Physician Assistant Studies

Human Gross Anatomy includes lectures and cadaver lab instruction and dissection, in addition to clinical correlations and radiographic anatomy, providing students with in-depth training and experience in head-to-toe human gross anatomy and radiographic imaging pertinent to medical practice. Five semester hours.

The Medical Physiology I, II, and III courses are designed to provide in-depth study of genetics, molecular mechanisms of disease, physiology and pathophysiology and applications to patient care. The courses, when appropriate, are delivered via a team-based learning (TBL) format and organized to align with the Clinical Medicine Courses occurring in the same semester.

The Medical Physiology I, II, and III courses are designed to provide in-death study of genetics, molecular mechanisms of disease, physiology and pathophysiogy and applications to patient care. The courses, when appropriate, are delivered via a team-based learning (TBL) format and organized to align with the Clinical Medicine Courses occuring in the same semester.

The Medical Physiology I, II, and III courses are designed to provide in-depth study of genetics molecular mechanisms of disease, physiology and pathophysiology and applications to patient care. The courses, when appropriate, are delivered via a team-based learning (TBL) format and organized to align with the Clinical Medicine Courses occurring in the same semester. Thre semester hours.

Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapy I, II and III include lectures and lab experiences specifically designed to provide students with a clinical foundation in microbiology and the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and therapeutic use of pharmaceuticals for diverse patient populations with acute and chronic conditions throughout the lifespan and organized by body/organ systems aligning with the Clinical Medicine I, II and III courses, respectively. As with other courses, these courses will be taught with extensive use of a flipped classroom and team-based learning design including significant case-based learning sessions geared towards problem solving and medical decision-making skills within a collaborative interprofessional patient-centered team-based model.

Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapy I, II and III include lectures and lab experiences specifically designed to provide students with a clinical foundation in microbiology and the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and therapeutic use of pharmaceuticals for diverse patient populations with acute and chronic conditions throughout the lifespan and organized by body/organ systems aligning with the Clinical Medicine I, II and III courses, respectively. As with other courses, these courses will be taught with extensive use of a flipped classroom and team-based learning design including significant case-based learning sessions geared towards problem solving and medical decision-making skills within a collaborative interprofessional patient-centered team-based model.

Pharmacology & Pharmacotherapy I, II and III include lectures and lab experiences specifically designed to provide students with a clinical foundation in microbiology and the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and therapeutic use of pharmaceuticals for diverse patient populations with acute and chronic conditions throughout the lifespan and organized by body/organ systems aligning with the Clinical Medicine I, II and III courses, respectively. As with other courses, these courses will be taught with extensive use of a flipped classroom and team-based learning design including significant case-based learning sessions geared towards problem solving and medical decision-making skills within a collaborative interprofessional patient-centered team-based model.

Clinical Medicine I, II and III courses include lectures and lab experiences providing students with in-depth training in the etiology (including genetics/genomics), epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic evaluation (including laboratory testing), differential diagnosis, and the evidence-based treatment and management for diverse patient populations with acute, subacute and chronic conditions throughout the lifespan and organized by body/organ system. As with other courses, this course will be taught with extensive use of a flipped classroom and team-based learning design including significant case-based learning sessions geared towards problem solving and medical decision-making skills within a collaborative interprofessional patient-centered team-based model. Eight semester hours.

Clinical Medicine I, II and III courses include lectures and lab experiences providing students with in-depth training in the etiology (including genetics/genomics), epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic evaluation (including laboratory testing), differential diagnosis, and the evidence-based treatment and management for diverse patient populations with acute, subacute and chronic conditions throughout the lifespan and organized by body/organ system. As with other courses, this course will be taught with extensive use of a flipped classroom and team-based learning design including significant case-based learning sessions geared towards problem solving and medical decision-making skills within a collaborative interprofessional patient-centered team-based model. Eight semester hours.

Clinical Medicine I, II and III courses include lectures and lab experiences providing students with in-depth training in the etiology (including genetics/genomics), epidemiology, clinical manifestations, diagnostic evaluation (including laboratory testing), differential diagnosis, and the evidence-based treatment and management for diverse patient populations with acute, subacute and chronic conditions throughout the lifespan and organized by body/organ system. As with other courses, this course will be taught with extensive use of a flipped classroom and team-based learning design including significant case-based learning sessions geared towards problem solving and medical decision-making skills within a collaborative interprofessional patient-centered team-based model. Eight semester hours.

The Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry I and II courses include comprehensive lecture and team-based learning experiences providing students with in-depth training in evidence-based behavioral medicine and psychiatry. Genetics and pathophysiology, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and management of psychiatric conditions and illnesses are covered throughout the courses. The courses are designed to introduce students to normal and abnormal development across the life span and the biopsychosocial model of evaluation and care for diverse patient populations with acute and chronic psychiatric/behavioral conditions throughout the lifespan, including but not limited to end-of-life care, integrating human physical and psychological development, principles of biopsychiatry & neuropsychiatry, and responses to stress, injury, illness and death. The courses also incorporate mindfulness practices in healthcare, training in substance use, abuse and addiction issues, and treatment adherence issues including the applications of motivational interviewing (MI) and motivational enhancement therapy (MET).

The Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry I and II courses include comprehensive lecture and team-based learning experiences providing students with in-depth training in evidence-based behavioral medicine and psychiatry. Genetics and pathophysiology, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment and management of psychiatric conditions and illnesses are covered throughout the courses. The courses are designed to introduce students to normal and abnormal development across the life span and the biopsychosocial model of evaluation and care for diverse patient populations with acute and chronic psychiatric/behavioral conditions throughout the lifespan, including but not limited to end-of-life care, integrating human physical and psychological development, principles of biopsychiatry & neuropsychiatry, and responses to stress, injury, illness and death. The courses also incorporate mindfulness practices in healthcare, training in substance use, abuse and addiction issues, and treatment adherence issues including the applications of motivational interviewing (MI) and motivational enhancement therapy (MET).

Clinical Skills I, II and III include lectures, labs, and clinic experiences covering the in-depth study and practice of evidence-based patient interviewing, physical examination, diagnostic evaluation - including laboratory, imaging and procedural testing, patient counseling and education, and patient management for diverse patient populations throughout the lifespan. Clinical Skills I will emphasis the complete history and physical examination, including, but not limited to, documentation of care. Clinical Skills II and III will emphasize both a complete history and physical examination and documentation in addition to focused examinations organized by body/organ system aligning with the Clinical Medicine II and III courses and specific training on evidence-based technical skills and procedures. The courses also cover effective interviewing and communication skills, standardized patient and high-fidelity manikin simulation activities, and directly supervised clinical experiences in the Mel Leaman Free Clinic on campus. As with other courses, this course will be taught with extensive use of a flipped classroom and team-based learning design geared towards problem solving and medical decision-making skills within a collaborative interprofessional patient- centered team-based model.

Clinical Skills I, II and III include lectures, labs, and clinic experiences covering the in-depth study and practice of evidence-based patient interviewing, physical examination, diagnostic evaluation - including laboratory, imaging and procedural testing, patient counseling and education, and patient management for diverse patient populations throughout the lifespan. Clinical Skills I will emphasis the complete history and physical examination, including, but not limited to, documentation of care. Clinical Skills II and III will emphasize both a complete history and physical examination and documentation in addition to focused examinations organized by body/organ system aligning with the Clinical Medicine II and III courses and specific training on evidence-based technical skills and procedures. The courses also cover effective interviewing and communication skills, standardized patient and high-fidelity manikin simulation activities, and directly supervised clinical experiences in the Mel Leaman Free Clinic on campus. As with other courses, this course will be taught with extensive use of a flipped classroom and team-based learning design geared towards problem solving and medical decision-making skills within a collaborative interprofessional patient- centered team-based model.

Clinical Skills I, II and III include lectures, labs, and clinic experiences covering the in-depth study and practice of evidence-based patient interviewing, physical examination, diagnostic evaluation - including laboratory, imaging and procedural testing, patient counseling and education, and patient management for diverse patient populations throughout the lifespan. Clinical Skills I will emphasis the complete history and physical examination, including, but not limited to, documentation of care. Clinical Skills II and III will emphasize both a complete history and physical examination and documentation in addition to focused examinations organized by body/organ system aligning with the Clinical Medicine II and III courses and specific training on evidence-based technical skills and procedures. The courses also cover effective interviewing and communication skills, standardized patient and high-fidelity manikin simulation activities, and directly supervised clinical experiences in the Mel Leaman Free Clinic on campus. As with other courses, this course will be taught with extensive use of a flipped classroom and team-based learning design geared towards problem solving and medical decision-making skills within a collaborative interprofessional patient- centered team-based model.

PA practice include lectures and seminars covering the history of the PA profession and current trends, PA leadership and stewardship, professionalism, interprofessional team-based practice, medical ethics, public health, health policy and healthcare systems, health care disparities, patient and healthcare diversity, cultural awareness, patient safety, quality improvement, prevention of medical errors and risk management. The course also provides an introduction to malpractice and medical liability, legal issues and PA certification, licensing, credentialing and practice regulations. 

