Physician Assistant Medicine Instructional Strategies
Diverse methods of instruction will be employed throughout the didactic and clinical phases of the program such as: traditional in person lecture, hybrid/blended courses, hands-on laboratory instruction, team-problem-case-based learning, simulation, and supervised clinical practice experiences.
Also, learners will participate in collaborative service-learning experiences such as interdisciplinary community service initiatives where the learners identify a specific healthcare disparity within the community, design and implement a self-sustaining program that addresses the disparity and empowers the community. Through these initiatives the learners will gain real life experience in culturally competent healthcare for the underserved.
Physician Assistant Medicine Assessment Strategies
Throughout both the didactic and clinical phases of the program learners will be evaluated and expected to meet the highest standards of competency in the following domains of Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession: Knowledge for Practice, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Patient Centered Care, Professionalism and Ethics, Practice Based Learning and Improvement, and Society and Population Health Assessment.
Assessment tools such as multiple-choice questions, verbal and written case presentations, simulation activities, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), short essays, reflection journals, research projects and clinical preceptor evaluations will be employed to evaluate the learner’s successful achievement of the program learning outcomes and competencies.
Curriculum Overview
Curriculum
The core curriculum is composed of programmatic elements required to complete the degree. All programmatic components must be completed in the prescribed sequence and within the 28-months of the program. Upon successful completion of all required curricular components learners will receive a Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Medicine.
Didactic Phase
The curriculum has a strong emphasis on health disparities in medically underserved rural populations and it begins with a 16-month rigorous didactic phase which includes robust instruction in anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, clinical laboratory and diagnostic studies, physical diagnosis, clinical medicine, behavioral medicine, community medicine, clinical research design, medical writing, evidence-based medicine, legal and ethical issues in medicine, and cultural issues in medicine. Instruction in professionalism, patient safety and advocacy are interwoven throughout the curriculum. The program will provide instruction on the four core competencies for interprofessional collaborative practice: Values/Ethics for Interprofessional Practice, Roles/Responsibilities, Teams, and Teamwork; and Interprofessional Communication, through creative and innovative active learning strategies such as interdisciplinary team based and simulation learning.
Clinical Phase
The didactic phase is followed by a 12-month clinical phase where the learners will engage in well over 2100 hours of supervised clinical practice experiences which will be referred to as clinical rotations in this document. Learners will participate in seven core clinical rotations: Behavioral and Mental Health, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Surgery, Women’s Health, and two selective clinical rotations (all clinical rotations are five weeks long [4-weeks on site and 1-week on campus]).
At the end of each clinical rotation learners return to the main campus and participate in a three-day End of Rotation Clinical Seminar. Clinical Seminar activities include discipline specific Physician Assistant Education Association End of Clinical rotation Multiple Choice Examination, Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) board review with case discussions, an NCCPA-type practice exam, and round table discussions on topics regarding Physician Assistant practice.
Research
The graduate research project is a requirement for graduation. Learners may choose one of two options for the graduate research project. The first option is a three-part individual graduate research project which entails: a written case report, a literature review on a topic related to the case report, and an oral presentation of the case and key findings of the literature review. The second option is a collaborative graduate research project where a small group of learners (three learners maximum) identify a healthcare need in a specific rural community; conduct a literature review on the subject matter, design, and implement a community health initiative. The report (written and oral presentation) includes a literature review, a description of the project and its outcomes.
Course Descriptions
Course Descriptions: Didactic Phase (Semester I – IV)
Semester 1
PAHS 5500 Clinical Anatomy and Radiology with Lab
Course Delivery Method: In Person
This is a clinically oriented course designed to integrate knowledge and understanding of human anatomy and function in the context of health and disease. Anatomical landmarks and findings are correlated with imaging and pathophysiology. The multimodal laboratory sessions will reinforce the learner’s knowledge of anatomy and provide the learner with the opportunity to visualize the texture, color, location, and three-dimensional relationships of anatomical structures. In conjunction with the multimodal lab session, there will also be corresponding online ‘Virtual Lab’ resources. Embryology and developmental biology will be incorporated into the course. This course will also introduce learners to the fundamentals of anatomical structure as it correlates to radiologic imaging. Learners will learn how to identify and locate key anatomical structures through a series of radiographic images. The integration of clinically applied cases throughout each lab reinforces the application of anatomical concepts to clinical practice.
