Physician Assistant, M.M.S.

The 27‐month (nine semesters) (120‐semester hour) course of study is designed to educate and prepare the next generation of qualified students for entry into the physician assistant profession.

Accreditation

See program overview and accreditation statement at: https://www.umes.edu/PA/Content.aspx?id=2506

Mission

The Physician Assistant Department is a master degree granting educational program of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. As a component of the 1890 Land Grant University, it is committed to providing equal opportunity, especially to those of disadvantaged backgrounds. The program promotes health and wellness through the provision of quality primary care health education, in a diverse environment that values the discovery of knowledge, the development and dissemination, and practical application of that knowledge through community outreach and service. The department aims to prepare students through instruction, research and service with the professional and technical knowledge, skills and values to serve as compassionate health providers in local, state, national and global environments.

Objective of the Program

The Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MMS‐PAS) degree program constitutes the initial preparation for students desiring to become physician assistants. The national membership organization of physician assistants (American Academic of Physician Assistants ‐ AAPA) and the organization for physician assistant education (Physician Assistant Education Association ‐ PAEA) have endorsed the Master’s Degree as the degree for entry into the PA profession. The MMS‐PAS degree qualifies PA program graduates to take the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE). Successful completion of the PANCE confers the certification (indicated by the “C” in PA‐C) required for state licensure allowing the holder to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. The MMS‐PAS curriculum prepares graduates to practice as primary health care providers and effectively occupy leadership positions in health planning and policy, research, administration, and education.

The MMS‐PAS degree prepares future UMES PAs to:

• Actualize the vision and mission of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore and the Department of Physician Assistant.
• Be consistent with ARC‐PA accreditation standards.
• Provide a rigorous didactic education in the medical arts and sciences.
• Provide supervised clinical training which prepares students to meet the expectations of integrity, competency, and professionalism of their colleagues, patients and the community‐at‐large.
• Promote a greater understanding of the PA profession and PA education.
• Engage PA students, practicing PAs and PA educators in a broad range of health related community oriented activities, organizations, health care service providers, local citizens, and policy makers.

The Department will, in accordance with ARC‐PA Standards and UMES accreditation requirements, graduate individuals who are:

1. Trained to provide patient‐centered primary care.
2. Clinically competent as prescribed by the physician assistant profession through its certification process.
3. Able to practice in ways consistent with the ethics and principles of the physician assistant profession.
4. Able to provide patient centered care to individual patients, their families and the community‐at‐large in a professional manner.
5. Knowledgeable of health disparities and their root causes.
6. Advocates toward meeting the needs of underserved communities and populations.

The following Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession, serve as the foundation for the MMS‐PAS curriculum and assessment of student outcomes: The Position paper can be found at: https://www.aapa.org/threeColumnLanding.aspx?id=2173

1. Medical Knowledge
   Medical knowledge includes the synthesis of pathophysiology, patient presentation, differential diagnosis, patient management, surgical principles, health promotion, and disease prevention. Physician assistants 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, physician assistants are expected to demonstrate an investigative and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations.
2. Interpersonal and Communication Skills
   Interpersonal and communication skills encompass the verbal, nonverbal, written, and electronic exchange of information. Physician assistants must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, patients’ families, physicians, professional associates, and other individuals within the health care system.
3. Patient Care
   Patient care includes patient‐ and setting‐specific assessment, evaluation, and management. Physician assistants must demonstrate care that is effective, safe, high quality, and equitable.
4. Professionalism
   Professionalism is the expression of positive values and ideals as care is delivered. Foremost, it involves prioritizing the interests of those being served above one’s own. Physician assistants must acknowledge their professional and personal limitations. Professionalism also requires that PAs practice without impairment from substance abuse, cognitive deficiency or mental illness. Physician assistants must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population, and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.
5. Practice‐based Learning and Improvement
   Practice‐based learning and improvement includes the processes through which physician assistants engage in critical analysis of their own practice experience, the medical literature, and other information resources for the purposes of self and practice‐improvement. Physician assistants must be able to assess, evaluate, and improve their patient care practices.

