College of Medicine Graduate Programs : Prospectus

Introduction

This prospectus is designed to provide the potential student and matriculated student with information about the Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences, Physician Assistant Program. For current students, it should be viewed as an adjunct to The University of Toledo's College of Graduate Studies Bulletin and the College of Graduate Studies Handbook, both of which contain specific information regarding the College of Graduate Studies and related policies. The information herein is subject to periodic revision and these changes will be relayed to current students in a timely manner. It is ultimately the student’s responsibility to be aware of all degree requirements and to work closely with an advisor to ensure that these requirements are fulfilled.

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Overview of the Profession and Program

Physician Assistants (PAs) are health professionals, prepared to practice medicine with physician supervision. Within the physician/PA relationship, PAs exercise autonomy in decision-making and provide a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The role of the PA includes provision of primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practices located in rural, urban or suburban areas. Physician assistant practice is patient care centered but may include education, research and administrative duties.

The University of Toledo Physician Assistant Program is a graduate entry-level professional course of study enabling individuals who hold baccalaureate degrees to become PAs. The program is designed to prepare graduates for primary care practice with emphasis placed on both service to medically under served populations and the team approach to the delivery of health care. The program integrates graduate level critical thinking and analysis, problem solving, scientific inquiry, self-directed learning and the effective use of modern technology for professional practice that includes elements of research, leadership, education and continued professionalization of the physician assistant occupation.

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Purpose and Goals

The purpose of the UT Physician Assistant Program is to graduate competent professionals who are well prepared for the demands of modern professional practice in a rapidly changing health-care environment. The curriculum goals were developed based upon the description of the occupation and standards for educational program contained in the "Standards and Guidelines for an Accredited Educational Program for the Physician Assistant," the Program’s Mission Statement and the needs of the PA profession. In the PA Program curriculum, knowledge, skills and attitudes are considered to be critical elements of professional practice and are addressed in the curricular goals delineated below. The graduate of the PA Program will demonstrate the following:

1. Entry-level proficiencies necessary for high quality, cost-effective practice as a primary care physician assistant in a dynamic health care delivery system.
2. An understanding of the principles of scientific inquiry and research design, as well as the ability to apply these principles, to read critically, and interpret the literature in order to and enhance the delivery of health care.
3. An ability to incorporate the basic principles of education and teaching-learning into programs which benefit the patient, the patient’s family and the community.
4. Attitudes and skills which exemplify a commitment to personal growth and development and to the growth and development of the profession.
5. Attitudes and skills which demonstrate a sensitivity to cultural and individual differences.
6. An ability to assume a leadership role in professional activities and organizations which advance the physician assistant profession.
7. A health-care-team and community-oriented approach to the delivery of health care utilizing appropriate modern technology for the benefit of the patient, the patient’s family and the community.

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Mission Statement

The mission of The University of Toledo Physician Assistant Program is to provide a comprehensive didactic and clinical educational program necessary to develop highly skilled, well-educated, primary-care-oriented PAs who are capable of providing high-quality, cost-effective, patient-centered health care services in a variety of settings. The Physician Assistant Program is an integral part of The University of Toledo and the College of Health Science and Human Service and therefore subscribes to the missions of The University and the College of Health Science and Human Service.

The program is committed to the education of PAs who will:

• practice competently and ethically.
• serve where needed, particularly in rural and inner-city health professions shortage areas.
• demonstrate sensitivity to cultural and individual differences.
• commit to continued personal and professional growth through life-long learning.
• contribute to the profession through leadership, teaching, research, and publication.
• promote wellness and personal responsibility for maintaining health.
• advocate for a team approach to health care delivery.
• promote and uphold the physician assistant profession and its ideals.

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Curriculum Design

The curriculum design is based upon the concepts of adult-centered learning and professional education which focus on mastery of knowledge, skills and attitudes required by the graduate to practice effectively as a physician assistant. The curriculum, offered in didactic and experiential components, is an approach which moves from basic to more advanced skills. The curriculum design assumes that students will develop the necessary skills to be self-directed learners and to apply effectively what they learn in the clinical setting.

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Program Delivery Model

The Physician Assistant Program is offered on a full-time basis only.  Length of the program is seven semesters (27 months). The credit load ranges from 7 to 15 hours per semester. Learners are expected to adjust their non-curricular demands in order to complete the degree requirements. As adult learners, it is expected that students will actively engage in independent study, inquiry and fieldwork outside the classroom to augment learning and to maximize effectiveness of classroom and laboratory contact time. Students will be expected to successfully complete and present a scholarly project (abstracts for previous scholarly projects are available for review), an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE), and a comprehensive written examination in order to graduate from the PA program.

Since the PA Program will use computer technology in the delivery of the curriculum, all PA students must be computer literate. The ability to use the computer for research and the exchange of campus e-mail will be expected.

It is not recommended that any learner attempt to attend the Physician Assistant Program while continuing full-time employment.

