Senator Creigh Deeds was the guest speaker for Shenandoah University's physician assistants class to address critical shortages in dentistry and nursing.

"I think it's important to talk to everyone about the future but right now, we've got shortages in some key areas of medical professionals," says Deeds. "Physician assistants, I think, are going to play a larger role in the medical economy that emerges, than they play today," adds Deeds.

Deeds explains there are medically under-served areas in Virginia, including a deficit of nursing instructors.

Another issue is higher education. Deeds says that tuition in public schools has risen more than 80% during the last ten years.

"We're pricing people out of our system of public education and to me, that's unacceptable," explains Deeds. "I think we have a system of higher public education for the reason to give people the chance to live the American dream, the chance to improve their lives. Higher education is the key to economic growth," adds Deeds.

Tony Miller, a director and professor of the physician assistant program, says that his students are interested in how government and politics impact what they will be able to do for their patients when they graduate.

"Being involved in the political process is really important for us as a program and for our students because ultimately, it will have an impact on patient care," says Miller.

Miller explains that his students will be graduating into an era where the need for health care is going to rise dramatically.

"If health care reform passes and we have an increase in access, that means that more people are going to need health care services and physician assistants can help do that," adds Miller.

Professor Miller added that the population is getting older with higher needs of service and physicians and other health care providers are trying to retire earlier.

Professor Miller says more than 100 students are enrolled in Shenandoah University's physician assistant program.