Success at Achieving Goals

https://www.umes.edu/PA/Content.aspx?id=2462

Goals and the Success (Outcomes) of the Program in Achieving its Goals

Goal # 1. Prepare students from African‐American and other populations underrepresented in the PA workforce to enter the Physician Assistant profession as competent primary and specialty health care providers.

Outcomes for Goal #1
The UMES PA Program average enrollment per class cohort (2003‐2013) for underrepresented groups in the PA workforce (African‐American, Afro‐Caribbean, Hispanic, Native American, and other ethnically diverse groups) was 56% annually.

In 2012, 50% of the UMES PA Program graduating class was from African‐American and other ethnically diverse groups compared to 20.5% nationally from all PA programs combined. Eighty‐three percent of the 2012 ethnically diverse graduates remain active contributors in the PA workforce.

Goal #2. Offer a dynamic curriculum that is adaptive to changes in the health care environment.

Outcomes for Goal #2
In August 2013, UMES PA Program became the first Historically Black College and University (HBCU) to offer the Master degree (Master of Medical Science, Physician Assistant Studies).

Matching the healthcare environment shift to interprofessional patient centered care, the program continues to expand its curriculum with the integration of structured learning activities that include students from pharmacy, physical therapy, rehabilitative counselling and exercise science.

Application Requirements

The Department will admit qualified candidates to matriculate through the MMS‐PAS curriculum of study. Applicants from Health Personnel Shortage Areas (HPSA) or Medically Underserved Populations/Areas (MUA/P) and groups and/or populations underrepresented within the physician assistant profession are encouraged to apply. The Physician Assistant Admissions Committee selects students for admission. Applicants must meet the following minimum criteria for consideration for admission into the MMS‐PAS Program: https://www.umes.edu/cms300uploadedFiles/1‐AcademicAffairs/Health_Professions/Departments/Physician_Assistant/UMES%20PA%20Department%20Application%20Checklist%20rev%204‐14‐2015.pdf

1. Prerequisite science courses are to be completed within 5 years prior to the date of admission.
2. All applicants to the PA Program must apply through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). www.caspaonline.org.
3. When completing the CASPA application particular attention should be given to the following:
   1. The applicant’s personal statement detailing their desire to become a physical assistant.
   2. Three (3) letters of recommendation addressing the applicant’s potential as a physician assistant.
   3. One of the letters of recommendation must be from a practicing physician assistant with whom the applicant has had a minimum of 40 hours of first‐hand observation or “shadowing” experience.
   4. Documentation of a minimum of 300 hours of direct patient contact. (Hours must be completed by the November 1^st deadline. See PA website for acceptable experience).
4. Submit a Criminal Background Check with initial application. (A repeat Criminal Background Check is required prior to entry into the clinical year.)
5. Applicants must have no history of drug abuse or conviction of a felony.
6. Applicants must have no history of dismissal from another Physician Assistant school for academic or disciplinary reasons.
7. All applicants must be able to meet the program’s Technical Standards. https://www.umes.edu/PA/Content.aspx?id=2480

Application Deadline

All applications must be submitted to CASPA by November 1^st for consideration for the following fall (next year’s) entering class. Incomplete CASPA applications will not be considered.

Available Seats and Wait List (Alternates)

1. The program will offer seats to 35 candidates. Class size is determined by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC‐PA).
2. A wait‐list of qualified alternate candidates for admission to the program may be maintained to replace previously selected candidates who decline or who “no show”.

Interview and Admissions Criteria

1. Interview of selected candidates will be conducted December through April.
2. Using criteria developed by the MMS‐PAS Program’s Admissions Committee the most qualified candidates will be invited to interview.
3. Criteria used by the interviewers in their evaluations of candidates include:
   1. Past academic performance, grades, grade point averages in undergraduate and required Medical Core courses, GRE scores, extracurricular activities, work experience, length and quality of healthcare experiences.
   2. Understanding of the history of the PA profession, the role and scope of physician assistant practice.
   3. Appearance, emotional and intellectual maturity demonstrated during interview including interpersonal skills, the ability to clearly communicates and establish rapport with others.
   4. The competitive applicant should be aware of health disparities, be able to articulate an understanding of diversity, professionalism, cultural competency and have an interest or experience in serving in a medically underserved area.
   5. All candidates selected for interview must apply for admission into the Graduate School. (See Application Checklist at https://www.umes.edu/PA/Default.aspx?id=2408).

