Physician Assistant Program

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Empower. www.methodist.edu/paprogram

Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies

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Program History In 1994 the Methodist University faculty and Board of Trustees voted to develop a Bachelor of Science Physician Assistant Program at Methodist University.

The program received its provisional accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs in April 1996 and admitted its first class in May 1996. In October 1998 the program received full accreditation and graduated its first Physician Assistant class in May 1998. In April 2000 the faculty and Board of Trustees voted to approve the transition of the PA Program from a bachelors level to a masters level program and admitted its first class in August 2001. Methodist University continued to run a dual program at the bachelors and masters level through the fall of 2003. Our first master’s degree students graduated in December 2003. Since the beginning, the program has enjoyed strong involvement from the local medical community in didactic as well as in clinical teaching.

It is one of the strongest reasons for our success.

“The faculty and staff at MUPAP are phenomenal. The intimate atmosphere allows for close interaction and lasting relationships between students and with the faculty. But the focus has always been on the students, with the ultimate goal being the development of competent, confident, and well-rounded PAs.” — Jared Litty, Class of 2011

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The Methodist University PA Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc (ARC-PA) and confers the Master of Medical Science (M.M.S.) degree.

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What is a PA? Physician Assistants (PAs) are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs perform a comprehensive range of medical duties, from primary care to practicing in various medical and surgical subspecialties. PAs often act as first or second assistants in major surgery and provide pre- and post-operative care. Our graduates are employed in diverse specialties such as cardiology, orthopedics, pediatrics, family practice, dermatology, emergency care, and ENT. In some rural areas where physicians are in short supply, PAs serve as the primary providers of health care, conferring with their supervising physicians and other medical professionals as needed and as required by law. PAs can be found in virtually every medical and surgical specialty.

The PA’s responsibilities depend on the type of practice, his or her experience, the working relationship with physicians and other health care providers, and state laws.

PAs perform medical functions that in the past have been performed by licensed physicians, including but not limited to: u Taking

medical histories physical exams u Ordering laboratory tests u Diagnosing illnesses u Treating illnesses u Counseling patients u Promoting wellness u Assisting in surgery u Performing

The scope of practice varies according to state laws, the medical setting, and the training of the PA. PAs are authorized to prescribe in all 50 states, DC, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and in Guam.

Physician Assistants have a long-standing tradition of serving in areas of need, providing care to those who might otherwise have little or no access to quality health care. PAs work everywhere, from remote rural settings to major urban centers, in doctors’ offices, hospitals, clinics, HMOs, the armed forces, and other federal government agencies.

Adapted from the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)/www.aapa.org

“Our small class sizes, approachable faculty/staff, and excellent teaching by dedicated faculty make the MU PA program exceptional.”

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— Patricia Aboagye-Kumi, Class of 2012

International Graduates In addition to the other prerequisite requirements, prospective students who have completed their degree outside of the United States must: u Submit

foreign transcripts for evaluation to the World Education Services (WES) or a similar agency.

If the evaluation determines the foreign degree to be equivalent to a bachelors degree or higher in the United States, the applicant has completed the bachelors degree requirement for our program. u C omplete all prerequisite coursework in the United States regardless if the applicant has already completed the same courses in a foreign country. There are no exceptions to this policy. u Submit Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores if English is spoken as a second language.

PA Program Requirements All applicants are required to have the following completed prior to entering the Physician Assistant Program: u A

bachelors degree from a regionally accredited college or university. No specific degree is required.

u Recommended

overall college GPA of 3.0 and medical core prerequisite GPA of 3.2. u Recommended GRE verbal and quantitative combination of 1050. New GRE scoring recommendations are on our website. u A minimum of 500 hours of clinical experience with direct patient contact. u Three professional letters of recommendation. u Applicants are not eligible to apply if he/she has: • a history of drug abuse or conviction of a felony or; • dismissal from another PA, medical, or nursing school. u The program does not allow auditing of any course, advanced placement based on experience, or transfer credits.

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Medical Core Prerequisites The following coursework is required prior to entering the PA program. Coursework does not have to be complete at the time you apply to the program and applicants can still apply with deficiencies. However, applicants must demonstrate a plan to successfully complete all coursework before the start date in August. Grades below C for any course will not be accepted.

All courses must be taken at a four-year regionally accredited college or university or at a community college through a college transfer program within the United States. To benefit the applicant upon matriculation and to make an application more competitive, it is strongly recommended all prerequisite coursework be taken at a four-year institution. Online classes are discouraged.

Applicants may not substitute other classes for any of the required medical core prerequisites.

Although there are no time limitations on the following Medical Core Prerequisites, it is recommended if courses are older than six to ten years applicants should consider retaking the course(s) as a refresher.

