The EMU PA program is a 24-month, full-time, year-round graduate professional program leading to a master's of science in physician assistant studies. The EMU PA faculty and staff, with input from the PA Advisory Board, developed and continues to review/assess the following mission, vision and goals to serve as the basis for the program.
Mission
The Eastern Michigan University physician assistant program mission is to identify, train and support a diverse population of graduate students to become highly respected ambassadors of the profession and extraordinary health care providers with a strong foundation in primary care medicine and interdisciplinary practice.
Vision
Our physician assistant program is dedicated to teaching students the science and art of medicine. Our clinically-focused curriculum will promote critical thinking and patient-centered problem solving. We are committed to producing graduates who will master the skills required to competently and compassionately practice preventive and diagnostic medicine, and foster the interpersonal and collaborative attributes necessary to become exemplary medical providers.
Goals
The EMU PA program has set forth goals aligning with the program mission and vision, along with those of our school, college and university. The goals and the methods used to evaluate our ability to meet them, are as follows:
Faculty Clinical Practice
Program faculty provide a wealth of relevant clinical practice experience across a variety of clinical specialty areas.
Measured by the majority of PA faculty continuing clinical practice with multiple different specialties being represented
Currently, program faculty practice clinically in general medicine and emergency medicine.
Medical Knowledge and Application
Program graduates demonstrate high levels of medical knowledge and effectively apply that knowledge to patient care.
Measured by first-time NCCPA PANCE pass rate and Clinical Preceptorship Student Evaluation
First-time PANCE pass rate of our first five cohorts is 98%.
During the final clinical preceptorship, the majority of our students were rated by their preceptors as "excellent" in the area of medical knowledge and its application. Additionally, the majority were also rated as "excellent" in their ability to use critical thinking to solve problems.
Diversity in Clinical Practice
Program graduates demonstrate diversity in practice and discipline.
Measured by graduates practicing in many different settings and specialties
Our graduates are currently practicing in a wide variety of fields: cardiac surgery, critical care medicine, dermatology, emergency medicine, endocrinology and infertility, family medicine, internal medicine, gynecologic oncology, intensive care, interventional radiology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, otolaryngology, pain management, physical medicine and rehabilitation, rheumatology, trauma surgery and urgent care.
Healthcare Delivery in Michigan
Program graduates provide healthcare to patients in Michigan.
Measured by the majority of PA Program graduates clinically practicing in our state
The majority of our graduates to date are practicing in the state of Michigan.
Mastery of the EMU PA program defined competencies is required for students to graduate from the program and be prepared for entry-level practice. They are:
Elicit a patient-centered and focused and comprehensive patient history while recognizing cultural issues and social determinants.
Perform a technically correct focused and complete physical examination recognizing normal and abnormal findings.
Order and interpret diagnostic labs and tests for both acute and chronic medical conditions of a patient.
Perform selected procedures common for a practicing PA and educate patients regarding procedure, side effects, follow-up care, and informed consent.
Apply critical thinking and medical decision making to all aspects of patient care.
Generate a comprehensive list of differential diagnoses (Including most common, most likely, most concerning disease or condition).
Formulate an accurate treatment plan, including pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic treatments.
Practice evidence-based medicine and incorporate current clinical guidelines.
Foster professionalism in all aspects of clinical practice and appropriately obtain patient consent.
Effectively present an oral case to a supervising physician and other healthcare providers.
Accurately document patient encounters in a clear and concise manner.
Communicate effectively with patients, families and other health care providers.
Foster preventive care including age-appropriate screening, immunization recommendations, patient education, behavioral modifications.
Utilize medical knowledge of acute and chronic conditions including etiology, anatomy, pathophysiology, incidence, risk factors, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment strategies to effectively manage a patient across the life span.
Possess a thorough understanding of medical ethics and the legal aspects of health care.
Practice interprofessional team care and embrace the value of a collaborative physician/PA relationship.
