The second major component of the curriculum consists of supervised hands-on clinical training at the bedside on in-patient units, in outpatient clinics and in communities throughout the state. Students will also participate in workshops focused on employment issues, coding and billing, and technical skills as part of the Capstone course. Prior to graduation, they will complete a multi-step summative assessment process. It should be noted that this is not an exhaustive list. This period of training begins in January of the second year and extends until graduation. Students will complete 44 credits of clinical training as outlined below.
The primary goals of clinical training are to provide students with: a breadth of clinical exposure across numerous clinical disciplines; advanced exposure in the discipline(s) of the student’s choice; acquisition and mastery of a fund of general medical knowledge (defined by each of the clinical disciplines) that builds on the principles introduced during the first 18 months; and competency in a broad array of technical skills. These clinical skills range from patient and interprofessional interactions, exemplified by history-taking and performance of the physical examination, through attitudes —compassion, interest, independence, ethics — to the manual dexterity inherent in sterile technique, phlebotomy, suturing and other procedures uniquely associated with the PA profession.
Curriculum Schedule
| Course # | Course Title | Semester Hours |
| PA:8357 | PA Transitions to Clinical Rotations | 1 |
| PA:8303 | PA Senior Capstone | 2 |
| Total Hours | 3 |
Required Clinical Rotations
| Course # | Course Title | Semester Hours |
| PA:8304 | Emergency Medicine | 4 |
| PA:8305 | Gynecology | 4 |
| PA:8306 | Family Practice I | 4 |
| PA:8307 | Family Practice II | 4 |
| PA:8308 | General Surgery | 6 |
| PA:8309 | Internal Medicine | 6 |
| PA:8310 | Pediatrics | 4 |
| PA:8311 | Psychiatry | 4 |
| PA:---- | Elective Clinical Rotations | 8 |
| Total Hours | 44 |
Transitions and Capstone Course Descriptions
PA:8357 PA Transitions to Clinical Rotations 1 s.h.
Additional didactic and hands-on skills essential for preparation prior to core and elective clinical rotations. Requirements: PA enrollment.
PA:8303 PA Senior Capstone 2 s.h.
Demonstration of strong clinical knowledge base and proficiency in basic clinical problem solving; focus on student's ability to think logically and critically, integrate and synthesize knowledge, access evidence-based medical resources, document patient care appropriately, apply clinical knowledge, and demonstrate professional behavior. Requirements: PA enrollment.
Clinical Phase Course Descriptions
Spring Semester 5 and Fall Semester 6 Courses
PA:8304 Emergency Medicine for Physician Assistant Students 4 s.h.
Obtaining and recording pertinent historical data, obtaining indicated laboratory studies, assessing the results, arriving at a diagnosis, formulating a treatment plan, implementing appropriate therapy.
PA:8305 Gynecology for Physician Assistant Students 4 s.h.
Opportunity to develop proficiency in history and physical exams of gynecological patients; outpatient, family planning, gynecological cancer, concepts of diagnostic techniques, and therapy.
PA:8306 Family Practice I for Physician Assistant Students 4 s.h.
Obtaining and recording complete history and physical exams; formulation of differential diagnosis and problem list; ordering, obtaining, and interpreting lab and diagnostic studies; and implementation of therapeutic procedures and treatment plans.
PA:8307 Family Practice II for Physician Assistant Students 4 s.h.
Opportunity to participate in the delivery of ambulatory primary care; at a different site from PA:8306.
PA:8308 General Surgery for Physician Assistant Students 6 s.h.
Opportunity to participate in the surgical field; outpatient and inpatient surgical services, including surgical procedures and management of pre, intra and postoperative care.
PA:8309 Internal Medicine for Physician Assistant Students 6 s.h.
Eliciting a medical history, doing a pertinent physical exam, obtaining indicated lab studies, assessment of results, formulation of the management plan, and implementation of appropriate therapy for common internal medicine problems.
PA:8310 Pediatrics for Physician Assistant Students 4 s.h.
Knowledge and skills required for providing appropriate medical care to infants, children, and adolescents; initiation and promotion of interpersonal relationships.
PA:8311 Psychiatry for Physician Assistant Students 4 s.h.
Training in history and physical exams of psychiatry patients, including individual and family therapy, vocational testing and guidance, and development of interviewing skills.
Elective Rotations
PA:XXXX (2 s.h. or 4 s.h. options)
Students will have the option to select 2 s.h. or 4 s.h. elective rotations from an approved list provided to them by the Clinical Year Team. Approved options vary by semester based on established clinical rotation sites and availability.