Helena, MT – Carroll College has announced a leadership transition for its developing Physician Assistant (PA) Program. Richard Bennett, Ph.D., PA-C, has been appointed to the role of Program Director.
Dr. Bennett succeeds Dr. Michelle Heinan, who has served as Program Director since November 2025 and recently submitted her resignation effective June 30, 2026, due to medical reasons.
Since joining the Carroll College PA Program on April 1, 2026, as Principal Faculty, Dr. Bennett has played an active role in program development and planning. He is working closely with Dr. Heinan during this intentional transition period to ensure continuity and sustained progress in program development.
“We appreciate Dr. Heinan’s work in advancing the program and are fortunate to have Dr. Bennett prepared to build on that progress,” said Dr. Jennifer Glowienka, co-president of Carroll College. “Dr. Bennett has already become an integral part of our program development efforts, and we are confident in his ability to lead the program through the accreditation process and beyond.”
Dr. Bennett brings more than a decade of clinical experience and significant leadership experience in physician assistant education. His previous roles include Principal Faculty appointments at the University of Arizona and University of Utah, Director of Didactic Education, Associate Program Director, and Founding Site Director of the University of Utah Physician Assistant Program's St. George campus. He also served as Director of Admissions and Principal Faculty at the University of Charleston. Throughout his career, he has combined physician assistant education leadership with clinical practice and service initiatives focused on rural and underserved communities.
He holds a Master of Medical Science degree from Yale School of Medicine and a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences.
The Carroll College Physician Assistant Program continues to move forward on its planned timeline. The program intends to submit its application for Provisional Accreditation in March 2027, with a site visit anticipated in June 2027 and an accreditation decision expected in fall 2027. Student applications are expected to open in April 2027 and close September 1, 2027, with interviews beginning later that month. Pending accreditation, the inaugural cohort of 34 students will begin classes in May 2028.
The Carroll College Physician Assistant Program is designed as a full-time, 27-month Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree. Students will complete a 14-month didactic phase followed by a 13-month clinical phase that combines classroom instruction, laboratory experiences, and hands-on clinical training.
Carroll College remains committed to maintaining full compliance with ARC-PA standards throughout the leadership transition and looks forward to bringing high-quality physician assistant education to Montana and the surrounding region.
To learn more about the program, visit carroll.edu/pa.
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