Physician Assistants (PAs) are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. After graduating from an accredited physician assistant educational program, physician assistants are certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Within the physician/PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision-making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The clinical role of physician assistants includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practice settings in rural and urban areas. Physician Assistants practice patient-centered care, which may include educational, research and administrative activities.
Courses
PAST 501.
Foundations of Medical Science I- Population Health.
(1)
This course is an orientation to population health. Topics include: public health, epidemiology, health promotion and disease prevention, health policy, intervention, models for change, and rural health.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 502.
Foundations of Medical Science I- Foundations of Research Methodology.
(1)
An overview of evidence-based medicine (EBM), medical informatics, and medical research methodologies. It includes accessing and critically evaluating the medical literature as well as the structuring of research studies.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 510.
Foundations of Medical Science I- Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine I.
(2)
An introduction to the major biological principles of pediatric and adolescent health care including embryology, anatomy, normal physiology, pharmacology and pathophysiology. Behavioral perspectives emphasize the effect of health and disease on children and families.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 513.
Foundations of Medical Science II- Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine II.
(1)
This course continues with the principles of pediatric and adolescent health care. Emphasis is on the presentation, evaluation and treatment of the common neurologic, behavioral and psychiatric disorders seen in this age group.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 514.
Foundations of Medical Science III- Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine III.
(1)
This course continues with the principles of pediatric and adolescent health care. Emphasis is on the presentation, evaluation and treatment of the common cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal disorders seen in this age group.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 515.
Foundations of Medical Science I- Adult and Geriatric Medicine I.
(2)
This course begins with the major biological principles of adult and geriatric health care, including anatomy, normal physiology, pharmacology and pathophysiology. Behavioral and population perspectives are addressed.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 518.
Foundations of Medical Science II- Adult and Geriatric Medicine II.
(1)
This course continues with the principles of adult and geriatric health care. Emphasis is on the presentation, evaluation and treatment of common neurologic and psychiatric seen in this age group.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 519.
Foundations of Medical Science III- Adult and Geriatric Medicine III.
(1)
This course continues with the principles of adult and geriatric health care. Emphasis is on the presentation, evaluation and treatment of common cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal disorders seen in this age group.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 520.
Foundations of Medical Science I- Pharmacology I.
(2)
This course provides a basic foundation in pharmacology through selected prototype drugs and a more thorough understanding of pharmacotherapeutics. The emphasis will be on clinical application of prototype drugs, their therapeutic effects and toxicities.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 523.
Foundations of Medical Science II- Pharmacology II.
(1)
This course continues to provide a foundation in pharmacology through selected prototype drugs and a more thorough understanding of the pharmacotherapeutics of neurology and psychiatry.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 524.
Foundations of Medical Science III- Pharmacology III.
(1)
This course continues to provide a foundation in pharmacology through selected prototype drugs and a more thorough understanding of pharmacotherapeutics of cardiovascular, pulmonary and renal medicine.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 525.
Foundations of Medical Science IV- Emergency Medicine.
(3 [2])
This course is designed to prepare students to evaluate and treat common patient problems seen in emergency departments.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 527.
Foundations of Medical Science IV- Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine IV.
(1)
This course continues with the principles of pediatric and adolescent health care. Emphasis is on the presentation, evaluation and treatment of the common nutritional, metabolic, gastrointestinal, endocrine and reproductive system disorders seen in this age group.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 529.
Foundations of Medical Science IV- Adult and Geriatric Medicine IV.
(1)
This course continues with the principles of adult and geriatric health care. The emphasis is on the presentation, evaluation and treatment of the common nutritional, metabolic, gastrointestinal, endocrine and reproductive system disorders.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 530.
Foundations of Medical Science I- Clinical Skills I.
(2)
This course begins with an introduction to basic exam skills and a focus on orthopedic skills and continues as a shared course with the M.D. program’s Foundations of Clinical Practice.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 531.
Foundations of Medical Science II- Clinical Skills II.
(1)
This course serves as a platform for the demonstration of skills learned in Clinical Skills I. It includes competency exams in Neurosciences and Cardiovascular/Pulmonary/Renal Medicine and a 1/2 day/week clinical experience.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 532.
Foundations of Medical Science III- Clinical Skills III.
(1)
This course continues with the demonstration of skills learned in Clinical Skills I and II. It includes competency exams in GI/Nutrition/Metabolism and Endocrinology/Human Sexuality and Reproduction, and a 1/2 day/week clinical experience.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 533.
Foundations of Medical Science IV- Pharmacology IV.
(1)
This course focuses on selected prototype drugs and an emphasis on the drug class, the generic names of drugs, organ system effects, including drug metabolism, elimination and drug-drug interactions.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 535.
Clinical Seminar I.
(1)
This course introduces the student to the physician assistant profession including the history of the profession and current trends, the PA-MD-patient relationship, scope of practice, and an overview of the professional and political PA organizations.
