Physician associate apprentices join UHNM

University Hospitals of North Midlands has welcomed five new Physician Associate (PA) apprentices, which is a brand new programme for the Trust.  

Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent ICB have developed the PA apprentice programme with four providers who have employed 13 PA apprentices with Keele University delivering the apprenticeship course. 

The trainee apprentices are attached to the Acute Medical Unit (AMU) team and will be rotating into cardiology over the next four weeks.  

Craig Wallace, UHNM Associate Director of Learning and Education said: “It’s fantastic that we are supporting the physician associate apprenticeship programme with the ICB and have employed five PA trainees in our Acute Medical Unit team with Dr Din and Dr Reddy taking the lead on supporting our new colleagues.  I can’t tell you how thrilled I am for us to provide opportunities like this for a new workforce who want to come here to learn, train and be part of our UHNM family.”

The apprentices will be employed as apprentices for two and a half years with the intention of securing employment with us once qualified. 

PA Apprentice, Nilofar Soltani, said: “The PA apprenticeship has allowed me to pursue a career I would have otherwise not had the means to access and to make my dream into a reality. 

“I have always felt passionate about working with patients and being a part of the multidisciplinary team and think that PAs are a great asset who can help relieve the stress on other healthcare workers. It is a great privilege to be able to work as a part of the team, learn from those around me, and care for patients and see the direct impact of what I am learning from the very beginning. I am grateful to have the opportunity to do it with the fantastic and supportive team at UHNM.”