Mary Ann Laxen, MAL, PA-C, MAB (FNP ’91), director of the Physician Assistant Program at the UND medical school, has been appointed to the national commission which accredits physician assistant programs throughout the United States.

In January, she begins a three-year term on the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA).  She was nominated by the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) to serve on the ARC-PA.

UND’s PA program provides a curriculum leading to the Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree.  The program is offered by the Department of Family and Community Medicine and the Graduate School at UND.

The 17 members of the ARC-PA represent various medical and health care professional organizations.  Their role is to support and advance physician assistant education by active participation in the work of the ARC-PA, including serving on committees and program site-visit teams.     

Laxen, who joined the medical school in 1999, is an associate professor of family and community medicine.