Program Codes:
MPAS
Masters of Physician Assistant Studies
Availability: campus
Introduction
The graduate program in Physician Assistant Studies (PA) is a 24-month program that offers 12 months of didactic and 12 months of clinical training with didactic components. The program has been developed for students who have a bachelor’s degree and meet prerequisites including coursework and healthcare experience. Mercyhurst prepares PA graduates with the highest quality academic and clinical training to be leaders in the profession, proficient in meeting the challenges of healthcare, while providing compassionate, quality care to the diverse communities in which they serve. Physician assistants provide high quality, cost-effective healthcare as productive members of the health care team and employment opportunities for PAs are predicted to be excellent. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics 2018 Occupational Outlook Handbook estimates an increase of 37 percent from 2016 to 2026, which is much higher than the average for most professions.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies (DPAS) is to prepare students with the highest quality academic and clinical training. The program will prepare physician assistants to be leaders in the profession, proficient in meeting the challenges of health care, while providing compassionate, quality care to the diverse communities in which they serve.
The department’s mission, vision and core goals were developed to align with the university’s mission, vision and core values. Emphasis has been placed on the Mercy tradition and healthcare core values to stay true to the basic principles set forth by our founders.
Accreditation
The curriculum has been developed to meet Standards set forth by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA).
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Mercyhurst University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Mercyhurst University. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.
Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be June 2029. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. The program's accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-mercyhurst-university/.
Admission Requirements
The Mercyhurst University Physician Assistant Program participates with the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Individuals whose applications are viewed positively will be invited for an interview. Candidates will be selected for entry into the program based upon the completion of prerequisites, the interview process and space availability. Candidates with higher overall GPAs, prerequisite GPAs, GREs and direct patient healthcare experience are more competitive for earning admission. Preference will be given to equally qualified Mercyhurst graduates.
Physician Assistant Prerequisite Courses
Total Credits | Course Requirement |
---|---|
8 | Biology with labs |
12 | Chemistry with labs (General and Organic) |
3 | Biochemistry |
4 | Anatomy with lab |
3 | Physiology |
4 | Microbiology with lab |
3 | Genetics |
3 | Statistics |
3 | Psychology |
1 | Medical Terminology |
Physician Assistant Curriculum
The graduate program in PA Studies operates on a semester calendar. Summer, fall and spring semester are completed in a predetermined sequence. All PA program coursework must be taken in sequence. Advanced placement, transfer or life experience credit are not offered.
Upon completion of the Mercyhurst Department of Physician Assistant Studies, the graduate will possess knowledge, skills and abilities in the following competencies:
Didactic Year - First Year
Students must begin the program during the summer semester. The curriculum sequencing commences with basic science review, introductory course work and the beginning of clinical skills education. The didactic year fall and spring semesters present the health care sciences in a medical model. Classes and labs typically meet during the day, with some evening classes. During the didactic year students also have intermittent exposure to patient experiences in health care settings in the community
This course is designed for the health professional and focuses on topics required to understand the genetic basis of human disease. This includes an overview of basic genetic principals, basis of disease and clinical genetic disorders.
This course in human anatomy is designed to present an extensive and fairly intensive consideration of the regions and systems of the human body. This information will be presented formally in lecture from both regional and systemic perspectives. This body of anatomical knowledge will be supplemented and reinforced by audiovisual materials and direct examination of anatomical models, human skeletal materials, and human cadavers.
BIO-537
The Human Anatomy Lab is taught concurrently with BIO 534. The student will build upon information gained in the Human Anatomy course with clinical lab application corresponding to the lecture material. This lab includes cadaver dissection and students are encouraged to use a hands-on approach when examining the structures of the human body.
BIO 534
This course is presented to correlate the basic sciences to the study of clinical medicine. It is presented in the first semester as a foundation for the clinical medicine courses to follow. The course will focus on an in-depth study of the mechanisms by which the human body functions. The main focus of the course is on the various strategies used to maintain homeostasis and the ways in which the activities of tissues, organs, and organ systems are regulated by neural inputs, endocrine secretions and cellular-level events.
