Program Description and Curriculum

This lecture / lab course introduces Physician Assistant students to clinically relevant aspects of human anatomy, while providing an introduction to medical imaging in support of the relationship of anatomical landmarks. This course will reinforce the student’s knowledge of anatomy with the use of cadaveric dissection and anatomic models.

This course provides the physician assistant student the basic foundation of human physiologic processes using a systems-based approach. This course emphasizes normal physiologic function in preparation for Pathophysiology of Disease I, II, and III.

This course introduces the student to medical genetics. A variety of genetic diseases are explored including the prevention, screening, and treatment options available. Genetic counseling, including the ethical and legal issues related to those services, are also discussed.

This course provides a comprehensive overview of the structure and operation of the U.S. health care system with an emphasis on rural healthcare. It also provides instruction in intellectual honesty, academic integrity, and professional conduct. It will examine the history, current issues, and future trends of the Physician Assistant profession to include licensure, credentialing, and professional organizations as well as the physician assistant/ physician relationship. The roles of allied health service professionals and the principles of inter-professional practice are also introduced. Students will review legal and regulatory issues related to clinical practice and be introduced to patient safety, prevention of medical errors, quality improvement, and risk management strategies within health care delivery systems.

This course will explore fundamental concepts of biostatistics and epidemiology necessary to interpret clinical research articles and design clinical studies most commonly encountered in health research.

This course provides instruction in the determinants of health and disease from a population perspective by exploring health promotion, disease prevention, health inequities in the US and abroad, and public health policy.

This course provides the physician assistant student an introduction to pharmacology by providing a knowledge of the manner in which drugs modify biological function. It includes study of the effects of drugs on different organ systems, disease processes, the mechanisms by which drugs produce their therapeutic and toxic effects, and the processes related to pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics with a focus on principles of medical microbiology and infectious disease. Mechanisms of infectious disease transmission and the biology of bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic pathogens are discussed.

This course provides an understanding of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes involved in caring for patients with dermatologic disorders. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common dermatological diseases are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course provides an understanding of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes involved in caring for patients with ophthalmologic and otolaryngologic disorders. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common disorders of the eyes, ears, nose, and throat are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course is the first of four in a series of lecture / lab courses that develops knowledge and skills required to perform and document the medical history, physical examination, laboratory and diagnostic imaging investigations, assessment, and plan as they relate to specific body systems. This course also provides instruction about basic counseling and patient education skills that are patient centered, culturally sensitive, and focused on adherence to treatment, modifying behaviors, and developing coping mechanisms. This course also provides instruction in interprofessional education and collaboration with application of these principles in interprofessional team-based seminars.

This is the first of three courses which provide the physician assistant student insight into molecular and physiologic mechanism of disease as it relates to the pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical evolution, and underlying pathological basis for specific disease processes. Topics covered correlate to specific organ systems discussed.

This is the first of three courses which provide instruction in the selection, performance, utilization, and interpretation of results of diagnostic investigations. The course will focus on common laboratory and diagnostic tests as they are used to evaluate the function of specific body systems.

The course introduces the principles and practice of Evidence-based Medicine by providing tools to assist physician assistant students in searching, interpreting, and evaluating medical literature to include framing of research questions, interpreting biostatistical methods, understanding the limits of medical research, types of sampling methods, and the use of common databases to access medical literature. This course reviews statistical concepts, the epidemiologic basis for clinical research, research ethics, and teaches students to formulate clinical questions, search and critically appraise the medical literature, and incorporate best evidence into practice. At the completion of this course students will have utilized learned research methods to develop their capstone research question with the remainder of the research process to occur in Evidence Based Medicine II and culminating with completion and presentation of their project in Evidence Based Medicine III. Research related to rural medicine topic are highlighted, emphasized, and encouraged.

This course illustrates principles and practices of medical ethics where social determinants of health, ethics, and the law intersect. Students discover how interdisciplinary collaboration is key for effective advocacy and change in health policy.

This is the second course in the series which prepares the student for the clinical study of pharmacology and therapeutics by providing knowledge of the manner in which drugs modify biological function. It includes a systematic approach of the effects of drugs on different organ systems and disease processes, the mechanisms by which drugs produce their therapeutic and toxic effects, and the factors influencing their absorption, distribution, and biological actions.

This course provides an understanding of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes involved in caring for patients with cardiovascular disorders. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common disorders of the cardiovascular system are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course provides an understanding of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes involved in caring for patients with pulmonary disorders. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common disorders of the pulmonology system are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course provides an understanding of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes involved in caring for patients with endocrine disorders. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common disorders of the endocrine system are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course provides an understanding of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes involved in caring for patients with infectious diseases. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common infectious diseases are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course provides an understanding in caring for patients with psychiatric and behavioral medicine disorders. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common disorders of psychiatric and behavioral medicine are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions as well as instruction on human sexuality, patient response to stress, substance use disorders, violence identification and prevention, and personal wellness including prevention of provider impairment and burnout.

