Physician Assistant (PAS)

This four-credit course is the first part of three sequenced courses, which introduce physician assistant students to the study of medicine and disease processes. Emphasis has been placed on the integration of the essential anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, microbiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to medical problems encountered in the primary care setting. In PAS 501, the major content areas include hematology/oncology, dermatology, otolaryngology, ophthalmology pulmonology, gastroenterology and introduction to cardiology.

This online course will cover the normal functioning of human tissue and organs as well as their integration into specific biological systems.

This is the first in a three-semester sequenced online course focusing on the medical interview and physical examination techniques to foster development of adequate diagnostic skills. Students will be involved in direct patient encounters throughout the semester. Emphasis is placed on history taking, physical exam skills, note writing and oral presentation skills.

This course will study the diverse cultural, ethical, and psychosocial issues that affect the evolving clinician- patient relationship. We will examine the powerful influence of the patient's mind and his or her social context on the development and management of disease. Effective clinician-patient interactions are essential to delivering quality care. We will examine culture, family, stress, disabilities, and diversity and how these factors influence patient care. We will discuss strategies for delivering bad news, discuss death, dying, and bereavement, and examine the roles of both palliative care and hospice care in our health system. To this end, we will utilize role-playing, discussion boards, and small group interactions.

This one semester, two-credit course critically examines the professional aspects of physician assistant practice and the role of the physician assistant as a member of the health care team. This course will also concentrate on ethical decision making strategies and ethical principles as they pertain to the physician assistant.

This course will provide the students with a thorough understanding of the gross anatomy of the human body. Developmental and clinical considerations will be included. This course will include lecture and laboratory.

This course is a continuation of the PAS 512 course and will provide students with a thorough understanding of the gross anatomy of the human body. Developmental and clinical considerations will be included. This course will include lecture and laboratory prosection.

This course is designed to teach physician assistant students how to obtain, process, refine and prioritize the growing body of information relevant to the practice of medicine. Evidence-based medicine is a philosophy and a technique which will enhance the understanding of the science of medicine, provide a tool for determining the best evidence to apply to questions of patient care, and foster the attitude of life-long learning. This course is web- based.

This course is designed to teach the physician assistant student health promotion topics. This course will review the practice frameworks for health promotion including US Preventive Service Taskforce (USPSTF) recommendations and Healthy People 2020 leading health indicators. This course has two major themes. The first is that providing good preventive care is essential to the health of your patients and to the delivery of cost effective healthcare. The second is that in your role as a clinician in your community and as a public health advocate. One of your most important responsibilities is to communicate effectively with your patients.

Pathophysiology is the study of disease and disease processes as a scientific basis for understanding health and disease in the study of clinical medicine. This online course is designed to provide the basic pathophysiologic understanding of diseases and the resulting clinical manifestations, while placing less emphasis on diagnosis and treatment issues. This course provides the necessary linkage between the basic sciences and the clinical presentation of disease states. This is a two semester course.

Pathophysiology is the study of disease and disease processes as a scientific basis for understanding health and disease in the study of clinical medicine. It is designed to provide the basic pathophysiologic understanding of diseases and the resulting clinical manifestations, while placing less emphasis on diagnosis and treatment issues. This online course provides the necessary linkage between the basic sciences and the clinical presentation of disease states.

This is the first part of a three semester sequenced course focusing on the study of disease. Emphasis is on the integration of essential anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, microbiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to medical problems encountered in the primary care setting. Through lecture and case-based format, the student will acquire the skills to formulate diagnoses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, compose management plans, implement treatment and provide appropriate patient education.

This is the second of a 3-semester sequenced course focusing on the study of disease. Emphasis is on the integration of essential anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, microbiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to medical problems encountered in the primary care setting. Through lecture and case-based format, the student will acquire the skills to formulate diagnoses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, compose management plans, implement treatment and provide appropriate patient education.

This is the third of a 3-semester sequenced online course focusing on the study of disease. Emphasis is on the integration of essential anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, microbiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to medical problems encountered in the primary care setting. Through lecture and case-based format, the student will acquire the skills to formulate diagnoses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, compose management plans, implement treatment and provide appropriate patient education.

This course is the first part of a sequenced two-semester course designed to provide the student with an understanding of the use of the diagnostic studies as an aid to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease. The course focuses on basic diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests and procedures used to investigate clinical problems encountered in the hospital and outpatient settings.

This course is the second part of a sequenced two-semester course designed to provide the student with an understanding of the use of the diagnostic studies as an aid to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease. The course focuses on basic diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests and procedures used to investigate clinical problems encountered in the hospital and outpatient settings.

This is the second in a three-semester sequenced course focusing on the medical interview and physical examination techniques to foster development of adequate diagnostic skills. Students will be involved in direct patient encounters throughout the semester. Emphasis is placed on history taking, physical exam skills, note writing and oral presentation skills.

This is the third in a three-semester sequenced course focusing on the medical interview and physical examination techniques to foster development of adequate diagnostic skills. Students will be involved in direct patient encounters throughout the semester. Emphasis is placed on history taking, physical exam skills, note writing and oral presentation skills.

This is the first in a two semester sequenced course providing instruction in management of patients during the perioperative course as well as the indications, contraindications, equipment, technique and potential complications of surgical and technical procedures encountered in the practice of medicine and surgery. Emphasis is placed on common issues encountered in managing the care of surgical patients and on common procedures performed in the course of practicing medicine, as well as the theory and practice of these procedures.

