This course is the first in a series of four that provide the physician assistant student with a broad survey of the basic principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. This course reviews the mechanism(s) of action, toxicities and interactions of specific drugs and drug classes, as well as providing the students with an introduction to clinical therapeutics. Clinical therapeutics incorporates the physiologic basis and clinical characteristics of disease states relative to pharmacological therapy. Instruction also focuses on general pharmacological principles and infectious diseases.

In-Person

This course constitutes a comprehensive consideration of human anatomy using a regional approach to the human body. The lecture component of the course consists of a detailed explanation and clarification of the relevant anatomy including general principles and concepts, with a strong emphasis on the clinical relevance of each area considered. The laboratory component of the course consists of examination of dissected or prosected cadavers, special dissections by small groups of students on cadavers, examination of plastinated specimens, models, X-rays, cross sections, bones and appropriate videos of human dissection and clinical procedures.

In-Person

This course is designed to provide students with the fundamental cognitive knowledge of interviewing, patient communication skills and general physical examination procedures that are necessary to conduct an appropriate and thorough medical interview and comprehensive physical examination for patients of all ages. Students will develop these patient interview and communication skills and general physical examination procedures through classroom work and structured clinical experiences with standardized patients under simulated conditions. Digital recording capabilities will allow students to review their clinical performance with faculty. Students are certified in Basic Life Support.

In-Person

This course is the first of a sequence of three courses that are designed to prepare physician assistant students for their professional clinical role. Students continue to develop and refine their patient communication, medical history taking and physical examination skills. This course provides the student with a body-system and problem oriented approach to understanding the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory and diagnostic studies, and diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases encountered in general practice. Health care providers will discuss specific focused physical examinations of each body- system. Health promotion, disease prevention, medical nutrition, the genetic basis of disease, rehabilitative care, and patient education relevant to each disease is also covered. Students demonstrate knowledge of certain medical instruments and proficiency in selected procedures. Students will orally present patient data as well as document patient information through the use of our standardized patient lab, clinical seminars and a clinical skills lab. The specific specialty areas and body-systems covered include infectious diseases, dermatology, endocrinology, otorhinolaryngology, gastroenterology, hematology, oncology, introduction to ophthalmology and pulmonology.

In-Person

This course is the second of a sequence of three courses that are designed to prepare physician assistant students for their professional clinical role. Students continue to develop and refine their patient communication, medical history taking and physical examination skills. This course provides the student with a body-system and problem oriented approach to understanding the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory and diagnostic studies, and diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases encountered in general practice. Health care providers will discuss specific focused physical examinations of each body-system. Health promotion, disease prevention, medical nutrition, the genetic basis of disease, rehabilitative care, and patient education relevant to each disease is also covered. Students demonstrate knowledge of certain medical instruments and proficiency in selected procedures. Students will orally present patient data as well as document patient information through the use of our standardized patient lab, clinical seminars and a clinical skills lab. The specific specialty areas and body-systems covered include cardiology, urology, neurology, nephrology, orthopedics and rheumatology. Students are certified in Advanced Cardiac Life Support.

In-Person

This course is the third of a sequence of three courses that is designed to prepare physician assistant students for their professional clinical role. Students continue to develop and refine their patient communication, medical history taking and physical examination skills. This sequence of courses provides the student with a body-system and problem oriented approach to understanding the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory and diagnostic studies, and diagnosis and treatment of specific diseases encountered in general practice, general surgery, general pediatrics and the emergency room. Health care providers will discuss specific focused physical examinations of each body-system. Health promotion, disease prevention, medical nutrition, the genetic basis of disease, rehabilitative care, and patient education relevant to each disease is also covered. Students demonstrate knowledge of certain medical instruments and proficiency in selected procedures. Students will orally present patient data as well as document patient information through the use of our standardized patient lab, clinical seminars and a clinical skills lab. The specific specialty areas and body systems covered include obstetrics and gynecology, geriatrics, surgery, emergency medicine and pediatrics.

In-Person

This course will expose students to many of the principles and practices of health policy. It will include consideration of the impact of socioeconomic issues affecting health care, an overview of selected aspects of the various health care systems, and financial and productivity issues relevant to the PA profession. Quality assurance, risk management, managed care environments, coding and billing, patient referrals, and other issues pertinent to current health care practice will be discussed. Students will learn about cultural issues and their impact on health policy. Also covered in this course are the history, development and current status of the physician assistant profession in the U.S. medical system in the 21st century as well as the political and legal issues related to PA practice. This course presents overviews of working in interprofessional patient-centered teams, PA professional organizations and PA program accreditation, as well as certification and recertification of PAs. The interrelated issues of licensure, credentialing and professional liability are also covered.

