Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Curriculum
All physician assistant studies courses are limited to physician assistant studies students, unless permission is obtained from the program director.
The Chatham University MPAS Program is dedicated to producing knowledgeable, compassionate, ethical, and clinically skillful graduates who are ready to provide health care services to all persons without exclusion and who are willing to become the future leaders and educators of the profession. This will be accomplished by:
- Providing a student-centered curriculum which promotes self-directed and lifelong learning as well as professionalism and service;
- Educating competent physician assistants to practice as primary care providers to all populations;
- Contributing to the advancement of knowledge in medicine and physician assistant education;
- Encouraging students to serve local, national, and international communities through active involvement in service-oriented programs for medically underserved populations;
- Involving students in inter-professional activities and encouraging the development of team skills and an appreciation of team-based, patient-centered care and
- Promoting participation in professional organizations and the education of future PAs.
The curriculum is a 24 month (85 semester credits) professional course of study leading to the MPAS degree. Basic medical sciences, research, clinical methods, and clinical experiences are integrated from the beginning of the program and continued throughout the course of study.
The program produces physician assistants capable of providing primary medical care in an ethical, legal, safe, and caring manner. To achieve this, students must acquire knowledge and the ability to use that knowledge in the practice of medicine. Students are expected to consistently retrieve and apply their knowledge appropriately in the area of their patients and reason effectively. Self-directed learning skills are necessary in order to keep their knowledge current. Self-knowledge, knowledge and understanding of others and continued professional development beyond the degree are necessary for success.
Chatham University utilizes hybrid model of Problem-Based Learning, lecture, and on-line activity that challenges students to be self-directed and prepares students for the evidence-based, problem-oriented world of clinical medicine. Through actual patient cases, students develop learning issues and research topics using the most up to date resources, work in teams and receive feedback on knowledge base as well as professionalism to prepare them for primary care, problem-focused clinical practice.
The MPAS program is competency-based, requiring all students to master the required material. The grading system is pass/fail. Any student receiving a failing grade may remediate the course work with the approval of the respective instructor of record.
A student in the MPAS program must be in good academic standing to remain enrolled in the program. To be eligible for graduation, students must be in good academic standing and successfully complete all required courses.
Accreditation
The MPAS program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA). Only graduates of an accredited program are permitted to sit for the certification examination, which is administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).Program Requirements
+ Degree Requirements
Completion of 85 credits in physician assistant studies courses.All courses are pass/fail grading only. |
||
| PAS600 | Essentials for the Physician Assistant I
A problem-oriented approach to primary care and non-primary care medicine. This course incorporates basic medical sciences (human anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology) with medical diagnosis and treatment, pharmacotherapeutics, psychological assessment and management, communication of information about illness, maintenance of patients with chronic illness, and prevention of disability and disease through detection, education, and preventive treatment. Community and public health concepts include a model of public health, health-care delivery and payment systems, epidemiology, infectious disease control, community health assessment, and community health services. The course addresses the clinical problems encountered by the physician assistant and the professional role the physician assistant has in primary, surgical, and specialty care of adult, children, and geriatric populations. | 9 |
| PAS601 | Essentials for the Physician Assistant II
A continuation of PAS 600. Prerequisite(s): PAS 600 | 9 |
| PAS602 | Clinical Application of Basic Sciences I
An in-depth study of topics in gross human anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, supporting the instruction in the Essentials for the Physician Assistant courses. Instruction will involve basic sciences with an emphasis on the clinical application of the material, utilizing a systems approach. | 4 |
| PAS603 | Clinical Application of Basic Sciences II
Continuation of PAS602. An in-depth study of topics in gross human anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, supporting the instruction in Essentials for the Physician Assistant courses. Instruction will involve basic sciences with an emphasis on the clinical application of the material, utilizing a systems approach. Pre-requisite: PAS602 | 4 |
| PAS604 | Critical Reading of the Literature I
Students critically evaluate medical literature and resources used in Essectial Physician Assistant Studies courses, including research design, data collection, and statistical analysis. | 1 |
| PAS605 | Critical Reading of the Literature II
Course is continuation of PAS604. Students critically evaluate medical literature and resources used in Physician Assistant Studies 601, including research design, data collection, and statistical analysis. Prerequisite(s): PAS 604 | 1 |
| PAS606 | Clinical Pharmacology I
This clinically-oriented course provides students with knowledge required for the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical agents in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases through an understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Topics selected will support the body systems covered in PAS 600. | 2 |
| PAS607 | Clinical Pharmacology II
Continuation of PAS606. This clinically-oriented course provides students with knowledge required for the safe and effective use of pharmaceutical agents in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases through an understanding of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Topics selected will support the body systems covered in PAS 601: Essentials for the Physician Assistant. Pre-requisite: PAS606 | 2 |
| PAS610 | Introduction to Clinical Experiences I