PA Practice I and II include lectures and seminars covering the history of the PA profession and current trends, PA leadership and stewardship, professionalism, interprofessional team-based practice, medical ethics, public health, health policy and healthcare systems, health care disparities, patient and healthcare diversity, cultural awareness, patient safety, quality improvement, prevention of medical errors and risk management. The courses also provide an introduction to malpractice and medical liability, legal issues and PA certification, licensing, credentialing and practice regulations, and participation in service/civic engagement projects.

PA Practice I and II include lectures and seminars covering the history of the PA profession and current trends, PA leadership and stewardship, professionalism, interprofessional team-based practice, medical ethics, public health, health policy and healthcare systems, health care disparities, patient and healthcare diversity, cultural awareness, patient safety, quality improvement, prevention of medical errors and risk management. The courses also provide an introduction to malpractice and medical liability, legal issues and PA certification, licensing, credentialing and practice regulations, and participation in service/civic engagement projects.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement is designed as the PA students' graduate-level research course with emphasis on practice-based learning and improvement (PBLI). The course includes specific training in evidence-based medicine and practices, systems-based practice, practice/performance improvement, research methods and design, and the analysis and application of medical research. This course will serve as a foundational course enabling the PA student to conduct a systematic review on a relevant research practice topic. Most of the course will be conducted via team-based learning in which students will receive and review presentation material prior to each class session and then discuss and apply what they have learned to activities conducted in samll and large group sessions. 

Emergency Medicine and Advanced Clinical & Surgical Procedures incorporates a stand-alone emergency medicine course that also includes surgical skills and advanced clinical procedures. The emergency medicine course will include lectures on the identification, evaluation, and treatment of patients of all ages presenting with emergent medical conditions. The surgery portion of the course will provide students with an understanding of basic surgical procedures, preoperative patient assessment, principles of postoperative care, the identification and management of common post-operative complications and routines of the operative suite including, but not limited to, sterile technique and patient transfer methods. The advanced clinical procedures portion of the course introduces students to common outpatient and emergency medical procedures and allows for in depth practice of these procedures. The course includes training in Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP), Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS), Prehospital Trauma Life Support (PHTLS), and procedures frequently completed for Eye, Ear, Nose and Throat (EENT), Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, Dermatologic, and Orthopedic systems. Five semester hours.

Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Behavioral Medicine/Psychiatric SCPE is specifically designed as a 4-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training with male and female patients in a behavioral medicine and psychiatric practice setting; experiences can take place in the inpatient and/or outpatient setting. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment, management, and preventative healthcare.

Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Behavioral Medicine/Psychiatric SCPE is specifically designed as a 4-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training with male and female patients in a behavioral medicine and psychiatric practice setting; experiences can take place in the inpatient and/or outpatient setting. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment, management, and preventative healthcare.

Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Family Medicine SCPE is specifically designed as a 4-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training with male and female pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric patients in a primarily outpatient family practice setting In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment, management, and preventative healthcare.

Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The General Surgery SCPE is specifically designed as a 4-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training with male and female patients in a primarily inpatient surgical treatment setting In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on surgical conditions and procedures; students will participate in operating room cases, hospital consultations for surgical conditions and pre- and post-surgical patient evaluations.

Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Internal Medicine – Hospitalist SCPE is specifically designed as a 4-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training with male and female adult and geriatric patients in a primarily inpatient hospitalist setting. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment, management, and preventative healthcare.

Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Pediatric SCPE is specifically designed as a 4-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training with male and female pediatric and adolescent patients in a primarily outpatient pediatric practice. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment, management, and preventative healthcare.

Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Women's Health SCPE is specifically designed as a 4-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training with adult female patients in both outpatient and inpatient practice settings. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment and management specifically related to obstetrical and gynecological conditions and preventative healthcare.

Supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) provide students with the opportunity to gain experience and develop competency in interacting with, evaluating, treating and managing patients seeking medical care for a wide variety of conditions, over a wide variety of situations (e.g., preventative care and health maintenance, acute and chronic illness, inpatient and pre- and post-hospital care), and within a wide variety of environments. The Elective SCPE is specifically designed as a 4-week clinical rotation providing students with exposure to and training in an elective specialty and practice setting. In addition to clinical practice experience, the course will also include didactic teaching pertinent to the rotation. The course focus is on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, interviewing and physical examination, laboratory, imaging and procedural evaluation, medical education and counseling, treatment and management specifically related to specialty and practice setting.

The Masters Research course includes lectures, seminars, and individual student-faculty meetings designed to assist in the completion of the required Master's research project. Lectures, seminars and meetings will take place throughout the clinical phase of training culminating in the completion and presentation of the project at a college- wide symposium during the last semester of training.

The Summative Course includes lectures and seminars providing students with an intensive board review in preparation for their national certification examination in addition to summative written and practical examinations required for program completion.

Selected topics in Physician Assistant Studies chosen by the department chair and instructor. May be re-taken for credit for different topics.