Physician Assistants (PAs) are nationally-certified and state-licensed medical professionals who practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians and other providers. After graduating from an accredited physician assistant educational program, physician assistants are certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). 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 502.
PA 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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 510.
PA Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine I.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 512.
PA Human Anatomy.
(4)
This course will provide an overview of basic anatomical concepts, and normal human anatomy and embryology as it relates to clinical practice.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 513.
PA Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine II.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 514.
PA Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine III.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 515.
PA Adult and Geriatric Medicine I.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 516.
PA Hematology.
(2)
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. This course provides a study of the fundamental science of the human immunologic system.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 517.
PA Microbiology and Immunology.
(2)
This course will begin with a broad overview of the human immune system and the cellular and humoral immune response to infectious disease, hypersensitivity, and autoimmune diseases. In addition, this course will explore the fundamentals of infectious diseases including the microbiology of medically relevant bacterial, viral, fungal, mycobacterial, and parasitic organisms. The emphasis of this course is on the approach to prevent, identify, and treat immunologic and infectious disorders commonly seen by physician assistants.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 518.
PA Adult and Geriatric Medicine II .
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 519.
PA Adult and Geriatric Medicine III.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 520.
PA Pharmacology I.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 521.
PA Emergency Medicine I.
(1-3, not repeatable)
This course is the first in a series of 4 Emergency Medicine courses focused on care in the emergency department and urgent care centers.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 522.
PA Emergency Medicine II.
(1-3, not repeatable)
This course is the second in a series of 4 Emergency Medicine courses focused on care in the emergency department and urgent care centers.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 523.
PA Pharmacology II.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 524.
PA Pharmacology III .
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 526.
PA Emergency Medicine III.
(1-3, not repeatable)
This course is the third in a series of 4 Emergency Medicine courses focused on care in the emergency department and urgent care centers.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 527.
PA Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine IV.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 529.
PA Adult and Geriatric Medicine IV.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 530.
PA Clinical Skills I.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 531.
PA Clinical Skills II.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 532.
PA Clinical Skills III.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 533.
PA Pharmacology IV.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 534.
PA Clinical Skills IV.
(1-3, not repeatable)
Clinical Skills IV is designed for the second-year graduate PA student to refine their focused history skills, physical exam performances, clinical reasoning skills and oral presentations in preparation for clinical year clerkships and Final Summative Exam. It is part of a four-part course entitled Clinical Skills.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 535.
PA Clinical Seminar.
(3)
Introduces students to the Physician Assistant profession and population health as it relates to epidemiology, health promotion and disease prevention, health policy, intervention, models for change, and rural health in New Mexico.
Offered on a CR/NC basis only.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 540.
PA Dermatology.
(2)
This course focuses on the major biological principles of dermatology including anatomy, normal physiology, pharmacology and pathophysiology.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 541.
PA 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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 542.
Musculoskeletal Connective Tissue (MSCT).
(4)
This course focuses on human anatomy, histology and embryology.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 545.
PA 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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 547.
PA 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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 548.
PA Infectious Disease.
(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. 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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 550.
PA GI, Nutrition, Metabolism (GINM).
(3)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 552.
PA Sexuality, Reproduction and Endocrine.
(3)
This course provides a foundation in the basic medical and clinical science of the human human sexuality, the human reproductive system and human endocrine system including the pathophysiology associated with common disorders of these organ systems.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 560.
PA Clerkship Family Medicine.
(3)
This supervised clerkship is a first-year field experience and covers the health care needs of patients across the lifespan. The course surveys major aspects of primary health care.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 561.
PA Clerkship Women's Health & 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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 562.
PA Clerkship 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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 563.
PA Clerkship 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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 564.
PA Clerkship Emergency Medicine.
(3)
This supervised clerkship focuses on the triage, evaluation and management of patients in the emergency setting.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 565.
PA Clerkship 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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 566.
PA Clerkship Elective.
(3, may be repeated one time Δ)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 568.
PA Clerkship 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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 570.
PA Foundations of Medical Science.
(3)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 575.
PA Clerkship Primary Care.
(3, may be repeated one time Δ)
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. Physician Assistant Studies.
PAST 600.
PA Program to Practice.
(1-3, not repeatable)
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. 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. Physician Assistant Studies and permission of instructor.
PAST 611.
Topics.
(1-6, may be repeated fourteen times Δ)
To be used for elective or innovative content in the program.
Restriction: admitted to M.S. Physician Assistant Studies.
