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Physician Assistant Program - Success in Meeting Program Goals

PA Program Landing Hero with Page Title

Students in the Physician Assistant Program at Penn State College of Medicine take part in the White Coat Ceremony in 2016, during which the students receive their white coats signifying the start of their training. Three female students are seen in the foreground, reading from the event program, with a male and female student visible in the background.

Physician Assistant (PA) Program

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PA Program Goal Details 1

Physician Assistant Program: Success at Meeting Program Goals

Goal 1: To enroll an academically qualified, diverse student body, with special consideration for those underrepresented in medicine, first generation in college, veterans and active duty Service Members, educationally disadvantaged, or economically disadvantaged.

To determine our effectiveness in meeting this goal, each year we review the percentage of students who met one of the above identified criteria. Below is the results for each year by category.

PA Program Student-Reported Disadvantages DataTable

Table 1: Number and percent of matriculating students who self-report underrepresented in medicine, first generation in college, veterans and active duty Service Members, educationally disadvantaged, or economically disadvantaged.

PA Program Goal 2 Details Opening

Goal 2: To promote the development of critical thinking skills.

To determine our effectiveness in meeting this goal, we utilize the following data sources:

  • Number of courses that utilize Team Based Learning (TBL), a critical thinking pedagogy, throughout the PA curriculum
  • Preceptor ratings of student’s critical thinking skills during clinical rotations
  • Performance on the PACKRAT in the area of diagnosis
  • Performance on the PANCE in the task area of “Formulating Most Likely Diagnosis”

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PA Program Goal 2 Table 1 TBL Courses

Table 1: Number of courses that utilize TBL

PA Program Goal 3 Details

Goal 3: To enable graduates to practice competent health care with an emphasis in primary care and/or work in federally designated underserved communities.

To determine our effectiveness in meeting this goal, each year we determine the percentage of PSCOM PA graduates who practice in at least one of the following: primary care and/or in a federally designated underserved community.

PA Program Goal 3 Table 1 Datatable

Table 1: PSCOM PA Graduates Practicing in Primary Care or Federally Designated Underserved Communities

MUA= Medically underserved area; HPSA= Health professional shortage area

PA Program Goal 4 Details

Goal 4: To prepare students for their role as professional clinicians.

To determine our effectiveness in meeting this goal, we utilize the following data sources:

  • Preceptor ratings of student's clinical performance
  • Students ratings on the Student Exit Survey

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PA Program Goal 4 Table 1 Datatable

Table 1: Preceptor ratings of student’s clinical performance

Ratings: 1=Unsatisfactory; 2=Marginal; 3=Competent; 4=Commendable; 5=Distinguished

€ Data not collected