This is the second in a two semester sequenced hybrid course providing instruction in management of patients during the perioperative course as well as the indications, contraindications, equipment, technique and potential complications of surgical and technical procedures encountered in the practice of medicine and surgery. Emphasis is placed on common issues encountered in managing the care of surgical patients and on common procedures performed in the course of practicing medicine, as well as the theory and practice of these procedures.

This course is designed to provide the future healthcare provider with knowledge and skills in medical writing. All students are required to develop a quality paper in American Medical Association (AMA) format style that meets the standards required for publication in a peer-reviewed professional journal. This is a non-thesis Master's degree. Although the Master project is not a thesis, it is expected that the final paper will be thoroughly researched and well written. The final project will include a clinical review article or a CME article. A clinical review article is an analysis and synthesis of existing knowledge on a given disease, health condition or professional topic.

This course provides an introduction to leadership in organizations and helps PAs apply these principles to his or her practice. A historical review of leadership theory and research will be accompanied by current developments in understanding leadership. Students will assess their own leadership styles, using various questionnaires, structured feedback and self-analysis assignments. The course develops leadership skills and planning for each student’s on-going development as a leader in healthcare.

This is the second part of a sequenced two-semester course, which introduces physician assistant students to the study of pharmacology. Emphasis is placed on the integration of clinical applications of various medications as well as basic principles and biochemical properties.

This supervised clinical course provides students an opportunity to participate in the care of patients with acute and chronic medical conditions in a hospital setting. This clerkship offers exposure to patients with various medical conditions and is designed to provide students supervised internal medicine clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations (outcomes) and acquire the competencies needed for entry-level clinical PA practice.

This supervised clinical course provides students an opportunity to participate in the care of a variety of pediatric patients with acute, chronic and preventative conditions. This clerkship offers exposure to patients with medical, child development and growth circumstances within the family unit and is designed to provide students supervised medical and clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations (outcomes) and acquire the competencies needed for entry-level clinical PA practice.

: This supervised clinical course in Women's Health provides the student with an opportunity to participate in the care of a variety of patients seeking gynecologic care for both acute and chronic complaints. The student will also be exposed to the assessment of the obstetric patient including prenatal and postpartum care. The student will also be exposed to the practice of preventive obstetrics and gynecology as well as common gynecologic disorders. The rotation is designed to provide students with supervised medical and clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations (outcomes) and acquire the competencies needed for entry-level clinical PA practice.

This supervised clinical course provides students an opportunity to participate in the care of a variety of patients with acute and chronic psychological disorders. This clerkship offers exposure to patients with mental health and behavioral medicine conditions and is designed to provide students supervised behavioral medicine clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations (outcomes) and acquire the competencies needed for entry-level clinical PA practice.

This supervised clinical course provides the student with an opportunity to participate in the care of a variety of patients with acute and chronic medical problems, as well as patients seeking preventive medical care, in the outpatient setting. This clerkship provides exposure to patients seeking medical care across the life span.The rotation is designed to provide students with supervised medical and clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations (outcomes) and acquire the competencies needed for entry-level clinical PA practice.

This supervised clinical course provides the student with an opportunity to participate in the care of a variety of patients with emergent and acute medical problems in the emergency department setting. This clerkship provides exposure to patients with medical and surgical emergencies as well as trauma. The rotation is designed to provide students with supervised medical and clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations (outcomes) and acquire the competencies needed for entry-level clinical PA practice.

This supervised clinical course provides the student with an opportunity to participate in the care of a variety of patients with emergent, acute and chronic medical problems in the inpatient and operating room setting. The student will work as a member of the surgical team treating patients seeking care for conditions requiring surgical management, including pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative care. The rotation is designed to provide the students with supervised medical and clinical practice experiences enabling them to meet program expectations (outcomes) and acquire the competencies needed for an entry level clinical PA practice.

This supervised clinical course, selected by the student, is available in a variety of clinical areas of medicine and surgical settings. Experiences can range from private practice to inpatient and from general areas to subspecialties, in both local and/or global settings.

This supervised clinical course, selected by the program, is available in a variety of clinical areas of medicine and surgical settings. Experiences can range from private practice to inpatient and from general areas to sub-specialties, in both local and/or global settings.

The elective clerkship will provide the student with opportunities to see a variety of patients with medical/surgical complaints or concerns specific to the elective area, under the direction of the site preceptor. The elective clerkship will utilize, reline, and build on the goals and objectives achieved in the junior didactic and clinical training. The student is expected to develop basic diagnostic and therapeutic skills related to preventive, chronic, acute and emergent problems.

This four unit capstone course is designed to enhance the physician assistant student’s clinical education by providing opportunities to use critical clinical thinking skills through case simulation in the Clinical Education Labs using Human Patient Simulators and Standardized Patients, problem- based learning and group discussion. This module will increase the student’s appreciation for the medical and behavioral management of their patients and improve their ability to apply their didactic education to a clinical setting. The focus will be on developing independent clinical reasoning skills with an emphasis on correlation of history taking, physical exam findings and pertinent laboratory results to formulate a diagnosis and initiate a plan.