A Physician Assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional who provides medical services under physician supervision, including taking medical histories, conducting examinations, ordering tests, diagnosing conditions, and prescribing treatments. PAs complete graduate-level medical training and are regulated provincially. Physician assistants help address healthcare access challenges, particularly in primary care where doctor shortages exist. PAs can see patients more quickly for many common conditions, freeing physicians for complex cases. Municipal relevance includes PAs working in community health centres, long-term care facilities, and emergency departments. Some municipalities have recruited PAs as part of healthcare recruitment strategies to improve local health service access.