This is an introductory course to the physician assistant profession and the program curriculum. The course will focus on the history of the profession, professional organizations, PA-Physician and inter-professional team, professionalism, leadership skills, basic ethical principles, social issues in health care, advocacy in healthcare and basic skills in communication.
This course is designed to teach medical interviewing techniques, patient history gathering, communication skills and physical examination techniques to include normal and variant physical findings and examination techniques across the lifespan. Instruction will introduce patient education in reference to health promotion, prevention and patient counseling for diverse populations.
This lab experience will focus on the application of theory presented in Clinical Skills to include communication and interviewing techniques in the gathering of historical patient data and the performance of physical exam techniques in simulated diverse patient experiences.
TOTAL CREDITS - 18
This course will focus on the development of communication and interviewing techniques in the gathering of historical patient data, performance of physical exam techniques, development of differential diagnosis, diagnostic and therapeutic management plans via patient experiences in the lab and health care settings. Students will be introduced to inter-professional team based practice to enhance collaboration and improve patient safety.
This course will follow a systems approach to introduce common diseases and syndromes focusing on etiology, epidemiology, underlying pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis, patient evaluation with the selection, use and interpretation of results of laboratory and diagnostic studies and basic therapeutic concepts. The comparison of the clinical presentation and management of disease states in diverse patient-centered acute and longitudinal care across the lifespan will be included. Appropriate preventive health care, patient education and health maintenance recommendations will be presented. The application of the principles of evidence based clinical practice will also be utilized.
This course will follow a systems approach to introduce common diseases and syndromes focusing on etiology, epidemiology, underlying pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis, patient evaluation with the selection, use and interpretation of results of laboratory and diagnostic studies and basic therapeutic concepts. The comparison of the clinical presentation and management of disease states in diverse patient-centered acute and longitudinal care across the lifespan will be included. Appropriate preventive health care, patient education and health maintenance recommendations will be presented. The application of the principles of evidence based clinical practice will also be utilized.
This course will concentrate on patient-centered Pharmacotherapeutics of pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, drug interactions and adverse reactions, applications of drug for various body systems integrated with the Clinical Medicine course.
This course will focus on diverse patient-centered care from birth to age 18. Normal and abnormal growth and development from infancy through childhood and adolescence will be presented. The course will include instruction in the evaluation and management of emergent, acute and chronic pediatric presentations; there will be instruction on routine health maintenance, anticipatory guidance, preventative care and family dynamics.
This course will focus on an overview of current topics in healthcare inclusive of public health, cultural competency, integrative medicine, service learning, health care literacy, death, dying and loss, ethical dilemmas and processes relevant to clinical practice in relationship to patient-centered care.
This course prepares the Physician Assistant student for the mental health rotation by providing a foundation of the major psychological disorders as they present across the lifespan. Students develop knowledge of clinical presentations, use of the DSM-5, pathophysiology, potential medical complications and pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapeutic interventions inclusive of cultural perspectives for the psychological disorders. The psychosocial and behavioral processes in health, illness and health care are introduced and resources presented for the patient, caregiver/family and provider for health promotion.
TOTAL CREDITS - 18
This course is a continuation of PA 520 and PA 521. It will follow a systems approach to introduce common diseases and syndromes focusing on etiology, epidemiology, underlying pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis, patient evaluation with the selection, use and interpretation of results of laboratory and diagnostic studies and basic therapeutic concepts. The comparison of the clinical presentation and management of disease states in diverse patient-centered acute and longitudinal care across the lifespan will be included. Appropriate preventive health care, patient education and health maintenance recommendations will be presented. The application of the principles of evidence based clinical practice will also be utilized.