Perform patient education which considers cultural awareness, health literacy and other social determinants and encourages shared decision making in management.
Embrace the role of a physician assistant and recognize personal limitations while practicing.
Curriculum: 103 credit hours
To complete the PA Program and graduate, a student must satisfactorily complete each course outlined in the Program’s curriculum below, attain supervised clinical practice experience benchmarks and successfully complete the program Summative Evaluation. In addition, a student must be in good academic standing after completing the required curriculum, achieve all program competencies for preparation into clinical practice, and meet University guidelines.
Didactic Year: 61 hours
Fall Semester I: 21 hours PAS 610 Clinical Medicine for Physician Assistants I 6 hrs PAS 620 Patient Assessment for Physician Assistants I 3 hrs PAS 630 Pharmacotherapeutics for Physician Assistants I 3 hrs PAS 640 Pathophysiology for Physician Assistants I 3 hrs PAS 650 Advanced Human Anatomy with Cadaver Lab for Physician Assistants 4 hrs PAS 672 Introduction to Clinical Year, I 1 hr PAS 683 Simulation for Physician Assistants I 1 hr
Winter Semester I: 20 hours PAS 611 Clinical Medicine for Physician Assistants II 6 hrs PAS 621 Patient Assessment for Physician Assistants II 3 hrs PAS 631 Pharmacotherapeutics for Physician Assistants II 3 hrs PAS 641 Pathophysiology for Physician Assistants II 3 hrs PAS 670 Ethics and Research Methods for Physician Assistants 3 hrs PAS 673 Introduction to Clinical Year, II 1 hr PAS 684 Simulation for Physician Assistants II 1 hr
Summer Semester I: 20 hours PAS 612 Clinical Medicine for Physician Assistants III 6 hrs PAS 622 Physician Assistant Practicum 3 hrs PAS 632 Pharmacotherapeutics for Physician Assistants III 3 hrs PAS 642 Pathophysiology for Physician Assistants III 3 hrs PAS 660 Patient Assessment for Physician Assistants III 3 hrs PAS 674 Introduction to Clinical Year, III 1 hr PAS 685 Simulation for Physician Assistants III 1 hr
Clinical Year: 42 hours
Fall Semester II: 16 hours Select four clinical rotation courses from the list below 16 hrs
Winter Semester II: 16 hours Select four clinical rotation courses from the list below 16 hrs
Summer Semester II: 10 hours PAS 720 Clinical Preceptorship 6 hrs Select one clinical rotation courses from the list below 4 hrs
Clinical Rotation Courses PAS 710a Pediatric Medicine Clinical Rotation 4 hrs PAS 710b Psychiatric Medicine Clinical Rotation 4 hrs PAS 710c General Surgery Clinical Rotation 4 hrs PAS 710d Obstetrics and Gynecological Medicine Clinical Rotation 4 hrs PAS 710e Emergency Medicine Clinical Rotation 4 hrs PAS 710f Family Medicine Clinical Rotation 4 hrs PAS 710g Internal Medicine Clinical Rotation 4 hrs PAS 710h Elective Clinical Rotation I 4 hrs PAS 710i Elective Clinical Rotation II 4 hrs
Thinking about applying to the EMU PA program?
One of our recent graduates shares her experience from pre-application through the first year of the program.
Student Performance
Below are data from EMU PA students' Physician Assistant National Certifying Exams (PANCE) and attrition.
Certification and PANCE
To become a certified physician assistant (PA-C), one must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE), a computer-based, multiple-choice test comprising questions that assess basic medical and surgical knowledge. The PANCE is provided by theNational Commission on Certification of Physician Assistantsand is the only certifying organization for PAs in the United States.
To be eligible for the PANCE, one must graduate from a program accredited by theAccreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant. PA program graduates will be deemed to have graduated from an accredited program if their PA educational program was accredited at the time of their matriculation.
The Eastern Michigan University PA Program's five year first time taker PANCE pass rate is 96%.