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 536.
Clinical Seminar II.
(1)
This course focuses on issues relevant to the practice of medicine: special patients, critical thinking, electronic medical record, case presentations, delivery of health care to rural/underserved patient populations and substance abuse.
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 537.
Clinical Seminar III.
(1)
This course focuses on two broad areas of interest: 1) transition to medical practice from student to licensed PA and 2) health policy and legal issues relevant to PA practice.
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 540.
Introduction to Clinical Medicine I- Dermatology.
(2)
This course focuses on the major biological principles of dermatology including anatomy, normal physiology, pharmacology and pathophysiology.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 541.
Introduction to Clinical Medicine I- Orthopedics.
(2)
This course focuses on the major biological principles of the musculoskeletal system including anatomy, normal physiology, pharmacology and pathophysiology.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 542.
Musculoskeletal Connective Tissue (MSCT) [Introduction to Clinical Medicine I- Human Structure, Function and Development].
(4)
This course focuses on human anatomy, histology and embryology.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 545.
Introduction to Clinical Medicine II- Neurosciences.
(4)
This course provides a foundation in the basic medical and clinical science of the nervous system. Focus is on neurology, psychiatry, and behavioral medicine.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 547.
Introduction to Clinical Medicine II- CV-Pulmonary-Renal.
(4)
This course provides a foundation in the basic medical and clinical science of the cardiovascular, pulmonary, and renal systems, including the pathophysiology associated with common disorders of these organ systems.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 548.
Introduction to Clinical Medicine III Mechanisms of Disease - Infectious Disease.
(4 [3])
This course provides a basic overview of the medical and clinical science of human infectious diseases, including viral, bacterial, parasitic and protozoic conditions.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 549.
Introduction to Clinical Medicine III Human Sexuality and Reproduction.
(2)
This course provides a basic overview of human sexuality and reproduction. The course includes a focus on the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of common male and female reproductive disorders, contraceptive technology and normal/abnormal pregnancy.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 550.
GI-Nutrition-Metabolism-Endocrinology (GINME) [Introduction to Clinical Medicine III- GI-Nutrition-Metabolism].
(4)
This course provides a foundation in the basic medical and clinical science of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, including the pathophysiology associated with common disorders of this organ system.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 560.
Supervised Clinical Practice Experience Family Medicine.
(3)
This supervised clerkship is a first-year field experience and covers the health care needs of patients across the life span. The course surveys major aspects of primary health care.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 561.
Supervised Clinical Practice Experience Women's Health and Prenatal Care.
(3)
This supervised clerkship focuses on the management of women’s health care in a family practice setting. Clerkship activities include evaluation and management of common gynecological conditions/disorders and routine prenatal care.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 562.
Supervised Clinical Practice Experience Pediatrics.
(3)
This supervised family practice-pediatric clerkship focuses on the development of skills in the health care of pediatric and adolescent patients.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 563.
Supervised Clinical Practice Experience Behavioral Medicine - Psychiatry.
(3)
This supervised clerkship focuses on the healthcare of patients with behavioral health problems commonly seen in the primary care setting. Field experience may be in the office setting as well as clinic/in-patient settings.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 564.
Supervised Clinical Practice Experience Emergency Medicine.
(3)
This supervised clerkship focuses on the triage, evaluation and management of patients in the emergency setting.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 565.
Supervised Clinical Practice Experience General Internal Medicine.
(3)
This supervised clerkship focuses on the care of the adult patient in both the outpatient and inpatient setting. It is the foundation for subspecialty (elective) courses such as cardiology, endocrinology, etc.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 566.
Supervised Clinical Practice Experience Elective.
(1)
This supervised clerkship provides an opportunity for the student to choose a clinical field experience in an area of personal interest.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 568.
Supervised Clinical Practice Experience General Surgery.
(3)
This supervised clerkship focuses on the care of the surgical patient. Activities include experience in the operating room as well as pre- and post-operative care and assessment of the patient in the office setting.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 570.
Foundations of Medical Science.
(4)
This course provides an overview of broad mechanistic concepts providing a conceptual structure for approaching disorders of the organ systems related to genetics, neoplasia, and autoimmune diseases.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 575.
Supervised Clinical Practice Experience Primary Care.
(5)
This supervised clerkship incorporates elements of patient care gained from the Family Practice and specialty clerkships. The student will learn to function at a higher level in the clinical management of the patient.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 600.
Program to Practice.
(2)
This course prepares the student for clinical practice. Topics range from medical coding to state medical practice laws. It also includes the final graduate-level capstone projects and oral/written summative evaluations.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 610.
Independent Study.
(1-14, may be repeated once Δ)
This course is designed to develop specialized skills, which may include: research, development of a particular interest and development of an overseas or cultural clerkship.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies and permission of instructor.
