Cohort Begins Fall | Credits 125 | 27 months | In-person, full time
PA Medicine History
Palm Beach Atlantic University and PA Medicine Education
To better address the healthcare needs of underserved communities in Palm Beach County, Palm Beach Atlantic University has strategically developed undergraduate medical programs. These programs are meticulously designed to equip students with the foundational knowledge and skills to excel in advanced medical studies. In its commitment to enhancing local healthcare services, PBA is broadening its educational offerings by introducing graduate degrees in nursing and pharmacy and the newly added Physician Associate Medicine. This expansion increases PBA’s capacity to contribute to the medical field and offers students a broader spectrum of opportunities to serve diverse healthcare needs.
Admission into these programs is competitive, with a prerequisite for candidates to possess substantial healthcare experience. This requirement ensures that students are well-prepared for PA education’s demanding and immersive nature, which is known for its intensive focus and rapid pace.
Palm Beach Atlantic takes great pride in this initiative and extends its gratitude to the visionary leaders who have been instrumental in its inception. Phil Tobin, Kara Valentine, Martin Clinard, and Shawn McPartland are esteemed pioneers whose contributions lay the groundwork for a lasting legacy in Physician Associate education at PBA. Their contributions promise a future where the university plays a pivotal role in shaping compassionate and skilled healthcare professionals.
The PA Medicine Role in Healthcare
Today, Physician Assistants (PAs) are at the forefront of the medical field, practicing across all areas of medicine and spearheading initiatives in community health centers. They are pivotal in shaping healthcare policy, driving transformation through innovative practices and research, and leading academic discourse in medical education. In recognition of this evolving landscape, Palm Beach Atlantic University, in 2021, fortified its esteemed legacy of cultivating medical professionals by launching the Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate Medicine program within the School of Health Professions. This program is designed to empower the next generation of healthcare leaders with the knowledge, skills, and vision to continue advancing the field of medicine.
A Unique Educational Experience
The innovative structure of the 27-month curriculum, combined with a wealth of clinical experiences, interdisciplinary collaboration with peers from other health disciplines, and full access to the resources at Palm Beach Atlantic University, culminates in a genuinely unparalleled educational journey. The PBA School of Health Professions is delighted to present its Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate Medicine, welcoming aspiring students from across the United States who are keen to make a significant contribution to the future of healthcare. Each year, the program aims to foster a diverse cohort of 56 students, with the initial phases accommodating 42 and 48 students, laying the foundation for a robust and dynamic learning environment.
Mission
The Mission of PBA PA Medicine is to develop PAs whom patients seek because of their compassion, spirituality, knowledge, and servant leadership.
PA Program Goals
For our graduates to obtain this mission, we look to:
Program Goal #1
Provide academic content and diverse clinical experiences equipping graduates with the ability to provide competent medical care, strengthening the services of the medical profession through life-long learning.
Program Effectiveness Data for Goal #1 (A3.12b)
- Preceptor evaluations from clinical rotations (Benchmark: meet or exceed cohort clinical mean preceptor evaluation grade of 70% or higher in each clinical rotation, overall evaluation)
- Alumni survey (Benchmark: aggregate meet or exceed 3.5 on Likert scale, data pertaining to program preparation to provide competent care)
- Graduate capstone project (Benchmark: cohort mean grade of 70% or higher)
- Progression to an entrustable level of competence (level 3) by graduation
- Graduates indicate they have the skills required to gather evidence to make effective clinical decisions as evidenced by exit survey scores above program benchmarks (>3.50)
- Community Medicine and International Rotations
This will be determined once the program receives results.
Program Goal #2
Transform patient-centered medical care through a team-based approach by collaborating with other members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
Program Effectiveness Data for Goal #2 (A3.12b)
- Interprofessional Education activity (Benchmark: cohort mean grade of 70% or higher)
- Patient log demonstrating interprofessional collaboration (Benchmark: cohort mean of 5 cases per clinical year)
- Graduate exit survey (Benchmark: cohort meet or exceed 3.5 on Likert scale, data pertaining to program preparation to provide collaborative medical care)
- Graduates indicate they feel prepared to work collaboratively in interprofessional environments as evidenced by exit survey scores above program benchmark (> 3)
- Students on rotations will interact with other professionals.
This will be determined once the program receives results.
Program Goal #3
Use their education and training to make significant contributions to the health of the community with the highest ethical standards.
