Introduction and overview of the profession -- Development of the profession -- Current status : a profile of the physician assistant profession -- Physician assistant education -- Physician assistants in primary care -- Physician assistant specialization : non-primary care -- Physician assistants in hospital settings -- Physician assistants in rural health -- Economic assessment of physician assistants -- Legal aspects of physician assistant practice -- Professional and workforce issues -- Physician assistants on multidisciplinary teams -- Future directions of the physician assistant profession.