Biology Anatomy and Physiology with lab 4 semester hours Microbiology with lab 4 semester hours 8 additional semester hours of human or animal life sciences (No botany, ecology, nutrition or physical education courses accepted) Chemistry General Chemistry I with lab General Chemistry II with lab Organic Chemistry I with lab Organic Chemistry II with lab Biochemistry

The foundations of our program are commitment, compassion, and integrity: a commitment to excellence in all that we do, a compassion and connection to our students and the integrity to do what is necessary to educate students to become excellent Physician Assistants. — Dr. Sekhar Kommu, M.D., Program Director

4 semester hours 4 semester hours 4 semester hours 4 semester hours 3 semester hours

*Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry must be taken separately.

Math College Algebra or higher Statistics Psychology

6 semester hours

*Abnormal or Developmental Psychology is recommended

Medical Terminology 1 semester (Pass/Fail is not acceptable and applicants must take Medical Terminology regardless of experience)

Graduate Record Exam (GRE)

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The GRE General Test measures verbal, quantitative, and analytical skills that have been acquired over a long period of time and that are not related to any specific field. The GRE consists of 3 separate sections: Verbal Ability, Quantitative Ability and Analytical Ability.

as a replacement for this requirement. Scores must be within 5 years of application to the program. No applicant may be exempt from submitting GRE scores regardless of the level of previous education or experience.

The MUPAP requires only the GRE for admission.

No other standardized test will be accepted or used

GRE scores must be sent directly to the MUPAP by our school code of 5426. We currently do not have a

departmental code. Applicants must submit GRE scores to be considered for an interview.

The MUPAP recommends a score of 1050 or higher to be competitive. Applicants may visit www.gre.org for assistance in obtaining online tutorials or workbooks.

Clinical Experience A minimum of 500 hours of direct patient contact is required prior to entering the program. The purpose of clinical experience is to allow exposure to the PA profession and medical field. Having direct patient contact is also critical in helping applicants establish a comfort level when working with patients and other members of the medical team.

The program looks favorably upon applicants who have invested time to seek the understanding of the PA profession and medical field prior to applying. We strongly encourage applicants to have at least half of their hours completed prior to applying. If the applicant has no patient contact he or she is strongly encouraged to wait until the next application cycle to apply; thus allowing ample time to obtain direct patient contact.

The program is not responsible for assisting applicants in finding places of employment, shadowing opportunities, certifications, etc. It is the responsibility of the applicant to arrange their own opportunities to obtain clinical experience.

All hours must be completed by July 15th of the year planning to enter.

Acceptable Work: Room Technician u Scribe u Military Medic, Clinical Specialist or Independent Corpsman u Surgical Technician u Radiological Technician u Emergency Medical Technician u Certified Nursing Assistant u Nursing u Certified Laboratory Technician u Certified Pharmacy Technician u Phlebotomist u College or University Athletic Trainers u Shadowing a Physician or Physician Assistant in their routine duties. Shadowing physical therapists, chiropractors, etc. will not be accepted. u Certified Physical Therapist Assistant u Emergency

Unacceptable Work: u Administrative or clerical duties for any organization u Veterinary work u Medical answering service u Ward Secretary u Massage Therapist u Pharmaceutical Sales u In-home care assistant (e.g. personal caregiver for ill family member) u Shadowing of any profession other than PA, NP or Physician

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Application Process All applicants to the Methodist University PA Program must apply through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA); www.caspaonline.org. CASPA opens mid-spring of each year for new cycles (please visit our website under “Application Process” for specific opening dates). This will allow applicants to begin the process more than a year in advance. Completion and verification of the application through CASPA is a time-consuming process. Because the program operates on rolling admissions up until the deadline, it is possible our class can be filled prior to the March 1 deadline. As a result, applicants should begin the application process early in the cycle.

Application tips: u Allow yourself plenty of time to fill out the CASPA application and submit online. Do not plan on completing your application in one day and submitting it on the deadline.

The average applicant will spend a week or more completing this application. You may log on and off the CASPA website to work on the application over time, but DO start early.

Starting early will allow you to resolve any problems that may arise so that you are not at risk of missing deadlines. u Log on to CASPA at least once weekly to reference your application status. Constant follow-up on the arrival of letters of recommendation and official transcripts from ALL colleges/universities are the responsibility of the applicant. Follow-up will again allow you to resolve any issues in the arrival of these required documents.

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Tuition Costs and Financial Aid Tuition costs and other financial aid links may be viewed on the program’s website under “PA Expenses.” Costs do not include books, medical supplies, travel expenses, and/or living expenses. Costs are subject to change at any time.

Methodist University participates in the William D. Ford Federal Direct Student Loan Program (Federal Direct Loans) for the processing of the Subsidized/Unsubsidized, PLUS and Graduate PLUS loans (the William D. Ford Direct Loan Program has replaced the Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP)). In the William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan program, loan proceeds are provided directly from the federal government to the university on behalf of the borrower. No third party is involved.

interview Process “I chose Methodist for its cadaver program; I wanted a Human Anatomy and Physiology foundation on par with medical schools, and that is exactly what I found here.”