This course will introduce the student to various types of medical documentation, HIPAA regulations and issues surrounding cultural sensitivity in medicine. Professional comportment while on rotations will also be introduced. | 1 |
| PAS611 | Introduction to Clinical Experiences II
Continuation of PAS 610. Students will continue to explore various types of medical documentation, HIPAA regulations and issues surrounding cultural sensitivity in medicine. Professional comportment whiel on rotations will also be introduced. Pre-requisite: PAS610 | 1 |
| PAS612 | Introduction to the PA Profession
This course introduces the students to the physician assistant profession and their role in the American Health care system. Topics of discussion include history of the profession, national and state organizations, federal and state laws affecting practice, education, and the future of the profession. | 1 |
| PAS614 | Medical Ethics
Contemporary professional medical ethics issues are discussed and debated. Instruction is provided through classroom discussions, guest lectures, and small group problem-based learning. | 1 |
| PAS616 | History and Physical Examination
Lecture and practical laboratory course covering theory and application of interviewing skills, history and physcial examination skills, and elicitation of patient data. Students demonstrate competence through practical evaluations, and oral presentations. | 4 |
| PAS617 | Clinical Procedures
Laboratory course covering theory and application of common clinical procedures that a physician assistant will encounter during practice. Students demonstrte competence through practical evaluations. | 2 |
| PAS625 | Clinical Decision Making I
Problem-oriented cases present the student with opportunities to use clinical reasoning to formulate differential diagnoses and emphasize development of treatment and care plans. These courses run concurrently with the clinical experiences I-IX. | 1 |
| PAS626 | Clinical Decision Making II
Problem-oriented cases present the student with opportunities to use clinical reasoning to formulate differential diagnoses and emphasize development of treatment and care plans. These courses run concurrently with the clinical experiences I-IX. | 1 |
| PAS627 | Clinical Decision Making III
Problem-oriented cases present the student with opportunities to use clinical reasoning to formulate differential diagnoses and emphasize development of treatment and care plans. These courses run concurrently with the clinical experiences I-IX. | 2 |
| PAS628 | Clinical Decision Making IV
Drawing on skills acquired in PAS625, 626 & 627, as well as knowledge that has been acquired throughout the curriculum, students develop problem oriented cases which include history, physical examiniation, diagnostics, treatment and patient education, based on specific disease entities. These cases are presented in a grand rounds format. Additionally, students complete summative program evaluations related to medical knowldege base and clinical assessment skills. | 1 |
| PAS630 | Topics in Clinical Medicine
An intensive review in preparation for entering practice as a physician assistant. A series of special seminars and presentations that provide the student with a topical approach to medicine. | 3 |
| PAS633 | Physical Diagnosis I
Practical laboratory course covering application of interviewing, history taking, and physical examination skills, as well as elicitation and documentation of patient data. Students demonstrate competence through practical evaluations and written documentation. The student will perform patient-focused physical examinations for problem based Primary Care complaints that coincide with the patients they encounter in PAS 600 Essentials for the Physician Assistant I. Prerequisite: PAS 616 | 3 |
| PAS634 | Physcial Diagnosis II
This course is a continuation of PAS633. Practical laboratory course covering application of interviewing, history talking, and physical examination skills, as well as elicitation and documentation of patient data. Students perform problem-based physical examinations for problem based Primary Care complaints that coincide with the patients they encounter in Essentials for the Phyusician Assistant as well as non problem focused male and female genitourinary examinations, and a comprehensive examination including all body systems. Prerequisite: PAS633 | 3 |
| PAS635 | Healthcare Policy
Students explore relevant health-care law and policy issues that imjpact the Physician Assistant profession and health-care delivery systems. Instruction is provided through classroom discussions, guest lectures, and small group problem-based learning. | 1 |
| PAS640 | Clinical Experiences I
Clinical course designed to provide students with supervised medical and surgical clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations and acquire the competencies needed for clinical PA practice. | 3 |
| PAS641 | Clinical Experiences II
Clinical course designed to provide students with supervised medical and surgical clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations and acquire the competencies needed for clinical PA practice. | 3 |
| PAS642 | Clinical Experiences III
Clinical course designed to provide students with supervised medical and surgical clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations and acquire the competencies needed for clinical PA practice. | 3 |
| PAS643 | Clinical Experiences IV
Clinical course designed to provide students with supervised medical and surgical clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations and acquire the competencies needed for clinical PA practice. | 3 |
| PAS644 | Clinical Experiences V
Clinical course designed to provide students with supervised medical and surgical clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations and acquire the competencies needed for clinical PA practice. | 3 |
| PAS645 | Clinical Experiences VI
Clinical course designed to provide students with supervised medical and surgical clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations and acquire the competencies needed for clinical PA practice. | 3 |
| PAS646 | Clinical Experience VII
Clinical course designed to provide students with supervised medical and surgical clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations and acquire the competencies needed for clinical PA practice. | 3 |
| PAS647 | Clinical Experience VIII
Clinical course designed to provide students with supervised medical and surgical clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations and acquire the competencies needed for clinical PA practice. | 3 |
| PAS648 | Clinical Experiences IX
Clinical course designed to provide students with supervised medical and surgical clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations and acquire the competencies needed for clinical PA practice. | 3 |