of color 44% 36% 32% 44% 35%