https://medschool.creighton.edu/program/physician-assistant-mpas
Program Director: Stephane P. VanderMeulen, MPAS, PA-C
Program Office: Hixson-Lied Science Building, Suite 202
Program Contact: 402-280-4531 or 800-325-4405; pa.admissions@creighton.edu
Mission
The physician assistant program mission is to foster a tradition of excellence by transforming learners into compassionate physician assistants who are dedicated to exemplary patient care. Rooted in our Ignatian heritage, we empower students to realize their full potential through a commitment to professional growth and service to humanity.
Program Goals
Goal 1: Increase the diversity of the PA workforce by recruiting, retaining, and graduating students from diverse backgrounds
Creighton is committed to improving the diversity of the health care workforce. The PA program values and embraces a diverse community that reflects different races and national origin, ethnicity, age, culture, sexual orientation, sexual identity, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic status, religious affiliation, spiritual practice, and mental and physical ability/disability.
Recruitment and outreach efforts are targeted to reach a broadly diverse pool of potential applicants. The program’s rolling admission process allows each application reviewed to be evaluated in its totality before decisions are made. This provides a holistic review of each applicant on all of their merits, without cut scores (beyond published minimum requirements) or other factors that may procedurally disadvantage an applicant based on an individual metric. The university provides support, programs and services that promote diversity, equity and inclusion and a positive learning environment for diverse and disadvantaged students.
The program will initially gather data and demonstrate outcomes involving underrepresented minority (URM) and first-generation college students with an intent to broaden the scope of diversity metrics in the future.
Outcomes:
- Percent of recruiting and outreach activities at institutions and events with a greater-than-average number of URM students
- Percent of recruiting activities at colleges and universities with First Forward designation or a greater-than-average number of first-generation college students.
- Diversity of matriculating students in each cohort, measuring underrepresented minorities and first-generation college students
- Availability of programs and services that promote diversity, equity and inclusion and a positive learning environment for URM and first-generation students
- Program attrition rate of URM and first-generation students (5-year average)
Goal 2 : Support a culture of service to others and to community
Consistent with our mission, service to humanity will be emphasized throughout the program. The admissions process will select for applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to service to others. Service activities will be incorporated into the curriculum and students will be encouraged to seek extracurricular service opportunities.
OUTCOMES:
- Students’ service hours acquired prior to PA school,
- Average number of service hours completed during the students’ time in the program.
- Availability of service activities to students, as demonstrated in exit survey data.
Goal 3: Foster the personal and professional development of students as medical providers
A commitment to personal and professional growth is a program priority. Students will participate in a dynamic curriculum that integrates ethical and professional principles throughout, allowing for student growth and a better understanding of one’s own biases and beliefs. This process will involve instruction, mentoring and feedback as well as self-reflection activities. Professional behaviors will be evaluated by faculty and clinical preceptors using professionalism evaluations. Feedback and mentoring will be provided on an ongoing basis. Students will be asked to reflect on their professional behaviors and to explore their own personal set of values and beliefs.
OUTCOMES:
- Percent of students who achieve 100% satisfactory ratings on their professionalism evaluations by graduation
- Assessment of student perceptions of personal and professional growth as measured by the student exit survey and Extra Shot survey data.
Goal 4: Deliver an educational experience that provides students with the knowledge and skills necessary for entry level practice as physician assistants
Students will participate in an integrated curriculum and a broad array of clinical experiences that will prepare them to enter the workforce in a wide variety of practice settings.
OUTCOMES:
- PANCE pass rate
- Student perception of knowledge and skills as measured on the
- Student exit survey
- Graduate survey
Goal 5: Achieve a first time PANCE pass rate that is above the national average
This goal will be measured annually with the NCCPA provided data on program first time pass rate as compared to the national average.
OUTCOMES:
- Percent first-time pass rate by graduates on the NCCPA PANCE exam.
Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Degree requirements (126 credits)
First Year | ||
---|---|---|
Fall | Credits | |
IPE 500 | Introduction to Collaborative Care | 0 |
PAS 601 | Foundations for Clinical Medicine | 5 |
PAS 603 | Clinical Medicine: Orthopedics/Rheumatology | 7 |
PAS 605 | Clinical Medicine: HEENT/Dermatology | 8 |
PAS 614 | Clinical Practice Skills I | 3 |
PAS 616 | PA Profession and the Health System I | 1 |
Term Credits | 24 | |
Spring | ||
PAS 607 | Clinical Medicine: Neurology/Psychiatry | 7 |
PAS 611 | Clinical Medicine: Cardiology/Pulmonology | 9 |
PAS 613 | Clinical Medicine: Gastrointestinal/Nutrition | 6 |
PAS 624 | Clinical Practice Skills II | 2 |
Term Credits | 24 | |
Summer | ||
PAS 615 | Clinical Medicine: Endocrinology/Nephrology/Urology | 4 |
PAS 617 | Clinical Medicine: Women's Health/Hematology/Oncology | 4 |
PAS 626 | PA Profession and Health System II | 1 |
PAS 628 | Research Applications in Medicine | 1 |
PAS 634 | Clinical Practice Skills III | 2 |
PAS 680 | Preparation for Clinical Practice | 2 |
Term Credits | 14 | |
Second Year | ||
Fall | ||
PAS 721 | Family Practice Rotation | 8 |
PAS 723 | Ambulatory Internal Medicine Rotation | 4 |
PAS 725 | Inpatient Internal Medicine Rotation | 4 |
PAS 727 | Pediatrics Rotation | 4 |
PAS 729 | Women's Health Rotation | 4 |
PAS 731 | Behavioral Health Rotation | 8 |
PAS 733 | Emergency Medicine Rotation | 4 |
PAS 735 | Surgery Rotation | 8 |
Term Credits | 44 | |
Spring | ||
PAS 741 | Medically Underserved Rotation | 4 |
Select 12 credits from the following list: | 12 | |
Cardiology | ||
Orthopedic Surgery Elective | ||
Urology | ||
Dermatology | ||
Otolaryngology | ||
Hematology/Oncology | ||
Cardiothoracic Surgery | ||
Gastroenterology | ||
Neurosurgery | ||
Geriatrics | ||
Critical Care | ||
Neurology | ||
Endocrinology | ||
Pulmonology | ||
Plastic&Reconstructve Srgry | ||
Nephrology | ||
Primary Care Elective | ||
Term Credits | 16 | |
Summer | ||
Clinical Phase Seminar Series | ||
PAS 726 Seminar Series I | 1 | |
PAS 736 Seminar Series II | 1 | |
PAS 746 Seminar Series III | 1 | |
PAS 756 Seminar Series IV | 1 | |
Term Credits | 4 | |
Total Credits | 126 |
Courses
PAS 753. Orthopedic Surgery Elective. 4 credits.
The orthopedic surgery rotation is a four-week clinical experience in which the student will have many learning opportunities in the orthopedic surgical setting under the supervision of a physician and/or PA. The student will gain experience in pre and postoperative care, orthopedic procedures, and aspects unique to orthopedic surgery. This rotation also provides the student an opportunity to participate in the team practice concept of health care.