PAHS 5201 Medical Physiology
Course Delivery Method: In Person
This is an integrated primary core course, foundational to principles of pathophysiology. It involves an intensive study of the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, and recognition of various diseases and anomalies in the population. The contextual approach to these disciplines will include the interrelationship of prior and current learning incorporating the basic sciences, anatomy and physiology, ancillary diagnostics, and medical terminology.
PAHS 5202 Pharmacology I
Course Delivery Method: Hybrid
This course is designed to prepare the learner for the clinical study of therapeutics by providing knowledge of the way drugs modify biological function. Instruction on basic principles of pharmacology, including pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, receptors, dose-response, drug interactions, indications, and contraindications will be provided. It includes a systematic study of the effects of drugs (antimicrobials) on different organ systems and disease processes, the mechanisms by which drugs produce their therapeutic and toxic effects, and the factors influencing their absorption, distribution, and biological actions.
PAHS 5105 Epidemiology and Biostatistics: An Introduction to Clinical Research
Course Delivery Method: Online
This course will explore fundamental concepts of biostatistics and epidemiology necessary to interpret clinical research articles and design clinical studies most encountered in health research.
PAHS 5406 Medical Interviewing, Counseling and Documentation
Course Delivery Method: In Person
This course will equip the learner with the fundamentals of patient-centered communication skills, patient education and basic counseling techniques as well as the components of the medical interview. The learner will develop competency in behavioral change counseling strategies such as motivational interviewing. These concepts will be reinforced through the introduction to medical documentation.
PAHS 5107 The Physician Assistant: Delivering Healthcare in Rural America and Beyond
Course Delivery Method: Online
This course offers learners a comprehensive overview of the fundamental structure and operations of the of U.S. health care system. The course presents the complex nature in the organization, financing, and delivery of health care services in the US in a systematic fashion. Healthcare systems of other countries and global health challenges and reform are also explored. Also, the course explores the factors affecting the development of the profession and the role of the physician assistant in today’s healthcare delivery system. Will provide a historical perspective of the PA profession as well as current trends and issues affecting PA practice within the state and on a national level. This course will discuss credentialing, policies, regulations governing the scope of practice, and professional organizations. The physician-PA team relationship, Inter-professional practice and the role of inter-disciplinary teams will also be discussed.
PAHS 5008 Interprofessional Seminar I: Roles and Responsibilities
Course Delivery Method: In Person
Physician Assistants must successfully function in a health care environment that effectively utilizes the resources and knowledge offered by each member of the healthcare team in the delivery of patient centered care. Successful inter-professional practice results in improvement in quality, reduction in cost, optimization of efficiency; ultimately achieving the best possible patient outcomes. These seminars will provide the Physician Assistant learner opportunities to apply the principles of inter-professional practice to clinical scenarios while interacting with learners from other healthcare disciplines. The seminars will be conducted over two days and will focus on the four inter-professional collaborative practice competency domains: Roles and Responsibilities, Interprofessional Communication, Teams and Teamwork, and Ethics and Values.
Semester II
PAHS 5612 Clinical Medicine I
Course Delivery Method: In Person
This course integrates the epidemiology, risk factors (including genetics, as applicable), pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, history and physical findings, laboratory and diagnostic tests, differential diagnosis, therapeutic management, possible complications, prevention measures prognosis, patient education and follow-up of emergent and non-emergent disorders encountered in primary care across the lifespan. The course utilizes a systems approach and is delivered through a combination of traditional lectures and team-based learning (TBL) sessions. The topics are synchronized with and correlative to topics in Pathophysiology of Disease I, Pharmacology II, Physical Diagnosis I and Clinical Laboratory Medicine I. Organ systems covered in Clinical Medicine I include Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Otolaryngology, Cardiology, Pulmonary Medicine, and Hematology. At the end of each organ system learners will engage in critical thinking and integration of clinical concepts exercises through team-based learning.
