The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recently awarded $990,000 to expand a physician's assistant (PA) program at a Pennsylvania-based college.

According to The Citizen's Voice, the government's grant will allow the institution to enroll five additional students into the highly competitive master's degree program in each of the next five years.

The college's president said the funding is well-timed because of the healthcare provisions that recently became law.

"These graduates will provide patients greater access to preventive and consistent medical care under the Affordable Care Act, help address a predicted national shortage of medical professionals, and carry on the [school's] tradition of students working in medically underserved areas," the school's president told the news source.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that employment opportunities for in this field will grow by 39 percent over a decade, which is much faster than most occupations. The bureau projects that PAs will be expected to perform more duties as healthcare policies evolve.

The median salary in this field is $81,230 per year, according to the BLS. Individuals who are interested in pursuing a medical career may consider taking online courses in related fields.