Physician Assistant Studies
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Graduate with the education to treat patients and enable them to meet the life-long challenges inherent in the practice of medicine.
The 猫咪头条 University Department of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies is grounded in the University鈥檚 mission to prepare graduates for leadership and service in both their professional careers and personal lives. Rooted in a supportive and diverse Christian community, the PA Studies Program embraces rigorous and innovative education combined with meaningful experiential learning to shape compassionate, competent, and service-oriented healthcare professionals. Our program seeks to develop physician assistants who are not only skilled clinicians, but also ethical leaders and advocates committed to making a positive and lasting impact on the lives of others.
Guided by a mission to develop knowledgeable and caring physician assistants, the PA Studies Program emphasizes competent, patient-centered primary care with a particular focus on medically underserved populations. This commitment reflects both the University鈥檚 dedication to service and the profession鈥檚 responsibility to address healthcare disparities. Through thoughtful instruction, clinical immersion, and role modeling, students are prepared to meet the evolving needs of patients and communities with professionalism, empathy, and clinical excellence.
The values of the PA Studies Program align closely with 猫咪头条 University鈥檚 Christian foundation, emphasizing respect, integrity, ethical behavior, and faith-informed service. These values are woven throughout the curriculum and foster an environment where students grow academically, professionally, and personally. Faculty are dedicated to mentoring students in a manner that models compassion, accountability, and lifelong learning.
Through intentional recruitment and admission of highly qualified applicants, delivery of a diverse and comprehensive curriculum, engagement in service to underserved populations, and a commitment to achieving PANCE pass rates at or above the national average, the Department of PA Studies strives to prepare graduates for successful entry-level clinical practice. In doing so, the program fulfills its mission to educate PAs who are prepared to lead, serve, and transform healthcare in their communities and beyond.
ARC Standard A3.11dOur students begin the program in January and spend 16 months in the didactic phase (classroom, small groups, and lab) followed by 12 months in the clinical phase (supervised clinical practice experiences or SCPEs). Our didactic curriculum uses an in-person traditional classroom setting augmented with problem- and team-based learning modules and hands-on skills training.
The Didactic phase is followed by nine SCPEs, including family medicine, internal medicine, pediatric medicine, women鈥檚 medicine, emergency medicine, surgical medicine, behavioral medicine, one rotation for evidence-based medicine and service in underserved medicine, and one elective. SCPEs are conducted primarily in person, with possible telemedicine experiences in which preceptors are present during the visit, except for the behavioral medicine rotation, which may be primarily via telemedicine.
The final spring semester before graduation, students must complete a capstone course which is a taught synchronously online. Lastly, students must complete and pass an in-person summative evaluation course as a graduation requirement.
For a more in-depth look at the program curriculum, visit our .
The PA profession defines the specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes required and provides educational experiences as needed in order for physician assistants to acquire and demonstrate these competencies. The National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants endorses the following Profession Based PA competencies.
To learn more about the Department of PA Studies, including our mission, values, goals, accreditation status, and more, we invite you to explore the detailed program pages that follow. These sections provide a closer look at how our mission, values, and goals are brought to life throughout the PA educational journey.
The class sizes for our PA program are smaller, and our admissions process is more selective. Learn what it takes to be selected.
The standard graduate tuition does not apply to students who matriculate into the GWU Department of Physician Assistant Studies.