To be selected into the Methodist University PA Program, applicants must participate in an on-campus interview with the Admissions Selection Committee.

Interview selection factors can be view on our website under “PA Selection Factors.”

Depending on the number of qualified applicants, interviews typically begin in August or September of each year and continue once a month until the class is filled.

The most competitive applicants will be chosen for an interview. Interviews are held in the PA facilities on the campus of Methodist University.

— Jana Hill, PA-C Class of 2010

letters of Recommendation All applicants must have three letters of professional recommendation submitted with their CASPA application. Letters must be submitted from: u A

professor or advisor within the science department. medical supervisor or coworker. If shadowing a physician or PA, they must write a letter on behalf of the applicant. u Another supervisor from a different job. If not applicable, another medical coworker or professor will suffice. u A

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Curriculum The PA graduate program has one start date a year in August. The program is 27 months in length and consists of two phases: Didactic and Clinical.

Didactic Year-3.5 semesters The didactic or classroom phase of the program is held on the campus of Methodist University in a newly constructed, state-of-the-art Medical Lecture Hall. The 3,800 square foot facility consists of a 168 seat auditorium and two breakout classrooms. The following courses are covered over the span of 3.5 semesters:

“A clinically oriented approach to gross anatomy is vital to a PA’s full understanding of health, disease and death, as well as most diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.”

— Dr. Bruce Steffes, M.D., Instructor of Anatomy and Physiology

Anatomy with

Cadaver Lab Gastroenterology Ophthalmology Physiology Cardiology Orthopedics History and Physical Exam I, II, III Lab Medicine I, II Otolaryngology Pharmacology I, II, III Emergency Med I, II ,III Pulmonology Medical Ethics Seminar Urology/Nephrology

Geriatrics PA Orientation I, II OB/GYN Fundamentals of Surgery Dermatology Neurology Hematology Oncology Critical Thinking Behavioral Medicine Pediatrics Health Promotion/Disease Prevention Research Methods Infectious Diseases

Clinical Phase-3.5 semesters The clinical phase is the final 3.5 semesters of the program. Most rotations are completed within Fayetteville or the surrounding areas. Rotation decisions will be at the discretion of the Clinical Coordinator. Students will also have a final research paper due prior to graduation as their capstone project.

Internal Med Pediatrics OB/GYN Electives Emergency Med Orthopedics Surgery Family Medicine I, II, III* Behavioral Medicine Preceptorship (Elective)**

8 weeks 4 weeks 4 weeks 4 weeks 4 weeks 4 weeks 4 weeks 12 weeks 4 weeks 6 weeks

*Include community and rural health **The preceptorship rotation is designed to help students secure a job prior to graduation. Many students are offered jobs throughout their clinical rotations and are encouraged to use the preceptorship to decide if the clinic/hospital is a desirable place of employment. The actual rotation is 4 weeks in length, while reserving the remaining two weeks for national board review and program assessment.

Cadaver Lab The human anatomy laboratory at Methodist is a critical component of the first semester Physician Assistant curriculum. The Gross Anatomy course is designed to provide a working knowledge of human anatomy, an understanding of physiology, disease processes, diagnostic radiology, surgical and traumatic conditions, and interventional therapy. PA students have described the course as an “invaluable” and “irreplaceable” experience, and PA faculty members believe this anatomy laboratory builds a strong foundation for the MU Physician Assistant Program and its outstanding success. The program opened the doors to a state-of-the-art cadaver lab in 2010. It is in the top one percent in technology of all PA programs nationwide and can accommodate up to fifteen stations.

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Why Methodist University? u Cadaver

Lab: Human cadaver dissection is a critical part of our program and is geared towards only PA students. u No competition with any other medical program on campus. Our students are never in competition in the classroom or in competition for clinical rotations. u Our goal is to be a nationally recognized program based on high academic standards and clinically relevant teaching, with a commitment to alleviate the health care needs of our nation, particularly in SE NC. u Most graduates are employed prior to graduation. u A small class size allows our faculty to build a close, personal relationship with each student. u Performance on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).

Each year the MU PA Program students consistently score above the national average in all categories. In addition, our graduates have earned a reputation of being successful healthcare providers.

For Further Information Contact Methodist University 5107 College Centre Dr., Fayetteville, NC 28311 Physician Assistant Program (910) 630-7495 (800) 488-7110, Ext. 7495

For Further Information on Physician Assistants American Academy of Physician Assistants www.aapa.org Physician Assistant Education Association www.paeaonline.org National Commission on Certification of PAs www.nccpa.net Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) www.arc-pa.org North Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants www.ncapa.org

Engage.

Enrich.

Empower.

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www.methodist.edu/paprogram