This course is a continuation of PA 520, PA 521, and PA 522.. It will follow a systems approach to introduce common diseases and syndromes focusing on etiology, epidemiology, underlying pathophysiology, signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis, patient evaluation with the selection, use and interpretation of results of laboratory and diagnostic studies and basic therapeutic concepts. The comparison of the clinical presentation and management of disease states in diverse patient-centered acute and longitudinal care across the lifespan will be included. Appropriate preventive health care, patient education and health maintenance recommendations will be presented. The application of the principles of evidence based clinical practice will also be utilized.
This course is a continuation course and will concentrate on patient-centered Pharmacotherapeutics of pharmacokinetics, drug metabolism, drug interactions and adverse reactions, applications of drug for various body systems integrated with the Clinical Medicine course.
This course will introduce students to the principals of evidence based medicine (EBM) including using a problem based learning style with case scenarios of typical patient problems supported by relevant primary studies. Students will develop skills in evidence based medicine including asking focused questions, searching for good answers, critiquing literature and applying conclusions in clinical scenarios. Students will demonstrate skills in identification and prioritization of problems, formulation of questions, consideration of clinical decision options and critical appraisal in the context of the patient scenario. This method will guide students to become skilled users of medical evidence that has already been appraised.
This course will focus on the management of emergency medical and surgical presentations, with an emphasis on working collaboratively in interprofessional patient centered teams while providing care across the lifespan to varying patient populations. Students will learn triage, stabilization, diagnostic and therapeutic management plans, referrals and the appropriate specialty consultations. The fundamentals of surgical practices will be presented to include pre, intra and postoperative patient care. Students will also have instruction in basic life support and advanced cardiac life support.
This course will present theory and/or hands on experience in procedures in office, emergency and surgical settings. Principles of sterile technique,injections, intravenous catheterizations, phlebotomy, urethral catheterizations, gowning and gloving, knot tying, suturing, casting and splinting are examples of the course content.
TOTAL CREDITS - 17
Clinical Year - Second Year
The 2-week Thesis Guidance course takes place on campus prior to the start of rotations. The clinical year consists of healthcare experiences in internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics, women’s health, surgery, emergency medicine, mental health and two elective rotations. Rotations will be five weeks in length, which includes a 4-week elective rotation combined with a 1-week mental health rotation. Rotation I-IX assignments will vary among all the various rotational types of experiences. Not all students will be assigned internal medicine on rotation I and may be assigned to any of the required rotations or electives.
Recall Days occur the last two days of each rotation, at which time students will be required to be on campus for debriefing of the experience, clinical and written testing, case presentations and didactic instruction in current medical topics.
This is a 5 week rotation in an ambulatory, in/outpatient hospital or office-based primary care facility under the direction of a preceptor. The student will perform comprehensive history and physical exams, develop differential diagnoses, diagnostic and therapeutic management plans for patients with acute and chronic medical problems. The student will provide preventative care and patient education on health maintenance and promotion sensitive to diverse populations across the adult life span. The student will recognize the need for consultation, referral or transfer to an emergency or acute care setting. The student's experiences can include behavioral and long term health care.
This is a 5 week rotation in an ambulatory, in/outpatient hospital or office-based primary care facility under the direction of a preceptor. The student will perform comprehensive history and physical exams, develop differential diagnoses, diagnostic and therapeutic management plans for patients with acute and chronic medical problems. The student will provide preventative care and patient education on health maintenance and promotion sensitive to diverse populations across the life span. The student will recognize the need for consultation, referral or transfer to an emergency or acute care setting. The student's experiences can include behavioral and long term health care.
TOTAL CREDITS - 12
This is a 5 week rotation in an ambulatory, in/outpatient hospital or office-based facility under the direction of a preceptor. The student will perform comprehensive history and physical exams, develop differential diagnoses, diagnostic and therapeutic management plans for patients with women's health medical conditions to include acute, chronic, prenatal and gynecologic care. The student will provide preventative care and patient education on health maintenance and promotion sensitive to diverse populations across the female reproductive lifespan. The student will recognize the need for consultation, referral or transfer to an emergency or acute care setting.