PAHS 5215 Pathophysiology of Disease I
Course Delivery Method: In Person
Pathophysiology of Disease I is the first of a two-semester overview of medical physiology as well as an introduction to the underlying pathological basis for specific disease processes common to primary care. The clinical pathophysiology portion of the course serves as a transition from the basic medical sciences to clinical medicine. The student will be exposed to the study of disease, both congenital and acquired with an emphasis on providing understanding pathologic physiology in conjunction with information regarding medical history and laboratory data to solve case based clinical problems during small group discussions. Students are taught how pathophysiology translates into patient signs, symptoms, and laboratory test results. Students are also encouraged to begin the thought processes leading to development of differential diagnoses. The course content is presented synchronized with appropriate, correlative lectures in Physical Assessment and Diagnosis I, Clinical Medicine I, Clinical Laboratory Medicine I and Pharmacology II.
PAHS 5203 Pharmacology II
Course Delivery Method: Hybrid
This course is designed to prepare the learner for the clinical study of therapeutics by providing knowledge of the way drugs modify biological function. It includes a systematic study of the effects of drugs on different organ systems and disease processes, the mechanisms by which drugs produce their therapeutic and toxic effects, and the factors influencing their absorption, distribution, and biological actions. The course consists of a combination of lectures and team-based learning (TBL) sessions. The topics are synchronized with and correlative to topics in Clinical Medicine I, Pathophysiology of Disease I and Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostics I.
PAHS 5217 Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostics I
Course Delivery Method: In Person
This course is the first of a two-part series where the learner receives instruction in medical laboratory, electrocardiography, and radiographic studies used in the diagnosis and management of common disorders of the major body systems. It also provides the rationale for the selection, utilization and interpretation of clinical laboratory, imaging and other diagnostic tests used to evaluate each system’s principal functions. The topics are synchronized with and correlative to topics in Clinical Medicine I, Pathophysiology of Disease I and Pharmacology II.
PAHS 5419 Physical Assessment and Diagnosis I
Course Delivery Method: In Person
This is a course where the learner develops a systems-based approach to performing a full physical examination and critical thinking skills enabling them to formulate differential diagnoses and treatment plans. The course content has been synchronized and integrated with correlative content in Pathophysiology of Disease I, Clinical Pharmacology I, Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostics I and Clinical Medicine I to maximize learner learning.
Learners will receive instruction through lectures and actively participate in labs where they interact with, interview, and examine standardized patients. Learners are primarily assessed by Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE); where they will interview and examine a standardized patient then document and present their findings to course instructors.
PAHS 5221 Evidence Based Medicine I
Course Delivery Method: In Person
This is the first course of a three-part series where the basic principles of utilizing research evidence in clinical practice are expounded on. Course I will focus on developing efficient strategies for searching and using available databases to access evidence-based journals and medical literature.
Learners will also acquire the skill of formulating an answerable research question. Course II will provide learners with the requisite knowledge and skill to appropriately interpret and critically appraise research studies of intervention, harm, diagnosis, and prognosis in an efficient manner. After appraising the study learners will be able to determine if the information is valid and how it will affect the care of the patient. Course III will offer instruction on medical writing as learners start to develop the foundation of their graduate research project.
PAHS 5124 Public Health: Principles, Policy, and Rural Health Advocacy
Course Delivery Method: Hybrid
This course offers the learner a population perspective on the determinants of health and disease. It will also explore best practices and the tools available to promote health and prevent disease. The learner will examine public healthcare systems as well as society-wide systems (e.g., laws and taxation) and their role on health inequities in the United States and abroad. Additionally, the learner will be introduced to public health policy: its purpose, how it is originated, and how it is implemented.
Underlying theories and frameworks as well as practical analytical tools needed for effective advocacy and communication will be discussed. The course will also demonstrate how policymaking is a complex, multidisciplinary, and integrated top-down and bottoms-up process that embraces a myriad of public and private stakeholders.
PAHS 5009 Interprofessional Seminar II: Interprofessional Communication
Course Delivery Method: Hybrid
Physician Assistants must successfully function in a health care environment that effectively utilizes the resources and knowledge offered by each member of the healthcare team in the delivery of patient centered care. Successful inter-professional practice results in improvement in quality, reduction in cost, optimization of efficiency; ultimately achieving the best possible patient outcomes. This seminar series will provide the Physician Assistant learner opportunities to apply the principles of inter-professional practice to clinical scenarios while interacting with learners from other healthcare disciplines. The seminars will be conducted over two days and will focus on the four inter-professional collaborative practice competency domains: Roles and Responsibilities, Interprofessional Communication, Teams and Teamwork, and Ethics and Values.
