Southwestern College has announced that it has been awarded a generous challenge grant from the Mabee Foundation to support the development of its new Physician Associate (PA) program, a key initiative in expanding health sciences education in south-central Kansas. 

Receipt of the challenge grant funds is contingent on the college raising an additional $354,478 in donations. The deadline to raise the funds for the PA program and achieve the $200,000 grant is July 8, 2026.

The Mabee Foundation’s investment will help fund Phase I renovations at 800 Main in Winfield, where Southwestern PA students will complete their didactic course of study and program faculty will office once opened. Phase I renovations include over 3,300 square feet of the program footprint at 800 Main, including a classatory/classroom, skills lab, simulation center, study collaboration spaces, and office spaces. Additionally, challenge grant funding will support the purchase and installation of classroom technology, furnishings, and a Video Audio Learning Tool (VALT) System to complete the learning spaces.  The program, currently in the accreditation pathway, will address the growing demand for advanced practice professionals across rural and underserved communities in Kansas and the region.  

“We are deeply grateful to the Mabee Foundation for their vision and commitment to advancing healthcare education,” said Dr. Liz Frombgen, president of Southwestern College. “This grant will enable our faculty to prepare talented, compassionate PA graduates who will serve with excellence in clinics, hospitals, and communities that need them most.”

The College has applied for Accreditation-Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) and anticipates matriculating its first class, a cohort of up to 40, in January 2027, pending the achievement of “Accreditation – Provisional” status at the June 2026 ARC-PA Commission meeting. As part of the accreditation pathway, the College must prepare learning facilities to train PA students.

The grant from the Mabee Foundation supports the College’s aggressive launch timeline for the program, in addition to the College’s mission to serve its students and the broader community through innovative, mission-driven educational opportunities.

The Physician Associate program at Southwestern College will offer a rigorous curriculum blending classroom instruction, clinical simulation, and hands-on clinical experiences in partnership with regional healthcare providers. Upon completion, graduates will be prepared to sit for national certification and enter the workforce ready to provide high-quality, team-based care.

Founded in 1948 by John and Lottie Mabee, the Mabee Foundation has a long history of supporting educational, medical, and charitable projects across the Midwest, with a particular emphasis on capital improvements and impactful initiatives. The Mabee Foundation has previously supported advancement work at Southwestern College. 

“This grant affirms that the work we are doing is both timely and vital,” Chandra Lynch PA Program Director at Southwestern College. “The Mabee Foundation’s support is a powerful catalyst as we speed onward toward achieving accreditation and opening a high-quality program; we are incredibly excited by the prospect of welcoming our first cohort of PA students to Winfield.” 

To support development of the PA program at Southwestern College and earn the full support of the Mabee Foundation Challenge grant, please visit www.sckans.edu/give or contact Kaydee Riggs-Johnson, vice president for advancement, communications, and marketing at (620) 229-6343.