Physician assistant programs developed specifically for former military medical corpsmen with independent duty experience. They train physician assistants, especially for general practioners in rural areas. Most Medex, as graduates of the programs are called, have been trained to work specific physicians. The first such program was begun in 1967 by Richard A. Smith at the University of Washington, in cooperation the Washington State Medical Association. The programs generally consist of three months of university training and twelve months of preceptorship.
A program for training former US Army medical corpsmen to serve as physician assistants. The program was started in 1969 and generally consists of three months of university training followed by 12 months of preceptorship training with physicians. The term Medex is derived from the words Medicine Extension. Medex personnel provide extensions of physician services, particularly in rural or urban areas where there are doctor shortages.