Semester III
PAHS 5613 Clinical Medicine II
Course Delivery Method: In person
This course integrates the epidemiology, risk factors (including genetics, as applicable), pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, history and physical findings, laboratory and diagnostic tests, differential diagnosis, therapeutic management, possible complications, prevention measures prognosis, patient education and follow-up of emergent and non-emergent disorders encountered in primary care across the lifespan. The course utilizes a systems approach and is delivered through a combination of traditional lectures and team-based learning (TBL) sessions. The topics are synchronized with and correlative to topics in Pathophysiology of Disease II, Pharmacology II, Physical Diagnosis II and Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostics II. Organ systems covered in Clinical Medicine II include Gastroenterology,Urology/Nephrology, Endocrinology, Rheumatology, Orthopedics, Psychiatry, and Neurology. At the end of each organ system learners will engage in critical thinking and integration of clinical concepts exercises through team-based learning.
PAHS 5216 Pathophysiology of Disease II
Course Delivery Method: In person
Pathophysiology of Disease II is an introduction to the underlying pathological basis for specific disease processes common to primary care. The clinical pathophysiology portion of the course serves as a transition from the basic medical sciences to clinical medicine. The learner will be exposed to the study of disease, both congenital and acquired with an emphasis on providing understanding pathologic physiology in conjunction with information regarding medical history and laboratory data to solve case based clinical problems during small group discussions. Learners are taught how pathophysiology translates into patient signs, symptoms, and laboratory test results. Learners are also encouraged to begin the thought processes leading to development of differential diagnoses. The course content is presented synchronized with appropriate, correlative topics in Physical Assessment and Diagnosis II, Clinical Medicine II, and Pharmacology III.
PAHS 5204 Pharmacology III
Course Delivery Method: Hybrid
This course is designed to prepare the learner for the clinical study of therapeutics by providing knowledge of the way drugs modify biological function. It includes a systematic study of the effects of drugs on different organ systems and disease processes, the mechanisms by which drugs produce their therapeutic and toxic effects, and the factors influencing their absorption, distribution, and biological actions. The course consists of a combination of lectures and problem-based learning (PBL) sessions. The topics are synchronized with and correlative to topics in Clinical Medicine II, Pathophysiology of Disease II, and Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostics II.
PAHS 5218 Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostics II
Course Delivery Method: In Person
This course is the second of a two-part series where the learner receives instruction in medical laboratory and radiographic studies used in the diagnosis and management of common disorders of the major body systems. It also provides the rationale for the selection, utilization and interpretation of clinical laboratory, imaging and other diagnostic tests used to evaluate each system’s principal functions. The topics are synchronized with and correlative to topics in Clinical Medicine II, Pathophysiology of Disease II, and Pharmacology III.
PAHS 5420 Physical Assessment and Diagnosis II
Course Delivery Method: In person
This is a course where the learner develops a systems-based approach to performing a full physical examination and critical thinking skills enabling them to formulate differential diagnoses and treatment plans. The course content has been synchronized and integrated with correlative content in Pathophysiology of Disease II, Clinical Pharmacology II, Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostics II and Clinical Medicine I to maximize learner learning.
Learners will receive instruction through lectures and actively participate in labs where they interact with, interview, and examine standardized patients. Learners are primarily assessed by Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE); where they will interview and examine a standardized patient then document and present their findings to course instructors.
PAHS 5222 Evidence Based Medicine II
Course Delivery Method: In person
This is the second course of a three-part series that where the basic principles of utilizing research evidence in clinical practice are expounded on. Course I focused on developing efficient strategies for searching and using available databases to access evidence-based journals and medical literature. Learners also acquired the skill of formulating an answerable research question. Course II will provide learners with the requisite knowledge and skills to appropriately interpret and critically appraise research studies of intervention, harm, diagnosis, and prognosis in an efficient manner. After appraising the study learners will be able to determine if the information is valid and how it will affect the care of the patient. Course III will offer instruction on medical writing as learners start to develop the foundation of their graduate research project.
