I chose to study in Sheffield due to the superb reputation of the Medical School

“Physician Associates are qualified to take histories, examine patients, order investigations and formulate management plans alongside doctors”, explains Emma Bunting, who studied Physician Associate Studies here at Sheffield. “I am currently practising as a qualified Physician Associate in Emergency Medicine at Barnsley Hospital.”

The Physician Associate role is relatively new to the UK, and I was amongst the first cohort to graduate from the University of Sheffield.

Emma Bunting

Physician Associate Studies graduate

Emma, from Chesterfield, graduated from her undergraduate degree in biology in 2013. She then went on to work as an Ophthalmic Science Practitioner at the Royal Hallamshire Hospital, which is where she first heard about the profession of Physician Associate. Having enrolled onto the Physician Associate Studies course in 2016, Emma graduated in 2018 and began her career as a Physician Associate in October of that year.

“I chose to study in Sheffield due to location (close to home) and the superb reputation of the Medical School”, she recalls. "I enjoyed benefiting from the high standard of teaching that the Medical School provides. I also enjoyed the structure of the course which enabled me to spend my second year in placements throughout hospitals and GPs within South Yorkshire.”

With her new qualification and career, Emma has big plans for the future. “My job enables me to rotate between emergency medicine, acute medicine and general practice over a two-year period. After my rotation I hope to work permanently in one of these areas. I also hope to become involved in education and providing support for the cohorts of physician associates who follow.”