Clinical Year
The Clinical Year consists of 4 didactic weeks and 40 weeks of required clinical rotations.  The didactic time which occurs at the beginning of the spring semester of the second year is divided into two weeks of Research Practicum and two weeks of Introduction to Clinical Practice.  Each student will then complete all of the following four week clinical rotations: Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Pediatrics, Internal Medicine, Surgery, GYN/Prenatal, Long Term Care and an Elective.  The Elective rotation can be in the student's preferred specialty of medical practice.  Following the clinical rotations, each student will complete an eight week intensive Preceptorship in Primary Care Medicine.  Each student is responsible for his or her transportation to and from the clinical sites, which may be up to 70 miles away from campus.

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Admission Requirements

The Physician Assistant Program will admit students each Fall Semester only.
Early submission of online CASPA and online UT PA Prerequisite Form is encouraged.

To be considered for the Physician Assistant Program, candidates must comply with all of the following:

1. Completion of all admission requirements to CASPA by OCTOBER 1, 2009
   CASPA submissions must include:
   - Completed and signed application form
   - Application fee
   - Two letters of recommendation
   - Transcripts for all colleges/universities attended 
   
   Foreign transcripts must be submitted for independent evaluation of equivalency by an acceptable credential evaluation agency. The evaluation will be at the student’s expense. Contact the UT College of Graduate Studies for information regarding evaluation of foreign transcripts or bachelor's degree received from colleges and universities outside the United States and Canada.
   
   
2. Completion of The University of Toledo PA Prerequisite Form by OCTOBER 1, 2009. 
   
   
3. Applicants must have earned a Bachelor level degree with a 3.00 grade point average to be competitive AND to qualify for financial aid.
   - The following prerequisites must be completed with a grade of B- or better:

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    4.   Minimum Prerequisite Courses

1. Human Anatomy (Lab recommended)
2. Human Physiology (Lab recommended)
3. Inorganic Chemistry with Lab 
4. Organic Chemistry with Lab 
5. Microbiology with Lab 
6. Introductory Psychology 
7. Upper Level Psychology (Lifespan Psychology recommended) 
8. College Algebra or higher mathematics 
9. Medical Terminology (minimum 1 credit hour or pass a medical terminology test)
   
Note:

• Each course above must consist of at least three (3) credit hours (unless otherwise noted). Credits are expressed in SEMESTER hours. All coursework identified above must be current within eight (8) years of admission to the program.  The deadline for finishing prerequisite coursework for the upcoming class is June 15, 2010.  These are minimum program requirements.  All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of B- or better.  For courses where separate grades are assigned for lecture and laboratory sections, the candidate must receive a grade of B- or better for both lecture and lab.
• In addition to the above minimum requirements, preference will be given to applicants that have earned a B- or better in any of the following advanced science-related undergraduate or graduate courses, including but not limited to: genetics, biochemistry, immunology, physics, psychology, physiology, pathophysiology, pharmacology or mathematics.
• Candidates must hold a Bachelor level degree from an accredited college or university with a minimum 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA). A candidate with less than a 3.0 undergraduate GPA may be considered for admission with regular student status only if he/she has completed at least 10 semester hours (15 quarter hours) of applicable coursework at the graduate level and has a minimum GPA of 3.0 in these courses.
• Candidates with formal health care experience must submit copies of any license, registration, or certification related to that field.
• Candidates who are invited to campus for interviews will be mailed a supplemental application by The University of Toledo College of Graduate Studies for completion.
• Candidates must present evidence that they are currently trained in basic cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) according to American Heart Association standards. This training must be maintained throughout the program of study.
• Candidates must demonstrate proof of prior Medical Terminology Course with a grade of B- or better or pass a proficiency exam administered prior to matriculation.
• Preference will be given to current Ohio residents, graduates of The University of Toledo, non-traditional and diverse applicants and those with significant health care experience.

Selection Process: Candidates for interviews will be selected from those with completed applications who meet the minimum entrance requirements.  Supplemental application required of those who are offered an interview.  The selection process is highly competitive and merely meeting minimum entrance requirements does not guarantee an interview or admission to the program.
Based upon a point scoring system, the Admissions Committee may recommend one of the following:

1. Acceptance: Candidates with the highest scores (based upon the candidate’s complete CASPA application and interviews) will be recommended to the College of Graduate Studies for acceptance. The number of candidates recommended for acceptance will be determined annually by the PA Program class size. For the academic year 2010, the program expects to accept 35 students.
2. Alternate List: A limited number of candidates will be listed as alternates and will be notified of this admission status. Candidates not admitted from the alternate list must reapply if they wish to be considered for the following year.
3. Non-Acceptance: Candidates not accepted will be notified in writing. They may contact the program after May 15, 2010 to find out how to strengthen their application. Candidates wishing to be considered for the following year must reapply.