PAHS 5125 Cultural Issues in Healthcare
Course Delivery Method: Hybrid
This course enhances the understanding of culture and its relationship to health, health disparities, disease incidence and prevalence for specific communities and/or ethnic groups. It will also explore historical factors that might shape the health behaviors, beliefs, folk practices, ethnopharmacology, and communication practices of specific communities. Learners will be challenged to discover the effect of bias and stereotyping on the delivery of healthcare. Upon completion of this course the learner will develop an understanding and value the importance of providing culturally competent healthcare.
PAHS 5010 Interprofessional Seminar III: Ethics and Values
Course Delivery Method: Hybrid
Physician Assistants must successfully function in a health care environment that effectively utilizes the resources and knowledge offered by each member of the healthcare team in the delivery of patient centered care. Successful inter-professional collaborative practice results in improvement in quality, reduction in cost, optimization of efficiency; ultimately achieving the best possible patient outcomes. These seminars will provide the Physician Assistant learner opportunities to apply the principles of inter-professional collaborative practice to clinical scenarios while interacting with learners from other healthcare disciplines.
Semester IV
PAHS 5614 Clinical Medicine III
Course Delivery Method: Hybrid
This course integrates the epidemiology, risk factors (including genetics, as applicable), pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, history and physical findings, laboratory and diagnostic tests, differential diagnosis, therapeutic management, possible complications, prevention measures, prognosis, patient education and follow-up of emergent and non-emergent disorders encountered across the lifespan in primary care. Learners will apply knowledge obtained in Clinical Medicine I and II to specific populations and clinical situations. It is delivered through a combination of traditional lectures and team-based learning (TBL) sessions. Topics covered in Clinical Medicine III: Women’s Health, Surgery, Geriatrics, Pediatrics, Infectious Disease Part II, and Emergency Medicine. Throughout each module learners will engage in critical thinking and integration of clinical concepts exercises through team-based learning.
PAHS 5226 Advanced Pharmacotherapeutics
Course Delivery Method: Hybrid
This course provides the opportunity to acquire advanced knowledge and skills in the therapeutic use of pharmacologic agents. The pharmacologic treatment of complex health problems will be explored. It is designed to facilitate the process of teambuildingby making basic knowledge in pharmacology “come alive” in structured case studies. Thus, the didactic lecture material taught in Pharmacology I and Pharmacology II will be expanded, reinforced, and made practical through the team based/problem based learning method. Additionally, learners will administer medications using patient simulators and will observe the clinical response.
PAHS 5427 Clinical Skills and Procedures
Course Delivery Method: Hybrid
This course is designed to introduce learners to essential procedures and skills necessary for primary care practice such as phlebotomy; injection techniques; splinting; suturing and more. Learners will participate in Advanced Cardiac Life Support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support Certification training during this course. Learners will demonstrate competence through written and practical evaluations.
PAHS 5228 Behavioral Medicine
Course Delivery Method: Hybrid
Behavioral Medicine is a course that aims to develop and integrate behavioral, psychosocial, and biomedical science knowledge and techniques relevant to the understanding of health and illness, and the application of this knowledge and these techniques to prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation across the lifespan. It includes the following topics as they pertain to human behavior: children and adolescent health, aging, chronic pain, death, dying and loss, domestic violence, eating disorders, environmental health, human sexuality, HIV/AIDS, obesity, public health, quality of life, rehabilitation, sexually transmitted diseases, stress, substance abuse (alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs) and women’s health.
PAHS 5129 Applied Medical Genetics
Course Delivery Method: In person
This course is an introduction to medical genetics where learners will review chromosomes, DNA, RNA, protein synthesis, and inheritance patterns and continues with a clinical focus based on understanding different disease processes. Diagnostic techniques and an overview of embryonic development and teratogens will also be discussed. A variety of genetic diseases are explored, including what is known about the genetics involved, the signs and symptoms of the disease, prevention and treatment options. Concepts and application of pharmacogenomics are discussed. The roles of genetic counseling and screening, as well as the ethical and legal issues related to genetic screening and genetic testing are also discussed.