This is a 5 week rotation in an ambulatory, in/outpatient hospital or office-based facility under the direction of a preceptor. Students will perform comprehensive history and physical exams; develop differential diagnoses, diagnostic and therapeutic management plans for common acute and chronic conditions in infants, children and adolescents. The student will recognize normal growth and development and be able to differentiate common abnormalities of growth and development. The student will provide preventative care and patient education on health maintenance and promotion sensitive to diverse pediatric populations. The student will recognize the need for consultation, referral or transfer to an emergency or acute care setting.
This is a 5 week rotation in an emergency department facility under the direction of a preceptor. Students will perform focused history and physical exams, develop differential diagnoses, diagnostic and therapeutic management plans for patients with emergent, acute and chronic conditions. This will include common procedures in the emergency room and preventative care. Emphasis will be placed on the evaluation and management of emergent and acute conditions, psychological emergencies and surgical conditions unique to the clinical practice of emergency medicine. Students will experience working collaboratively in interprofessional patient-centered teams while providing care across the life span to diverse patient populations.
TOTAL CREDITS - 15
This is a 5 week rotation in an in/outpatient setting under the direction of a preceptor. Students will perform comprehensive history and physical exams, develop differential diagnoses, diagnostic and therapeutic management plans for emergent, acute and chronic conditions. This will include participation in common outpatient and intraoperative procedures, as well as preventative care. Emphasis will be placed on the evaluation and management of pre, intra and postoperative care, systemic diseases and surgical conditions unique to the clinical practice of surgery. Students will experience working collaboratively in inter-professional patient-centered teams while providing care across the life span to diverse patient populations.
This is a 5 week rotation in an ambulatory, in/outpatient hospital or office-based facility under the direction of a preceptor in a health care area of choice for the student with preapproval of the clinical director. The rotation will emphasize the pathophysiology, evaluation, diagnostic and therapeutic management of diseases and conditions unique to the clinical practice. This rotation will fulfill the student's clinical area of interest and allow preparation for employment opportunities.
This is a 4 week rotation in an ambulatory, in/outpatient hospital or office-based facility under the direction of a preceptor in a health care area of choice for the student with preapproval of the clinical director. The rotation will emphasize the pathophysiology, evaluation, diagnostic and therapeutic management of diseases and conditions unique to the clinical practice. This rotation will fulfill the student's clinical area of interest and allow preparation for employment opportunities.
This is a one week rotation in an ambulatory, in/outpatient hospital or office-based mental health facility under the direction of a preceptor. The student will perform mental status examinations, develop differential diagnoses, pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapeutic treatment plans for patients with emergent, acute and chronic mental health conditions. The student will recognize the need for prevention, consultation, referral and ancillary services for mental health conditions.
TOTAL CREDITS - 17
To obtain the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree students must successfully complete all required didactic and clinical courses while maintaining a minimum 3.0 overall grade point average throughout the program of study. Students must also successfully complete all components of the master’s portfolio and the Summative Evaluation Experience for completion of the program.
Physician Assistant students are responsible for developing a master’s portfolio under the advisement of a faculty member. This portfolio includes written works in case presentations, service learning, professional growth experiences and a project in performance improvement. The performance improvement project includes active learning and the application of learning to improve the practice of medicine, a current standard in health care. This project will be done with guidance from the student’s advisor and in partnership with a preceptor/ office practice. The project will include comparison of some aspect of practice to national benchmarks, performance guidelines or other established evidence-based metric or standard. Based on the comparison, the student will develop a plan for improvement in that area.
The Summative Evaluation Experience will take place on campus the last two weeks of the second year spring semester prior to graduation to further prepare the student for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) and entering the workforce.
A total of 97 credits are required to complete the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program. Mercyhurst students who are successful in the completion of all the requirements of the program of study will earn a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree and he/she will be eligible to sit for the PANCE exam. This examination must be passed in order to practice in all states.