Physician Assistant Science
Physician Assistant Science Chairperson: Kimberly Cavanagh, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C
INTRODUCTION Physician assistants (PAs) are medical providers who are nationally certified and state licensed to practice medicine as a member of a team with other healthcare professionals. Their specific tasks vary widely due to differences among state laws and hospital policies. Generally, PAs are qualified to obtain patient histories, perform comprehensive physical examinations, order and interpret diagnostic laboratory tests, prepare a diagnosis, implement a treatment plan for common illnesses, deliver patient education and counseling, perform certain surgical procedures, and provide emergency care. PAs may assist in surgery and deliver pre-operative and postoperative care. PAs may deliver patient care in any setting in which the physician works. The Physician Assistant Department offers a Master of Physician Assistant Science degree available through either a five-year undergraduate admission program or a post baccalaureate curriculum. The curriculum is predominantly clinical during the final year of the program. Regional clinical faculty preceptors, in conjunction with various health care institutions, introduce the students to professional PA training. Clinical sites are offered primarily in northwestern Pennsylvania, Ohio, and western New York, as well as some locations farther afield. Students are responsible for their own housing and transportation to and from clinical sites. The PA program curriculum of the Gannon University Physician Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA). The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted AccreditationContinued status to the Gannon University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Gannon University. AccreditationContinued 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remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards.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 March 2027. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
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OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES Upon completion of the Physician Assistant Program the student will be able to: • Perform a complete and accurate history and physical examination; identify abnormal findings and develop an appropriate differential diagnosis • Develop a plan of evaluation in support of the differential diagnosis, including specialized diagnostic imaging, and pathologic modalities • Develop a treatment plan consisting of surgical and medical interventions including non-pharmacological modalities such as physical therapy, counseling and patient education through analysis of clinical and laboratory data • Accurately relate the clinical data to the other members of the health care team, forming a collaborative effort to assure maximal patient benefit through a multi-disciplinary approach • Show proficiency in performing clinical skills • Identify characteristics of professional and ethical conduct for the Physician Assistant Profession • Synthesize theory and research in order to provide advanced care to patients
ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS FOR POST-BACCALAUREATE OPTION: Applications for the post-baccalaureate option will be reviewed on a space available basis. Prospective students may contact the Gannon University Office of Graduate Admissions for additional information. Applicants must possess a baccalaureate degree. A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required from previous professional education and prerequisites must have been completed within the last seven years. As part of the application process, applicants must submit recommendation letters from three evaluators and participate in an in-person interview. In addition, applicants must submit the following: official transcripts, curriculum vitae and 30 hours of documented volunteer/paid medical experience.
TECHNICAL STANDARDS A candidate for admission to the PA Program must have the use of certain sensory and motor functions to permit them to carry out the activities described in the sections that follow. Graduation from the program signifies that the individual is prepared for entry into clinical practice or into postgraduate training programs. Therefore, it follows that graduates must have the knowledge and skills needed to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and to render a wide spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic care. The candidate and student must be able consistently, quickly, and accurately to integrate all information received by whatever sense(s) are employed. Also, they must have the intellectual ability to learn, integrate, analyze, and synthesize data.
