Physician Assistants

The Illinois Kidney Disease and Hypertension Center features two PA-Cs who help extend the services provided by our Board-certified physicians.

Julie A. DeSutter, PA-C

Joined group in 2001
B.S. - Illinois State University, 1997
B.S. - Physician Assistant Studies, Midwestern University, Downers Grove, IL, 1999
Certified Physician Assistant, 1999

Holly R. Walker, PA-C

Joined group in 2002
B.S. - University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, IL, 1993
M.S. - Speech-Language Pathology, Rush University, Chicago, IL, 1995
M.S. - Physician Assistant, Finch University of Health Sciences, North Chicago, IL, 2001
Certified Physician Assistant, 2001

Following is some information on physician assistants you might find useful:

Services Physician Assistants Provide

The services physician assistants (PAs) can provide vary with their training, experience and the state law. These services also typically correspond to the supervising physician's practice. In general, PAs provide about 80% of the services typically offered by a medical doctor. They are qualified by academic and clinical training to provide patient services under the supervision of a physician. PAs can diagnose and treat illnesses, assist in surgery, perform physical exams and - in most states, including Illinois - prescribe medications. A PA-C is a nationally certified physician assistant. In order to maintain national certification, a PA-C is required to log 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and take the national recertification exam every six years.

Differences Between a PA-C and an M.D.

One of the primary differences between PAs and physicians is not the core content of their education, but the amount of time spent in school. Physician assistants typically attend a program that is about two thirds of what is required for medical school. In addition, they do not have to undertake an internship or residency. Where a physician holds complete responsibility for a patient, a PA has shared responsibility. Physicians may practice independently, while a PA must practice medicine only under a physician's supervision. Generally, physicians handle the more complicated medical cases and those cases that require care that is not a routine part of the PA's scope of work. PAs are also required to take ongoing continuing medical education classes and to be retested on their clinical skills regularly.