PAHS 5223 Evidence Based Medicine III
Course Delivery Method: In person
This is the second course of a three-part series that where the basic principles of utilizing research evidence in clinical practice are expounded on. Course I focused on developing efficient strategies for searching and using available databases to access evidence-based journals and medical literature. Learners also acquired the skill of formulating an answerable research question. Course II will provide learners with the requisite knowledge and skills to appropriately interpret and critically appraise research studies of intervention, harm, diagnosis, and prognosis in an efficient manner. After appraising the study learners will be able to determine if the information is valid and how it will affect the care of the patient. Course III will offer instruction on medical writing as learners start to develop the foundation of their graduate research project.
PAHS 5130 Ethics, Law, and Social Justice in Medicine
Course Delivery Method: Hybrid
This is a highly interactive course where principles of ethics and the law are discussed followed by case simulations that illustrate where social determinants of health (e.g., access to justice), ethics and the law intersect. Learners will explore their roles and responsibilities as healthcare providers and discover how interdisciplinary collaboration is key for effective advocacy and changes in health policy that address health disparities and social injustice.
PAHS 5011 Interprofessional Seminar IV: Teams and Teamwork
Physician Assistants must successfully function in a health care environment that effectively utilizes the resources and knowledge offered by each member of the healthcare team in the delivery of patient centered care. Successful inter-professional practice results in improvement in quality, reduction in cost, optimization of efficiency; ultimately achieving the best possible patient outcomes. This seminar series will provide the Physician Assistant learner opportunities to apply the principles of inter-professional practice to clinical scenarios while interacting with learners from other healthcare disciplines. The seminars will be conducted over two days and will focus on the four inter-professional collaborative practice competency domains: Roles and Responsibilities, Interprofessional Communication, Teams and Teamwork, and Ethics and Values.
Course Descriptions: Clinical Phase (Semester V – VII)
PAHS 5331 Graduate Research Project
Course Delivery Method: In person
The graduate research project is a requirement for graduation. Learners may choose one of two options for the graduate research project. The first option is a three-part individual graduate research project which entails: a written case report, a literature review related to the case report, and an oral presentation of the case and key findings of the literature review. The second option is a collaborative graduate research project where a small group of learners (three learners maximum) identify a health disparity in a specific community; conduct a literature review on the subject matter, design, and implement a community health initiative. The report (written and oral presentation) includes a literature review, a description of the project and its outcomes.
Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (Clerkships)
Course Delivery Method: In person
Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (Clerkships) are five-week clinical courses in seven core medical specialties and two elective subspecialties. During these clerkships learners will integrate, expand and refine clinical skills (e.g., performing history and physical exams, ordering and interpreting laboratory/diagnostic tests, synthesizing information in establishing diagnosis, formulating and implementing a treatment plan) as they manage urgent, emergent and non-emergent, acute and chronic disease, in outpatient and in-patient settings. Learners will also develop an appreciation for the role of preventive medicine in the delivery of health care; become aware of the impact of families and culture on health problems, patient perception and reception of health care (bio-psycho-social model); and their own personal strengths, interests, and limitations.
PAHS 5532 Behavioral and Mental Health Clerkship
Course Delivery Method: In person
This 5-week clinical course introduces the student to the Behavioral and Mental Health outpatient and inpatient settings where the learner is exposed to common psychiatric/behavioral conditions treated by BMH practitioners (Physicians, board-certified and licensed, Physician Assistants (PA), and/or other health care providers) in conjunction with other members of the health care team. Emphasis is placed on further developing and refining the learner’s skills in taking a medical history, performing a physical exam, ordering and interpreting laboratory/diagnostic tests, synthesizing information in establishing a diagnosis, formulating and implementing a cost-effective treatment plan, and promoting patient education.
PAHS 5533 Emergency Medicine Clerkship
Course Delivery Method: In person
This 5-week clinical course introduces the learner to the Emergency Medicine setting where the learner, with supervision, receives experience in triage, stabilization, in-depth exposure to traumatic illnesses, injuries and surgical issues that necessitate emergent care for patients across the life span. Emphasis is placed on the proper evaluation and management of life-threatening illness and injury by refining the learner’s skills in taking a medical history and performing a physical exam, ordering and interpreting laboratory/diagnostic tests, synthesizing information in establishing a diagnosis, learning proper disposition of patients and performing lifesaving techniques.
