Physician Assistant

The purpose of this course is to introduce students to health promotion, wellness, screening, and disease prevention across the lifespan, as well as to guide clinical interventions and education in patient care. Students will learn about the role of nutrition, immunizations, pediatric and adult health screening and management, dental health, and modifiable risk factors in preventative medicine. The information delivered in this course will be further expanded upon in Clinical Medicine courses throughout the didactic year and reinforced on clinical rotations.

The purpose of this course is to create an awareness and understanding of the ’’art” of interviewing and proper documentation. The focus will be on obtaining a patient history, communicating with patients in different age groups, learning appropriate use of medical terms and abbreviations and understanding general principles of communication. The skill of interviewing a patient to obtain a history is one of the foundational skills a physician assistant should possess. Additionally, the student will be introduced to legal considerations of documentation and various forms of documentation including hospital notes.

The Preparation for Clinical Phase (PCP) course series is designed to support a seamless transition from the didactic phase to the twelve-month clinical training phase of the Physician Assistant Program, ensuring students’ readiness for supervised clinical practice. The PCP I course orients students to the structure and expectations of the clinical year, including an overview of clinical site placements, patient care experiences, assessment and evaluation methods, and program policies and procedures.

The Clinical Medicine series is a sequence of three courses. The courses introduce students to clinical conditions commonly encountered in practicing primary care medicine in pediatric and adult populations. Lectures will emphasize the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation and course, as well as diagnostic and treatment modalities of each disease topic. Students will participate in case group sessions and standardized patient encounters. During the encounters, students will have the opportunity to develop competencies in history taking, performing physical exams, developing differential diagnoses, ordering and interpreting laboratory and diagnostic studies, and formulating an assessment and plan. Additionally, students will gain experience in prescription writing and medical documentation. 

The Clinical Medicine series is a sequence of three courses. The courses introduce students to clinical conditions commonly encountered in practicing primary care medicine in pediatric and adult populations. Lectures will emphasize the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation and course, as well as diagnostic and treatment modalities of each disease topic. Students will participate in case group sessions and standardized patient encounters. During the encounters, students will have the opportunity to develop competencies in history taking, performing physical exams, developing differential diagnoses, ordering and interpreting laboratory and diagnostic studies, and formulating an assessment and plan. Additionally, students will gain experience in prescription writing and medical documentation.

The Preparation for Clinical Phase (PCP) course series is designed to support a seamless transition from the didactic phase to the twelve-month clinical training phase of the Physician Assistant Program, ensuring students’ readiness for supervised clinical practice. The PCP II course addresses core concepts essential to clinical practice; including interprofessional collaboration and patient-centered care.

The Clinical Medicine series is a sequence of three courses. The courses introduce students to clinical conditions commonly encountered in practicing primary care medicine in pediatric and adult populations. Lectures will emphasize the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation and course, as well as diagnostic and treatment modalities of each disease topic. Students will participate in case group sessions, standardized patient encounters, and high-fidelity simulations. During the encounters, students will have the opportunity to develop competencies in history taking, performing physical exams, developing differential diagnoses, ordering and interpreting laboratory and diagnostic studies, and formulating an assessment and plan. Additionally, students will gain experience in prescription writing and medical documentation.

This course presents a two-fold approach to issues in behavioral medicine and psychiatry: 1) A biopsychosocial and family systems model of the individual and family developmental stages present throughout the life cycle, and 2) an introduction to the major psychopathologies encountered in clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on medical assessment, diagnostic criteria, clinical management, and first-line treatments. Topics in behavioral medicine include problems of childhood, domestic violence, clinician well-being, stress management, and normal and abnormal sexuality. The psychopathologies include anxiety disorders, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, personality disorders, substance-related disorders, trauma, chronic illness, aging, and end of life care. Case histories and audio-visual presentations will enhance the student’s understanding.

The Preparation for Clinical Phase (PCP) course series is designed to support a seamless transition from the didactic phase to the twelve-month clinical training phase of the Physician Assistant Program, ensuring students’ readiness for supervised clinical practice. The PCP III course offers immersive learning experiences that enable students to apply their medical knowledge and clinical skills while strengthening their clinical reasoning and interpersonal communication. It also includes a comprehensive formative assessment designed to evaluate students’ medical knowledge and support self-directed learning initiatives. 