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Admission Criteria for "Conditional" Status

An applicant must complete the general admission requirements specified above. Circumstances which may result in a conditional admission include:

1. An applicant with a Bachelor's degree in progress. An official transcript with the degree posted must be received prior to matriculation into the program.
2. An applicant with an undergraduate cumulative grade point average (GPA) less than 3.0 may be admitted with conditional status. Students must achieve a 3.0 in graduate study at UT by the completion of 15 semester hours or may be subject to dismissal. In the past, candidates with undergraduate GPAs less than 3.0 have not been competitive unless they have demonstrated academic achievement through the completion of a relevant graduate level degree program.
3. An applicant who has any prerequisite courses to complete at the time of application may be admitted with conditional status, with a clear understanding that remaining prerequisites must be satisfactorily (grade of B- or better) completed prior to June 15 for matriculation into the Program. Official transcripts or other appropriate documentation will be required.
4. Candidates who are unable to pass the medical terminology proficiency examination will be required to participate in a self-study program and retest or satisfactorily complete a medical terminology course at an accredited college or university prior to matriculation in Fall courses.
   

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Technical Standards for Admission

Our objective is to increase the opportunities for persons with disabilities, while maintaining the expectation that all students achieve the goals of the Program. The technical standards for admission establish the expectations and abilities considered essential for students admitted to the Physician Assistant Program in order to achieve the level of competency required for graduation and ultimately practice as a physician assistant. All students admitted to the PA Program are expected to be able to demonstrate the abilities specified below.

Physician Assistant Program students:

• must have the mental capacity to assimilate and learn a large amount of complex, technical and detailed information, to solve clinical problems, and synthesize and apply concepts and information from various disciplines in order to formulate diagnostic and therapeutic plans;
• must have the ability to maintain composure and emotional stability during periods of high stress;
• must have the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients from different social and cultural backgrounds and develop effective professional rapport with patients and co-workers;
• must have the ability to record examination and diagnostic results clearly, accurately and efficiently;
• must have adequate sensory function to fulfill minimum competency objectives for palpation, percussion and auscultation necessary to perform a physical examination;
• must possess sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control and eye-to-hand coordination to use standard medical/surgical instruments and possess sufficient control of the upper extremities to meet the physical requirements for training and for performing a safe physical examination;
• are expected to learn and perform common diagnostic and therapeutic procedures (e.g., blood drawing, suturing) and interpret the results;
• are expected to have a the degree of coordination of motor skills necessary to respond to emergency situations quickly and appropriately.

Candidates are urged to ask questions about the program's technical standards for clarification and to determine whether they can meet the requirements with or without reasonable accommodations. Questions may be directed to the Program Director or Office of Student Services. Revealing a disability is voluntary; however, such disclosure is necessary before any accommodations may be made in the learning environment or in the Program's procedures. Information about disabilities is handled in a confidential manner. Reasonable accommodations will be made to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. These require program and institutional approval. Requests for accommodations must be submitted in writing, allowing sufficient time prior to matriculation for action on these requests pursuant to Policy 01061, Nondiscrimination on the Basis of Disability.

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Other Requirements

Individuals selected for admission to the program must undergo a general physical examination and provide evidence of up-to-date immunization prior to the start of classes in the first year and again just prior to the beginning of clinical rotations in the second year. In addition, students are required to maintain health insurance and liability insurance coverage. Further information is contained in the College of Graduate Studies Handbook and will be reviewed in detail at orientation.

Curriculum

Note: Physician Assistant Program courses listed in the chart below may not be taken out of sequence for any reason and may require a passing grade of B or better for progression through the program.

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Program Administration and Support

Please contact the Department of Physician Assistant Studies with questions (419) 383 - 5408.

 Accreditation Status

The Physician Assistant Program is FULLY accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission of Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Only graduates of accredited programs are eligible to take the national certifying examination offered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Most states require certification in order to practice.

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 PANCE Scores

The Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) is the national certifying examination offered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). A passing score is necessary to practice in most states.

Aggregate scores on the PANCE for The University of Toledo (UT) vs. the National Average are as follows: 

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Costs and Finacial Aid

View the Physician Assistant Program Cost of Attendance for the estimated costs for the 27 month program.

Financial aid for graduate students is available through Stafford Student Loans and private sources.  In addition, PA students can qualify for a variety of jobs at UT through the Federal Work-Study Program.  However, it is not recommended that any candidate/student work a considerable amount of time while in the PA Program.  If you have questions or need further information about financial aid, please contact:

UT Financial Aid Office
(419) 383-4232

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Non-Discrimination Policy
The University of Toledo confirms through this statement its commitment and dedicated efforts to provide equal opportunity in the educational programs of this institution.  Federal law prohibits discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, handicap, or ancestry of any person.  Inquiries regarding compliance with the above may be directed to:

Office of Institutional Diversity
University of Toledo
Health Science Campus
3065 Arlington Avenue
Toledo, OH 43614-5807
(419) 383-3579  

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Information Session dates in 2009

Learn more about the Program's entrance requirements and the PA Profession by attending one of our information sessions held on the UT Health Science Campus.  If you are considering application to this or any PA Program, these sessions are for you!

Tuesday, July 21, 2009 (6:30 - 8:00 p.m.)
Saturday, September 12, 2009 (9:00 - 10.30 a.m.)

Location: Health Science Campus - Collier Building

See the UT PA Information Session Agenda for details

Directions to UT Health Science Campus

Questions or Concerns:
Department of Physician Assistant Studies: 419-383-5408 

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