In-Person

This course is presented to provide physician assistant students with an understanding of basic medical law, public health policy and medical ethics. Lectures in medical ethics and law/medical jurisprudence are presented to provide students with a basic understanding of the legal obligations and ethical responsibilities of the health care provider, both personally and professionally. This course also presents the fundamentals of health policy, death/dying decisions, commitment to patient welfare, respect for self and others, impact of genetic technology. This course also covers topics of consent to treat, privacy and confidentiality issues, organ donation, and hospice and palliative care. In addition, impaired provider identification and referral resources are discussed.

In-Person

This course is designed to provide a comprehensive review of normal human physiology using a regional approach to the human body. The lecture component of this course will consist of a detailed explanation and clarification of the relevant physiology, including general principles and concepts, with a strong emphasis on the clinical relevance of each area considered. An introductory self- study medical terminology section will also be presented.

In-Person

This course is the second in a sequence of four courses that represent a broad survey of the basic principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. This course reviews the mechanism(s) of action, toxicities and interactions of specific drugs and drug classes, as well as providing the students with an introduction to clinical therapeutics. Clinical therapeutics incorporates the physiologic basis and clinical characteristics of disease states relative to pharmacologic therapy. Lectures are designed to develop the pharmacologic and therapeutic skills that a physician assistant will need to enhance patient care in clinical practice, focusing on the following specialty areas: infectious diseases, gastroenterology, endocrinology, hematology and pulmonology.

In-Person

This course is the third in a sequence of four courses that represent a broad survey of the basic principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. This course reviews the mechanism(s) of action, toxicities and interactions of specific drugs and drug classes, as well as providing the students with an introduction to clinical therapeutics. Clinical therapeutics incorporates the physiologic basis and clinical characteristics of disease states relative to pharmacologic therapy. Lectures are designed to develop the pharmacologic and therapeutic skills that a physician assistant will need to enhance patient care in clinical practice, focusing on the following specialty areas: neurology, urology, nephrology, oncology, cardiology and rheumatology.

In-Person

This course is the fourth of a sequence of four courses that represent a broad survey of the basic principles of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacotherapeutics. This course reviews the mechanism(s) of action, toxicities and interactions of specific drugs and drug classes as well as providing the students with an introduction to clinical therapeutics. Clinical therapeutics incorporates the physiologic basis and clinical characteristics of disease states relative to pharmacologic therapy. Lectures are designed to develop the pharmacologic and therapeutic skills that a physician assistant will need to enhance patient care in clinical practice, focusing on the following specialty areas: psychiatry, ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology.

In-Person

The primary goal of this course is to provide the physician assistant student with the necessary skills, knowledge and sensitivity to deal effectively with various psychiatric, emotional and behavioral issues common to patients in primary care settings. Students will be able to outline skills in coping with illness, injury and stress. Students will gain skills in the evaluation and management of patients with a variety of psychiatric problems as well as an appreciation for the health care team as it applies to the mental health patient.

In-Person

This course provides students an opportunity to interface with community-based agencies and become familiar with diverse communities, both their challenges and their resources. In addition, this course allows students to develop a better understanding of how social, environmental and cultural factors can impact their patients’ attitudes about health. Throughout this course, students learn the importance of collaboration when developing relevant and effective health care interventions.

In-Person

This course is the first of a sequence of three courses that provides the student with a basic understanding of the nature and mechanisms of disease from a pathologic view. This course will lay a foundation in the pathogenesis of disease, which is the foundation of critical thinking in clinical practice. Topics to be covered include cellular injury, death and repair, inflammation, immunodeficiencies, and neoplastic growth. Additionally, the PA student will be introduced to concepts of genetics/genomics, including genetics terminology, patterns of inheritance, utility of genetic family history in practice, recognizing genetic contribution to disease, genetic screening, pre-symptomatic testing, diagnostic testing and pharmacogenetics. The course will also cover some of the ethical, legal and social implications related to the provision of genetics services.

In-Person

This course is the second of a sequence of three courses that provides the student with a basic understanding of the nature and mechanisms of disease from a pathologic view. This study of pathology provides understanding of the nature and mechanisms of disease, which is the foundation for critical thinking in clinical practice. This sequence of courses provides a systematic approach to the physiologic basis for disease. Lectures are focused on the disease processes of the following organ systems: respiratory, gastrointestinal, hematologic, dermatologic, endocrine, and otorhinolaryngologic.