PAHS 5534 Family Medicine Clerkship
Course Delivery Method: In person
This 5-week clinical course introduces the student to the Family Medicine setting where the student is exposed to common diseases and disorders treated by Family Medicine practitioners (Physicians, board-certified and licensed, Physician Assistants (PA), and/or other health care providers) in conjunction with other members of the health care team. Emphasis is placed on further developing and refining the students’ skills in taking a medical history and performing a physical exam, ordering and interpreting laboratory/diagnostic tests, synthesizing information in establishing a diagnosis, formulating and implementing a cost-effective treatment plan and promoting patient education.
PAHS 5535 Internal Medicine Clerkship
Course Delivery Method: In person
This is a five-week clinical course where learners will be assigned to the inpatient medical/hospitalist service. The purpose of the Internal Medicine Clerkship is to provide the learner with practical clinical experience in working with the hospitalized patients with acute or chronic diseases that are routinely seen by internists. Under the supervision of a licensed provider, students will participate in a wide variety of inpatient care activities. Medical history review, physical examination, diagnostic testing, and management are emphasized, as is the importance of functioning on a multidisciplinary team.
PAHS 5536 Pediatric Clerkship
Course Delivery Method: In person
This 5-week clinical course introduces the learner to the Pediatric setting in private practice offices or community health centers participating in the care of the pediatric patient from birth through adolescence. Through supervised exposure, learners are given the opportunity to further develop skills in taking medical histories, performing pediatric physical examinations and newborn assessments; assessing the parameters and variations of normal growth and development; evaluating, diagnosing, and managing common acute/chronic childhood illnesses. Additionally, the students will advocate parental counseling regarding immunizations, preventive health care visits, growth and development, nutrition, and common psychosocial problems.
PAHS 5537 Surgery Clerkship
Course Delivery Method: In person
This is a five-week clinical course where students are introduced to the Surgery discipline. With supervision, the learner is provided with practical experience in the evaluation and management of major and minor surgical problems. Emphasis is given to the longitudinal management and care of the surgical patient. Learners will have the opportunity to follow patients in the preoperative confirmation of clinical impressions through history taking, appropriate physical examination, ordering and interpreting laboratory/diagnostic tests. Subsequently, learners will further develop their surgical skills and experience basic operating room procedures during the intra-operative care of the patient. Finally, the learner will participate in the post-operative management of the patient. The leaner will develop an increased understanding of how to effectively communicate and function as an integral member of the surgical team.
PAHS 5538 Women’s Health Clerkship
Course Delivery Method: In person
This 5-week clinical course introduces the student to the Women’s Health setting, where the learner, with supervision, will participate in routine well-woman screening and examinations, family planning and birth control, recognition and treatment of sexually transmitted disease, the evaluation of common gynecologic problems, cancer detection and prevention, and pre-intra-and postnatal care. Exposure and participation in the surgical management of gynecological and obstetrical concerns may also be provided. Emphasis is placed on further developing and refining the learners’ skills in taking a history; performing a physical exam; ordering and interpreting laboratory/diagnostic tests; synthesizing information in establishing a diagnosis; and formulating and implementing a cost-effective treatment plan and promoting patient education.
PAHS 5539 Selective Clerkship (Core or Subspecialty)
Course Delivery Method: In person
This 5-week clinical course may introduce the learner to a subspecialty setting where the student is exposed to common diseases and disorders within the subspecialty. Alternatively, the selective may be completed in a core discipline where the learner did not meet the competency benchmarks. Emphasis is placed on further developing and refining the students’ skills in taking a history and performing a physical exam, ordering and interpreting laboratory/diagnostic tests, synthesizing information in establishing a diagnosis, formulating and implementing a cost-effective treatment plan and promoting patient education.
PAHS 5540 Selective Clerkship (Core or Subspecialty)
Course Delivery Method: In person
This 5-week clinical course may introduce the learner to a subspecialty setting where the student is exposed to common diseases and disorders within the subspecialty. Alternatively, the selective may be completed in a core discipline where the learner did not meet the competency benchmarks. Emphasis is placed on further developing and refining the students’ skills in taking a history and performing a physical exam, ordering and interpreting laboratory/diagnostic tests, synthesizing information in establishing a diagnosis, formulating and implementing a cost-effective treatment plan and promoting patient education.