This course is the second of four in a series of lecture / lab courses that develops knowledge and skills required to obtain perform and document the medical history, physical examination, laboratory and diagnostic imaging investigations, assessment, and plan as they relate to each specific body systems. This course also provides instruction about basic counseling and patient education skills that are patient centered, culturally sensitive, and focused on adherence to treatment, modifying behaviors, and developing coping mechanisms. This course also provides instruction in interprofessional education and collaboration with application of these principles in interprofessional team-based seminars.

This is the second of three courses which provide the physician assistant student insight into molecular and physiologic mechanism of disease as it relates to the pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical evolution, and underlying pathological basis for specific disease processes. Topics covered correlate to specific organ systems discussed.

This is the second of three courses which provide instruction in the selection, performance, utilization, and interpretation of results of diagnostic investigations. The course will focus on common laboratory and diagnostic tests as they are used to evaluate the function of specific body systems.

The course builds upon the principles and practice of Evidence-based Medicine I by providing tools to assist physician assistant students in searching, interpreting, and evaluating medical literature to include framing of research questions, interpreting biostatistical methods, understanding the limits of medical research, types of sampling methods, and the use of common databases to access medical literature. This course reviews statistical concepts, the epidemiologic basis for clinical research, research ethics, and teaches students to formulate clinical questions, search and critically appraise the medical literature, and incorporate best evidence into their practice. At the completion of this course students will have utilized research methods to develop their capstone research question with completion and presentation of their project to occur in Evidence Based Medicine III. Research related to rural medicine topics are highlighted, emphasized, and encouraged.

This is the first of two of lecture / lab courses which focuses on acquiring the procedural skills necessary to function as a physician assistant in diverse medical settings with a focus on diagnostic, clinical, technical, and procedural skills common to current professional practice

This is the third course in the series which prepares the student for the clinical study of pharmacology and therapeutics by providing knowledge of the manner in which drugs modify biological function. It includes a systematic approach of the effects of drugs on different organ systems and disease processes, the mechanisms by which drugs produce their therapeutic and toxic effects, and the factors influencing their absorption, distribution, and biological actions.

This course provides an understanding of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes involved in caring for patients with neurological disorders. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common disorders of the neurologic system are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course provides an understanding of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes involved in caring for patients with gastroenterological disorders. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common disorders of the gastroenterology system are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course provides an understanding of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes involved in caring for patients with urological, renal, and male reproductive disorders. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common disorders of the urologic, renal, and male reproductive systems are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course provides an understanding of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes involved in caring for patients with obstetrical, gynecological, and female reproductive disorders. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common disorders of the obstetric, gynecologic, and female reproductive system are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course provides an understanding of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes involved in caring for patients with musculoskeletal disorders. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common disorders of the musculoskeletal system are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course is the third of four in a series of lecture/lab courses that develops knowledge and skills required to obtain perform and document the medical history, physical examination, laboratory and diagnostic imaging investigations, assessment, and plan as they relate to each specific body systems. This course also provides instruction about basic counseling and patient education skills that are patient centered, culturally sensitive, and focused on adherence to treatment, modifying behaviors, and developing coping mechanisms. This course also provides instruction in interprofessional education and collaboration with application of these principles in interprofessional team-based seminars.

The course builds upon the principles and practice of Evidence-based Medicine I, and II, by providing tools to assist physician assistant students in searching, interpreting, and evaluating medical literature to include framing of research questions, interpreting biostatistical methods, understanding the limits of medical research, types of sampling methods, and the use of common databases to access medical literature. This course builds on the critical appraisal skills students acquired in EBM I & II with the addition of medical writing skills as students complete and present their graduate research projects with encouraged emphasis on topics related to rural health.

This course enhances the understanding of culture and its relationship to health, health disparities, disease incidence, and prevalence for specific communities and/or ethnic groups. Students are challenged to discover the effect of bias and stereotyping on the delivery of healthcare. This course will provide instruction about basic counseling and patient education skills that are patient centered, culturally sensitive, and focused on helping patients adhere to treatment plans, modify their behaviors to more healthful patterns, and develop coping mechanisms.

This is the last course in the series which prepares the student for the clinical study of pharmacology and therapeutics by providing knowledge of the manner in which drugs modify biological function. It includes a systematic approach of the effects of drugs on different organ systems and disease processes, the mechanisms by which drugs produce their therapeutic and toxic effects, and the factors influencing their absorption, distribution, and biological actions.

This course provides an understanding of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes involved in caring for patients with hematologic and oncologic disorders. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common disorders of hematologic and oncologic origin are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course concentrates on disorders of geriatric patients with an emphasis on health maintenance and prevention. The course is designed to help the student distinguish normal physiological changes from pathology as it presents in the elderly population and is presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions. Palliative and end of life care, death, dying, and loss, response to illness, injury, and stress will also be discussed.

