Physician Assistant Studies

Human Gross Anatomy Lectureincludes lectures 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—three semester hours.

Human Gross Anatomy Lab includes cadaver lab instruction and dissection, providing students with in-depth training and experience in head-to-toe human gross anatomy pertinent to medical practice - Two 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 IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, IIIB 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, including significant case-based learning sessions geared toward problem-solving and medical decision-making skills within a collaborative, interprofessional, patient-centered team-based model. Four semester hours.

Clinical Medicine IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, and IIIB 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—four semester hours. 

Clinical Medicine IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, and IIIB 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—four semester hours.

Clinical Medicine IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, and IIIB 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—five semester hours.

Clinical Medicine IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, and IIIB 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—three semester hours.

Clinical Medicine IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA and IIIB 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, including significant case-based learning sessions geared toward problem-solving and medical decision-making skills within a collaborative, interprofessional, patient-centered team-based model. Four semester hours.

Clinical Medicine IA, IB, IIA, IIB, IIIA, and IIIB 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. Four semester hours. 

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.

The course includes comprehensive lectures providing students with in-depth training in evidence-based behavioral medicine and psychiatry. The course is designed to introduce students to the biopsychosocial model of diverse patient populations with acute and chronic conditions throughout the lifespan, including end-of-life care (e.g., hospice and palliative care), integrating human physical and psychological development, human sexuality, and responses to stress, injury, illness, and death. The course also incorporates training in substance use, abuse, and addiction issues as well as the treatment for such disorders. Evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and management of psychiatric conditions and illnesses are covered throughout the course, including progressively challenging case-based learning sessions that begin with isolated conditions and progress to comorbid conditions and multimorbidity. These sessions are geared towards problem-solving and medical decision-making skills within a collaborative, interprofessional, patient-centered, team-based model. 

The course introduces first-year physician assistant students to clinical diagnostics, including laboratory testing, imaging, and point-of-care testing. Emphasis is placed on diagnostic reasoning, interpretation, and integration into patient care.

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.

The course provides the student with a mentored approach to developing a Literature Review paper, including peer review, as part of a Practice-Based Learning Improvement (PBLI) project. This project is intended to result in a publishable article that meets the requirements for a graduate-level degree. 

The course is designed as a graduate-level research course for PA students, with an emphasis on medical practice grounded in Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM). The course includes specific training in evidence-based medicine and practices, systems-based practice, practice/performance improvement, research methods & design, and the analysis and application of medical research. This course will serve as a foundational course enabling the PA student to conduct a critical appraisal of medical research. The course is taught in a lecture/lab format, including lectures on the scientific concepts and methods involved in research. 

The course is designed to reinforce fundamental knowledge taught in the didactic year. Content and task areas identified as weaknesses for the cohort, based on student assessments (PACKRAT and PAEA EOR exams), are reinforced through a series of lectures and specialty-focused open-book examinations. Critical appraisal of published research skills is taught through "Journal Club" assignments. The goal of the course is to better prepare the clinical student to take the PANCE by reinforcing detailed knowledge from the didactic year. 

The Emergency Medicine and Advanced Clinical Procedures course is divided into the recognition and management of emergent/critical patient presentations, surgical skills, advanced clinical procedures, and knowledge-based skills. The advanced clinical procedures portion of the course introduces students to common outpatient and emergency medical procedures and provides in-depth practice. The course includes training in Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). 

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.

This course prepares students to evaluate and treat patients with surgical conditions. Students will learn the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, diagnosis, evaluation, management, and treatment of disorders requiring surgical consultation, as well as the pre-, intra-, and post-operative management of those disorders. 

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