This second-year master’s course series serves largely as an independent study, allowing the second-year physician assistant student to develop an electronic portfolio of professional and scholarly activities. The portfolio focus and/or content may change over the course of the clinical year, based on the individual student’s personal experiences, preferences and opportunities. A summary of state regulatory requirements will be addressed and included by the student.

The Clinical Assessment Day (CAD) I offers an opportunity for the program and the student to assess student progress and to ensure students are meeting program learning objectives and academic milestones. The CAD I consists of an individual primary care-based practical examination, medical documentation, an individual skills assessment and lecture.

The Clinical Assessment Day (CAD) II offers an opportunity for the program and the student to assess student progress and to ensure students are meeting program learning objectives and academic milestones. The CAD II consists of an individual primary care-based practical examination, medical documentation, an individual skills assessment and lecture.

This course is designed to evaluate students at the midpoint of the clinical phase of the Physician Assistant program. The Mid-Year Evaluation (MYE) offers an opportunity for the program and the student to assess student progress and to ensure students are meeting program learning objectives and academic milestones. The mid-year evaluation consists of an individual primary care-based practical examination, medical documentation and a comprehensive primary care-based multiple-choice exam.

The End-of-Year Evaluation (EYE) course is the summative evaluation of the student conducted at the end of the clinical phase. The course consists of lectures and assessments. It is designed to gauge the students’ readiness for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), as well as clinical practice. Graded components of EYE include individual performance during a primary care-based standardized patient examination, documentation of the encounter, a technical skills station, and a comprehensive summative exam.

This course offered in the final academic quarter provides intensive review lectures focused on the fundamental knowledge and skills relevant to the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE). Additionally, a formative self-assessment examination is administered to identify areas of weakness in order for students to strengthen their preparedness for and performance on the PANCE.

The Family Medicine (FMED) supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) is designed to provide Physician Assistant students with the opportunity to apply their medical knowledge, clinical skills, clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal skills to direct patient care encounters.  Students will gain experience in the evaluation and management of patients presenting with both acute and chronic primary care conditions, preventive care, and wellness encounters. Students will work under the supervision of licensed clinicians in the outpatient, with or without inpatient, setting.

The Internal Medicine (IMED) supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) is designed to provide Physician Assistant students with the opportunity to apply their medical knowledge, clinical skills, clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal skills to direct patient care encounters.  Students will gain experience in the evaluation and management of adult and elderly patients presenting with both acute and chronic primary care conditions, as well as preventive care encounters. Students will work under the supervision of licensed clinicians in the outpatient, and/or inpatient setting.

The Pediatrics (PEDS) supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) is designed to provide Physician Assistant students with the opportunity to apply their medical knowledge, clinical skills, clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal skills to direct patient care encounters. Students will gain experience in the evaluation and management of infants, children, and adolescents presenting with both acute and chronic primary care conditions, preventive care, and wellness encounters. Students will work under the supervision of licensed clinicians in the outpatient, with or without inpatient, setting.

The Psychiatry & Behavioral Health (PSYCH) supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) is designed to provide Physician Assistant students with the opportunity to apply their medical knowledge, clinical skills, clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal skills to direct patient care encounters. Students will gain experience in the evaluation and management of patients presenting with acute and chronic psychiatric and behavioral health conditions. Students will work under the supervision of licensed clinicians in the outpatient and/or inpatient setting.

The Surgery (SURG) supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) is designed to provide Physician Assistant students with the opportunity to apply their medical knowledge, clinical skills, clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal skills to direct patient care encounters. Students will gain experience in the evaluation and management of patients with surgical conditions. Students will work under the supervision of licensed clinicians in the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative settings. 

The Women's Health (WH) supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) is designed to provide Physician Assistant students with the opportunity to apply their medical knowledge, clinical skills, clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal skills to direct patient care encounters. Students will gain experience in the evaluation and management of women's health conditions, including prenatal and gynecologic care. Students will work under the supervision of licensed clinicians in the outpatient, with or without inpatient and operative, setting.

The Elective supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) is designed to provide Physician Assistant students with the opportunity to apply their medical knowledge, clinical skills, clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities, and interpersonal skills to direct patient care encounters. The Elective rotation allows students to explore an area of clinical interest in greater depth under the supervision of licensed clinicians. Students will gain experience in the evaluation and management of patients across inpatient, outpatient, or operative settings, depending on the chosen specialty.