PAHS 5149 Summative Seminar
Course Delivery Method: In person
This seminar is delivered at the end of the clinical phase of the program. It is designed to allow learners to finalize, prepare and present their graduate research project to faculty, clinical preceptors, learners, and staff. It will also include an intensive board review in preparation for the PANCE, CV preparation, job interviewing skills, and contract negotiation sessions.
Course Sequence
| Course Number | Credits | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Block 1 | |||
| PAHS 5105 | Epidemiology and Biostatistics: An Introduction to Clinical Research | 1 | Online |
| PAHS 5107 | The Physician Assistant: Delivering Healthcare in Rural America and Beyond | 1 | Online |
| Block 2 | |||
| PAHS 5500 | Clinical Anatomy and Radiology with Lab | 5 | Online |
| PAHS 5201 | Pharmacology I | 2 | In person |
| PAHS 5202 | Medical Physiology | 2 | Hybrid |
| PAHS 5406 | Medical Interviewing, Counseling and Documentation | 4 | In person |
| PAHS 5008 | Interprofessional Seminar I: Roles and Responsibilities | NC | Hybrid |
| Total Credits Semester 1 | 15 | ||
| PAHS 5612 | Clinical Medicine I | 6 | In person |
| PAHS 5215 | Pathophysiology of Disease | 2 | In person |
| PAHS 5203 | Pharmacology II | 2 | Hybrid |
| PAHS 5217 | Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostics I | 2 | In person |
| PAHS 5419 | Physical Assessment and Diagnosis I | 4 | In person |
| PAHS 5221 | Evidence Based Medicine I | 2 | In person |
| PAHS 5124 | Public Health: Principles, Policy, and Rural Health Advocacy | 1 | Hybrid |
| PAHS 5009 | Interprofessional Seminar II: Interprofessional Communication | NC | Hybrid |
| Total Credits Semester 2 | 19 | ||
| PAHS 5613 | Clinical Medicine II | 6 | In person |
| PAHS 5216 | Pathophysiology of Disease II | 2 | In person |
| PAHS 5204 | Pharmacology III | 2 | Hybrid |
| PAHS 5218 | Clinical Laboratory and Diagnostics II | 2 | In person |
| PAHS 5420 | Physical Assessment and Diagnosis II | 4 | In person |
| PAHS 5222 | Evidence Based Medicine II | 2 | In person |
| PAHS 5125 | Cultural Issues in Healthcare | 1 | Hybrid |
| PAHS 5010 | Interprofessional Seminar III: Teams and Teamwork | NC | Hybrid |
| Total Credits Semester 3 | 19 | ||
| PAHS 5614 | Clinical Medicine III | 6 | In person |
| PAHS 5226 | Advanced Clinical Pharmacotherapeutics | 2 | In person |
| PAHS 5427 | Clinical Skills and Procedures | 4 | In person |
| PAHS 5228 | Behavioral Medicine | 2 | In person |
| PAHS 5129 | Applied Medical Genetics | 1 | In person |
| PAHS 5223 | Evidence Based Medicine III | 2 | In person |
| PAHS 5130 | Ethics, Law; and Social Justice in Medicine | 1 | Hybrid |
| PAHS 5011 | Interprofessional Seminar IV: Ethics and Values | NC | In Person |
| Total Credits Semester 4 | 18 | ||
| Didactic Phase Total Credits | 71 | ||
| PAHS 5331 | Graduate Research Project | 3 | In person |
| PAHS 5532 | Behavioral and Mental Health Clerkship | 5 | In person |
| PAHS 5533 | Emergency Medicine Clerkship | 5 | In person |
| PAHS 5534 | Family Medicine Clerkship | 5 | In person |
| PAHS 5535 | Internal Medicine Clerkship | 5 | In person |
| PAHS 5536 | Pediatrics Clerkship | 5 | In person |
| PAHS 5537 | Surgery Clerkship | 5 | In person |
| PAHS 5538 | Women’s Health Clerkship | 5 | In person |
| PAHS 5539 | Selective Clerkship I (Core or Subspecialty) | 5 | In person |
| PAHS 5540 | Selective Clerkship II (Core or Subspecialty) | 5 | In person |
| PAHS 5149 | Summative Seminar | 1 | In person |
| Clinical Phase Total Credits | 49 | ||
| Core Curriculum Total Credits | 120 | ||