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
Dr. Miguel Garcia is an assistant professor and core faculty member in the Doctor of Physical Therapy program at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences Miami campus. He has been teaching in the DPT Flex program since 2009 and leads the various neurological courses within the DPT curriculum on the Miami campus. Dr. Garcia earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology and Exercise Physiology from the University of Miami, his master’s in Physical Therapy from Florida International University, his transitional Doctor of Physical Therapy from Florida Gulf Coast University and his Doctor of Education from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.
Since entering the profession, Dr. Garcia has primarily worked with patients who have neurological disease in the inpatient rehab, outpatient rehab, and home health settings with an interest in patients who have suffered a stroke. Currently, Dr. Garcia has a primary interest in Falls Prevention with the adult neurological population and leads a research study assessing a community-based falls program that is run on campus. During his career, Dr. Garcia has also served in various leadership positions, most recently serving as the director of rehabilitation at West Gables Rehabilitation Hospital where he oversaw daily operations for the therapy and case management departments and overall program development. He has spoken at local, state, and national conferences and led various continuing education courses. Beyond his work for the university and the rehabilitation hospital, he also serves as a program surveyor for CARF (Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities).