In-Person

This course is the third of a sequence of three courses that provides the student with a basic understanding of the nature and mechanisms of disease from a pathologic view. This study of pathology provides understanding of the nature and mechanisms of disease, which is the foundation for critical thinking in clinical practice. This sequence of courses provides a systematic approach to the physiologic basis for disease. Lectures are focused on the disease processes of the following organ systems: renal, genitourinary, cardiovascular, neurologic, rheumatologic and orthopedic.

In-Person

This course is the third of a sequence of three courses that provides the student with a basic understanding of the nature and mechanisms of disease from a pathologic view. This study of pathology provides understanding of the nature and mechanisms of disease, which is the foundation for critical thinking in clinical practice. This sequence of courses provides a systematic approach to the physiologic basis for disease. Lectures are focused on forensic medicine and include topics such as cause and manner of death, child abuse, postmortem changes, asphyxiation, trauma and drug abuse.

In-Person

This course introduces students to fundamental concepts of epidemiology and research design in health and disease. Principles of evidence-based medicine as they relate to key areas of disease prevention, health promotion and therapy are discussed. Community based issues, problems and solutions are addressed. Students who complete the course will be able to understand and apply basic statistical terms and applications as well as various research design models that appear in current medical literature. Students learn to assess the quality of medical literature research designs to study commonly encountered clinical and community issues. Students will learn to describe the relationship between the medical literature and evidence-based medicine (EBM). This course is cross- listed with BIOM 690.

In-Person

This course begins with the importance of evidence-based medicine as it relates to treatment strategies of disorders commonly treated by PAs. Key concepts on how to search, read and decipher various levels of scientific medical literature are covered. The sessions are interactive and prepare students to critically evaluate the clinically relevant issues in a broad range of physician assistant practice areas. Students develop an EBM style clinical question that will serve as the basis for the Research Practicum completed during the clinical phase of the program.

In-Person

In-Person

This course is an introduction to the field of radiology designed to provide the physician assistant student with basic knowledge of the use and interpretation of a variety of radiographic studies. Through interactive technology, lectures and case-based problems, students will learn to interpret a variety of diagnostic modalities and understand their use in daily clinical practice.

In-Person

This six-week preceptorship is intended to augment and strengthen the student’s skills in developing a comprehensive database and a systematic approach to common family medicine problems. Emphasis is placed on generating the information and skills to enable the student to recognize normal findings and assess clinically significant deviations from normal. Students perform patient histories and physical examinations, obtain diagnostic testing and present the data to their precepting physician(s) with a proposed differential diagnosis and treatment plan. This preceptorship will assist the student in learning the indications, limitations and methodology of family medicine procedures and therapeutic strategies. Students function in a role similar to the intended role of a practicing physician assistant. Where possible, students participate in grand rounds, noon conferences and clinically relevant didactic presentations. A set of learning objectives guides student reading in preparation for a written examination at the end of the preceptorship.

This is a six-week preceptorship that is intended to augment and strengthen the student’s skills in developing a comprehensive database and a systematic approach to common internal medicine problems. Emphasis is placed on generating the information and skills to enable the student to recognize normal findings and assess clinically significant deviations from normal. Students perform patient histories and physical examinations, obtain diagnostic testing and present the data to their precepting physician(s) with a proposed differential diagnosis and treatment plan. This preceptorship will assist the student in learning the indications, limitations and methodology of internal medicine procedures and therapeutic strategies. Students function in a role similar to the intended role of a practicing physician assistant, including participating in teaching rounds where diagnostic and therapeutic plans for acutely ill patients are discussed, performing and observing various clinical procedures and preparing written and oral communication about patients. Where possible, students participate in grand rounds, noon conferences and clinically relevant didactic presentations. A set of learning objectives guides student reading in preparation for a written examination at the end of the preceptorship.

This is a six-week preceptorship that allows the students to augment and strengthen their skills in developing a comprehensive database and a systematic approach to common emergency medicine problems. Emphasis is placed on generating the information and skills to enable the student to recognize normal findings and assess clinically significant deviations from normal. Students will perform appropriate clinical evaluation including focused patient history and physical examinations, obtain diagnostic testing and present the data to their precepting physician(s) with a proposed differential diagnosis and treatment plan. Students will gain skills that include those necessary for appropriate triage, stabilization of patients with traumatic injuries and illnesses, the management of the less life-threatening problems that present to the emergency room, working with the pre-hospital emergency medical service team and making appropriate secondary referrals. Where possible, students participate in grand rounds, noon conferences and other clinically relevant didactic presentations. A set of learning objectives guides student reading in preparation for a written examination at the end of the preceptorship.