Program Effectiveness Data for Goal #3 (A3.12b)
Successful completion of Community Health clinical rotation (Benchmark: meet or exceed cohort clinical mean preceptor evaluation grade of 70% or higher)
- Graduates indicate they feel prepared to work in a wide variety of clinical settings, as evidenced by exit survey scores above the program benchmark (>3)
- Some integrated master’s projects will focus on community impact.
This will be determined once the program receives results.
Program Goal #4
Improve access to medical services by providing whole patient care with compassion and excellence to those living in diverse populations or underserved communities.
Program Effectiveness Data for Goal #4 (A3.12b)
Preceptor evaluations from clinical rotations (Benchmark: meet or exceed cohort clinical mean preceptor evaluation grade of 70% or higher in each clinical rotation, data pertaining to providing compassionate patient care)
- Graduates score at or above program benchmarks for compassion across clinical disciplines and settings (competency level 3)
- Graduates indicate they feel prepared to care for patients from varied backgrounds, as evidenced by exit survey scores above the program benchmark (>3)
This will be determined once the program receives results.
Program Goal #5
Attract and support qualified students and faculty/staff from diverse backgrounds that will represent the diversity of our community and who can accomplish our program mission.
Program Effectiveness Data for Goal #5 (A3.12b)
- 10% per student cohort and 10% of faculty/staff in the designated diversity criteria
Diversity criteria include ethnic background, military experience, and economic/educational disadvantage.
- Show marketing efforts to recruit a diverse population.
- Supportive resources available to students and faculty/staff
Program’s Director of Outreach (Benchmark: 2 recruitment activities per year)
Institution’s Council of Intercultural Engagement (Benchmark: 1 faculty/staff as member of council)
This will be determined once the program receives results.
Program Competencies (A3.12g)
The following are the Palm Beach Atlantic University School of Health Professions Master of Medical Science in PA Studies program’s competencies. These competencies were developed based on the framework of the program’s mission and goals along with awareness of the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA)’s Core Competencies for New PA Graduates and the Physician Assistant Competencies which were written collaboratively by the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), and The National Commission on Certification of the Physician Assistant (NCCPA), and the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
The Palm Beach Atlantic’s School of Health Professions Master of Medical Science in PA Studies uses achievement of the following competencies as a guide for curriculum development and evaluation of the success of the program and its graduates. Upon completion of the Palm Beach Atlantic’s School of Health Professions Master of Medical Science in PA Studies, graduates are expected to achieve the following competencies:
ENTRUSTABLE PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES/ PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOME COMPETENCIES
PAs must demonstrate core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care in their area of practice. In addition, PAs are expected to demonstrate an investigatory and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations.
Outcome expectations for this competency include:
EPA 1: Develop rapport and atmosphere of inclusivity with patients from diverse backgrounds through communication, interpersonal skills, and development of cultural competency.
EPA 2: Elicit accurate patient information through preventative screening, problem-based health history taking, and physical examination across the lifespan.
EPA 3: Recognize and evaluate a patient requiring urgent or emergent care.
EPA 4: Synthesize a problem list from patient data collected to diagnose and identify health-related concerns.
EPA 5: Recommend appropriate diagnostic test and interpret results.
EPA 6: Perform required general clinical and technical skills of a new PA.
EPA 7: Develop and implement patient management plans.
EPA 8: Recognize at-risk health behaviors, invite discussion, and counsel a patient regarding preventative health initiatives.
EPA 9: Develop professionalism and effective leadership with interprofessional health care team members.
EPA 10: Document a clinical encounter in the patient record with application of basic billing and coding
EPA 11: Collaborate and refer to other members of an interprofessional team.
EPA 12: Promote a culture of safety and identify any system failures contributing to health care disparities.
EPA 13: Formulate a clinical question and retrieve applicable scientific evidence to advance patient care.
Accreditation (A3.12a, D1.02c)
Anticipating ARC-PA approval, PBA will begin interviewing for the inaugural class in the fall of 2023 and matriculate the first class on October 1, 2024.
Palm Beach Atlantic University PA program has applied for Accreditation-Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). PBA PA program anticipates matriculating its first class in October 2024, pending achieving Accreditation-Provisional status at the June 2024 ARC-PA meeting. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
Note: In the event accreditation is not obtained, all deposits will be refunded to cohort members.