Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are advanced healthcare practitioners with similar responsibilities, such as diagnosing illnesses and prescribing medications. However, their training and paths toward certification differ in significant ways. This blog post unpacks the key differences between NPs and PAs to help you determine which career path best aligns with your goals. What Is a Nurse Practitioner? A nurse practitioner (NP) is a licensed clinician who provides comprehensive healthcare to patients of all ages. An NP can work in virtually any healthcare setting, diagnosing patient conditions and prescribing medications. As of October 2022, nurse practitioners have full practice authority in 27 states, meaning that they can practice Read more
Mariesol Wallace, PT, DPT, CCI
Executive Director of Clinical Services
Dr. Mariesol Wallace joined the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences in December 2017 as an academic coordinator of clinical education. Prior to joining the University, she was the program director for a physical therapy assistant program and a practicing clinician in the home care setting.
During her 19-year career, she has worked in the following practice settings: hospitals, outpatient clinics (both corporately and privately owned), skilled nursing facilities, and home health. Her work in a variety of practice settings has provided her with diverse experiences that enhance the educational experience of her students. Her experience in administration, fiscal management, and human resource management in skilled nursing facilities and outpatient clinics has allowed her to understand both the clinical, financial, and management aspects of a physical therapy department.
She stays current with contemporary practices and innovations within the physical therapy community with continuous participation in continuing education courses that address the changes in practice, including fiscal changes and modifications in delivery. Through her clinical education instructor experience, she has been responsible for evaluating student learning objectives and assessing outcomes.
To serve the profession, she has become an item writer for the National Physical Therapy Examination. She has participated in several item writer workshops and the faculty workshop hosted by the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy. She is also a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and the Florida Physical Therapy Association.