This is a six-week preceptorship that is intended to augment and strengthen student skills in developing a comprehensive database and a systematic approach to common problems seen in prenatal and gynecology practice. Emphasis is placed on generating the information and skills to enable the student to recognize normal findings and assess clinically significant deviations from normal. Students will perform appropriate clinical evaluation including focused patient history and physical examinations, obtain diagnostic testing and present the data to their precepting physician(s) with a proposed differential diagnosis and treatment plan. This preceptorship teaches the student the indications, limitations and methodology of prenatal and gynecologic procedures and therapeutic strategies. Students will also receive the experience in managing common outpatient gynecology problems, gynecologic diagnostic techniques and therapy, family planning, assisting at gynecologic surgery and techniques for the early detection of gynecologic cancer. A set of learning objectives guides student reading in preparation for a written examination at the end of the preceptorship.

This six-week surgical preceptorship augments and strengthens student skills in developing a comprehensive database and a systematic approach to common problems in general surgery. Students perform appropriate clinical evaluation including comprehensive surgical history and physical examinations, obtain diagnostic testing and present the data to their precepting physician(s) with a proposed differential diagnosis and treatment plan. Students assist in surgical procedures in the operating room, the diagnostic evaluation of surgical patients and with preoperative and postoperative care with the ambulatory care of surgical patients. Proficiency is to be developed in suturing, incision and drainage, excision and the biopsy of simple wounds and lesions. Where possible, students participate in grand rounds, noon conferences and other clinically relevant didactic presentations. A set of learning objectives guides student reading in preparation for a written examination at the end of the preceptorship.

This six-week behavioral medicine preceptorship augments and strengthens student skills in developing a comprehensive database and a systematic approach to common problems in behavioral medicine. It involves experiences, primarily in outpatient settings, that allow students to develop skills in the evaluation and management of patients with a variety of psychiatric and addiction problems. Through these experiences, students gain an appreciation for the role of the psychiatrist, psychologist, nurse and social worker in the care of the mentally ill, and become better able to make appropriate psychiatric referrals from primary care. The use of psychoactive pharmaceuticals and the role of psychotherapy in psychiatry are explored. Where possible, students participate in grand rounds, conferences and other clinically relevant didactic presentations. A set of learning objectives guides student reading in preparation for a written examination at the end of the preceptorship.

This is a six-week preceptorship for clinical-phase PA students that provides inpatient and/or outpatient exposure to a patient population ranging from neonates to late adolescents. This preceptorship will augment and strengthen student skills in developing a comprehensive database and a systematic approach to common problems in pediatrics. Emphasis is placed on generating the information and skills to enable the student to recognize normal findings and assess clinically significant deviations from normal. Students will perform appropriate clinical evaluation including comprehensive history and physical examinations, obtain diagnostic testing and present the data to their precepting physician(s) with a proposed differential diagnosis and treatment plan. The student will have an intense exposure to primary care pediatric problems with the objective of developing skills in well-child preventive care, the care of common pediatric illnesses and the care of the newborn. These experiences are obtained in the outpatient and inpatient setting. A set of learning objectives guides student reading in preparation for a written examination at the end of the preceptorship.

This is a four-week preceptorship that offers students an opportunity to complete an elective of their choice. During the didactic portion of the professional phase, PA program students consider their own clinical practice interests and needs for skill development. Students select a clinical area for their elective with the approval of their faculty advisor. Students develop an individualized learning contract that includes objectives for their elective rotation and a method to demonstrate achievement of these objectives at the conclusion of their preceptorship. Students are responsible for an oral presentation regarding a specific health care topic at the end of their elective preceptorship.

Senior PA students, using the knowledge acquired in prior related courses, are required to ask a clinically relevant question in a clinical discipline seen in PA practice. A subsequent search and interpretation of the literature results in the culmination of a year-long project conducting, writing and presenting a selective EBM review on chosen topics of interest.

This course is intended to review and assess the student’s knowledge of core competencies. On Senior Days, students engage in focused activities designed to prepare them for the preceptorship they are about to begin. It also includes an extensive board review style lecture series, directed standardized patient encounters with oral case presentations to a faculty member, a written comprehensive examination and clinical skills testing.