Acceptance Policy

1. Admission decisions will be based on information contained in the candidate’s CASPA application, criminal background check, and the result of candidate interviews.
2. Admission decisions will be made no later than April 15^th.
3. Upon acceptance to the MMS‐PAS Program, the candidate will be notified of acceptance and given two weeks to respond to their acceptance letter.
4. A non‐refundable acceptance fee of $600.00 must accompany the acceptance letter. On admission, this acceptance fee will be credited toward PA program fees.
5. The program reserves the right to rescind acceptance of any candidate offered or seated into the program who has submitted incorrect or false information or documentation.

Tuition and Fees

Completion of the UMES Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies program will require 120 semester hours of full‐time study over the course of the 27‐month (nine semesters) curriculum. Estimated Graduate School tuition fees and expenses expected to be incurred by resident and non‐resident students matriculating through the program and found on the PA website at https://www.umes.edu/PA/Content.aspx?id=52043

NOTE: Notwithstanding any other provision of this or any other University publication, UMES reserves the right to make changes in tuition, fees and other charges at any time such changes are deemed necessary by the University and the University System of Maryland Board of Regents. *Repeat of a Clinical Rotation is subject to additional Tuition & Fees. A criminal background check is required prior to matriculation and prior to the start of the clinical year.

Payment of Tuition and Fees

All program fees must be paid in accordance with Departmental and UMES policies and payment schedules.

General Program Completion Requirements

The program requires successful completion of the 88‐semester hour didactic year course work and a 32‐semester hour clinical year clerkships which includes a “Capstone Project”. Graduation requirements are found on website at: https://www.umes.edu/PA/Content.aspx?id=52781

Didactic Curriculum

During the didactic phase students are expected to successfully complete foundational courses which include instruction in; applied medical sciences and their application in clinical practice, clinical medicine covering all organ systems, interpersonal and communication skills, patient evaluation, diagnosis and management, clinical medical care across the life span, technical skills and procedures, social and behavioral sciences, basic counseling and patient education skills, interpreting and evaluating medical literature, health care delivery systems and health policy, concepts of public health, patient safety, quality improvement, prevention of medical errors and risk management, PA licensure, credentialing and laws, regulations regarding professional practice, reimbursement, documentation of care, coding and billing, principles and practice of medical ethics and the PA profession, it’s historical development and current trends in the PA profession.

Clinical Curriculum

During the clinical phase students are expected to successfully complete clinical clerkships under the supervision of board certified physicians, certified physician assistants and licensed midlevel providers with patient encounters over the life‐span in preventive, emergent, acute, outpatient, inpatient, emergency department and operating room settings. The clinical education component provides students with the opportunity to apply their didactic knowledge and skills to clinical situations, developing their problem‐solving and clinical decision‐making skills. Required clinical clerkships are provided in the disciplines of; obstetrics and gynecology, family medicine, internal medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and emergency medicine.

Capstone Project

Each student is required to complete a 35 page Evidence Based Medicine “Capstone Project” approved by the course director. All Capstone Projects require a final written document and an oral presentation.

For successful completion of the “Capstone project” students will be required to:

1. Analyze and interpret medical literature.
2. Construct a well‐designed research proposal/clinical research question.
3. Formulate a literature review for selected research proposal/clinical research question.
4. Demonstrate the ability to contrast results and conclusion of a literature review.
5. Analyze literature from scholarly sources that are online with Evidence‐Based Practice.
6. Describe the usefulness of the bibliography in research papers and create one for their own research paper.
7. Demonstrate basic concepts in statistics and biostatistics and their usefulness in understanding data analysis.
8. Demonstrate knowledge of interpreting validity of research results.
9. Develops a clinical research design, statistical analysis and accounting for bias and perspective.
10. Develop a 35 page Master Level research paper meeting all criteria for “Capstone Project”.