This course provides an understanding of the diagnostic and therapeutic processes involved in caring for patients with emergent conditions. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, and patient education for common emergent conditions are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across the life span in settings of acute and emergent care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course prepares students to evaluate and treat patients with surgical conditions. Students will learn the clinical presentation, pathophysiology, diagnosis, evaluation, management, and treatment of disorders requiring surgical consultation, as well as the pre-, intra- and post-operative management of those disorders.

This course concentrates on disorders of prenatal, infant, children, and adolescents with an emphasis on health maintenance and prevention. The course is designed to help the student distinguish normal physiological changes from pathology as it presents in the pediatric population. Epidemiology, etiology, pathophysiology, patient history, clinical findings, laboratory/diagnostic criteria, current treatment methods, prognosis, preventive protocols, and patient education for common pediatric disorders are presented with an emphasis on recognition, evaluation, and management. Provision of medical care across in settings of acute, emergent, chronic, preventive, and rehabilitative care are discussed relative to these conditions.

This course is the last of four in a series of lecture / lab courses that develops knowledge and skills required to obtain perform and document the medical history, physical examination, laboratory and diagnostic imaging investigations, assessment, and plan as they relate to each specific body systems. This course also provides instruction about basic counseling and patient education skills that are patient centered, culturally sensitive, and focused on adherence to treatment, modifying behaviors, and developing coping mechanisms. This course also provides instruction in interprofessional education and collaboration with application of these principles in interprofessional team-based seminars.

This is the last of three courses which provide the physician assistant student insight into molecular and physiologic mechanism of disease as it relates to the pathogenesis, epidemiology, clinical evolution, and underlying pathological basis for specific disease processes. Topics covered correlate to specific organ systems discussed.

This is the second of two of lecture / lab courses which focuses on acquiring the procedural skills necessary to function as a physician assistant in diverse medical settings with a focus on diagnostic, clinical, technical, and procedural skills common to current professional practice.

This is the last of three courses which provide instruction in the selection, performance, utilization, and interpretation of results of diagnostic investigations. The course will focus on common laboratory and diagnostic tests as they are used to evaluate the function of specific body systems.

This five-week supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) in Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine allows the student to be exposed to and participate in the care of patients with psychiatric illnesses and psychosocial disorders. Under supervision, the student will participate in counseling patients, communicating with patient’s family members, and managing common psychiatric illnesses. As part of a preceptor led care team, the student will participate in the development and implementation of patient-centered treatment plans.

The Emergency Medicine 5-week SCPE provides the student in-depth exposure to illnesses and injuries that necessitate emergency care across the lifespan. The student will interview and examine patients in the emergency department setting. Students will order and interpret labs and tests, formulate diagnoses, and perform and/ or assist with emergency procedures and treatment, as guided by their preceptor.

This five-week SCPE introduces the student to the principles and practice of family medicine, in an outpatient setting, with an emphasis on disease prevention and health maintenance across the lifespan. Working under the supervision of a preceptor, the student will refine techniques in obtaining a history, performing appropriate physical examinations, developing a differential diagnosis, treatment planning and patient counseling.

This 5-week supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) provides experience in management of patients in a surgical practice. The student will participate in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative phases of patient care. The student will do pre-operative history and physical examinations and will participate in the consent process for their procedure. The student will scrub into surgical cases and assist the surgeon as indicated. The student will be engaged in the postsurgical management of patients and participate in their discharge planning process.

This five-week supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) provides the student with an opportunity to understand the fundamental principles of general internal medicine. The student will apply the knowledge and skills acquired in the didactic year to the management of patients in an assigned clinical practice setting. Under the direction of a preceptor, the student will analyze patient’s charts, perform histories, and appropriate physical exams, plan therapeutic interventions, and monitor the patient’s progress. The student will learn to order tests, and request consultations. Students will participate in determination of patient disposition.

During this five-week supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE), the student is exposed to the care of infants, children, and adolescents. The student will further refine their skills of history taking and physical examination specific to the pediatric population. The student will recognize normal development and appreciate common variations of human growth and development. The student will become familiar with the evaluation and treatment of common pediatric disorders, with an emphasis on preventative care and family counseling.

This five-week supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) allows the student to gain experience with common gynecological conditions. The student learns about screening for breast and gynecologic cancers, normal and abnormal menstrual patterns, infectious disease associated with gynecology, and family planning. The student is also exposed to the elements of routine prenatal and obstetrical care.

This 5-week supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) provides students with clinical experience in an orthopedic setting during which students refine their skills in performing a history and physical exam, ordering, and interpreting diagnostic tests and if necessary, assisting in surgery. Students will participate in developing treatment plans, discharge planning, and follow-up for the diversity of patients in a typical orthopedic practice.

This five-week supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) elective exposes the student to a specialty or subspecialty practice or allows them to repeat a core rotation for further development of their clinical ability and skill.