Which statement best captures a milestone in PA history?

• A. The first PA class formed in 1967
• B. Buddy Treadwell became the first PA graduate
• C. The first PA class did not include physician mentorship
• D. Eugene Stead is recognized as the founder of the PA profession

Answer: (D)

The key idea here is the origin of the PA movement. Eugene Stead is the person credited with conceiving and launching the physician assistant concept, creating the first PA program and the model of training nonphysician clinicians to work under physician supervision. Recognizing him as the founder marks the birth of the profession itself, a milestone that defines what PAs are and why the profession exists. The other statements describe specific events or details (like when the first class occurred or who the first graduate was), which are important historical facts but stem from that initial founding moment rather than representing the moment the profession began.