Students are encouraged to publish or present their research to professional organizations such as the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (JAAPA), Consultant, Clinician Reviews, or American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) or Maryland Academy of Physician Assistants (MAPA) annual conferences.
Each student is initially assigned an Academic Advisor who is responsible for advising the student on all aspects of the student’s progress throughout the program. The program requires full‐time continuous enrollment. Attendance to all classes is mandatory. Working during the program is strongly discouraged.

Retention in Program

1. All students must maintain a cumulative 3.0 GPA.
2. The grading scale for the Department of Physician Assistant is as follows:
   Didactic Year
   A 90 – 100 %
   B 80 – 89.99 %
   C 70 – 79.99 %
   F Less than 70%
   
   Clinical Year
   A 90 – 100 %
   B 80 – 89.9 %
   C 70 – 79.9 %
   F Less than 70%
3. Students engaging in any unethical practices or violation as outlined by the policies of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the PA Department Program Student Handbook, or the Guidelines of Ethical Conduct for the Physician Assistant Profession and State or Federal laws may be dismissed from the program.
4. Students must maintain a cumulative GPA of “B” or better in all graduate courses taken and must satisfy all departmental and UMES Graduate School requirements.
5. Unless otherwise recommended by the Academic Progress and Probation Committee, and approved by the Department Chair, all courses must be completed in sequence.
6. All students must be able to meet the program’s Technical Standards. (See PA Department website.) https://www.umes.edu/PA/Content.aspx?id=2480

Clinical Clerkships

1. Clinical clerkship assignments are scheduled by the Clinical Coordinator.
2. Students are responsible for housing arrangements, expenses, and transportation to their clinical clerkships.
3. Each clinical clerkship must be passed with a cumulative grade of > 70%.
4. A student receiving a failing grade (< 70%) in any component of the clerkship will be automatically reviewed by the Progress and Promotions Committee.
5. Any student that has received a failing grade for a rotation will be referred to the Progress and Promotion committee to discuss their future in the program which may include dismissal with or without the option to reapply, or repeating the failed rotation at the conclusion of the clinical year. Any repeat of a failed rotation will result in delay in graduation and additional tuition.
6. Students not completing or unable to complete a clinical clerkship for personal or health reasons (with proper documentation and approval of the Department Chairman) may be allowed to repeat one clerkship course. The student must be in good academic standing in the clerkship prior to their withdrawal from the clerkship. The student will be placed on academic probation, continues to be responsible for all PA program fees, University tuition and fees, and must complete their remaining scheduled clerkships on time. The student will not graduate with their original class cohort but must delay graduation until the following spring commencement. During the interim period the student is required to repeat the clerkship or be dismissed from the program.
7. A student may repeat only one clinical clerkship for personal or health reasons.

Activities used to assure that graduates achieve required professional and program competencies

1. Periodic review with formative and summative assessments by assigned faculty advisors.
2. Formative and summative assessment of students’ knowledge, clinical skills and professionalism using a variety of assessment measures delivered on a regular basis during didactic and clinical courses.
3. Successful completion of a summative evaluation before graduation consists of a comprehensive written assessment of knowledge base, review of professional behavior evaluations, and practical testing of clinical skills with standardized or simulated patients.
4. Completion of an approved “Capstone Project”.
5. Monitoring of curricular content and student performance with reference to program goals, ARC‐PA standards and the Competencies of the Physician Assistant Profession.
6. Administration of the Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool (PACKRAT) at the end of the didactic year (baseline) and end of the clinical year before graduation to benchmark student performance with national norms and access student core medical knowledge prior to taking the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE).

Re‐Application

A student academically dismissed from the program or who withdraws from the program while in good academic standing may reapply for readmission into the program. However, reacceptance after academic dismissal or withdrawal is not guaranteed. The former student must re‐apply in its entirety and compete with that cohort of applicants also seeking admission into the program. A student dismissed for unethical practices as outlined by the policies of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) Code of Conduct, and the State or Federal laws are not eligible to re‐apply for program admission.

For more information on this program, please contact:

Theresa Johnson, MSHSA, PA‐C
Chairman and Program Director
Physician Assistant Department
University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Hazel hall, Suite 1034
Princess Anne, MD 21853
Phone: 410‐651‐8932
Email: tajohnson3@umes.edu
Website: www.umes.edu/pa