Clint C. Blankenship, Pharm.D., PA-C, was recently named the division director of MUSC College of Health Professions Physician Assistant Studies – Residential program. After 13 years of service in multiple roles, he stepped into the interim director position in October 2024 and now leads the program full-time.
At the heart of his work is a simple priority: supporting students and faculty while helping shape the next generation of physician assistants.
From classroom to leadership
Blankenship’s deep understanding of the curriculum and what students need to succeed comes from years of direct involvement in didactic education and academic coordination.
“It felt like a natural extension of my commitment to developing PAs and supporting the faculty here,” he says. “I’m all about giving as much support to students and faculty as I can.”
A three-part vision of the future of the program
Blankenship’s vision for the program centers on three priorities:
- Expanding clinical opportunities across South Carolina. He plans to increase the number and variety of clinical rotation sites both within the MUSC Health system and across the state.
- Strengthening support for students and faculty. He’s working to streamline processes that add unnecessary stress, especially in the first semester. That includes simplifying logistics like equipment and membership fees by bundling them into tuition and fees so students can focus on learning.
- Integrating earlier, more robust simulation. Blankenship wants students to encounter realistic patient scenarios well before they begin clinical rotations so they enter patient care confident and prepared. Simulation will play a key role in bridging the gap between classroom learning and hands-on practice.
What sets MUSC’s Physician Assistant Studies program apart
For Blankenship, the strength of MUSC’s Physician Assistant Studies – Residential program lies in its people and culture.
“The best thing about our program is the students, staff and faculty,” he says. “It may sound cliché, but it’s truly a family effort. We try to make our students feel supported and welcome.”
Interpersonal, team-based training is another hallmark. After the didactic year, students participate in campus-wide interprofessional courses on teamwork and communication. During clinical rotations, PA students work alongside physician and nurse practitioner students, reflecting the team-based reality of modern healthcare.
The program is expanding simulation across both didactic and clinical phases, using tools like ultrasound machines, physical exam models and paid standardized patients to create realistic encounters and build confidence early.
Shaping the future of physician assistants
As a physician assistant, Blankenship believes PA education goes beyond medications and procedures. The program fosters empathy and compassion in how students treat each other and preceptors consistently remark on MUSC students’ deep dedication to their patients.
“Our main focus is to get students in the mindset that the profession isn’t just about treating illness, prescribing medications and performing surgery,” he says. “We are here to treat human beings. We make that a focus in the program.”
A message to prospective students
Blankenship encourages applicants to carefully consider how programs will shape their lives. For those seeking a rigorous education in a supportive environment with strong interprofessional training and advanced simulation, MUSC may be an excellent fit.
“I say this every year: There are a lot of PA programs in this country,” he says. “Investigate the programs you’re interested in and get a feel for what those two-plus years of your life are going to be like. Do you want to be in a place that’s nurturing and more family-oriented, like MUSC? If so, we can offer that.”
Learn more about the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies - Residential program:
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