Program Overview

Department of Physician Assistant Studies and Services

The Department of Physician Assistant Studies and Services at the Carver College of Medicine offers a comprehensive program in physician assistant studies.

Program Overview

The program consists of a 'triple helix model' with three strands that extend throughout the MPAS curriculum. The three strands are:

• Mechanisms of Health and Disease (MOHD)
• Medicine and Society (MAS)
• Clinical and Professional Skills (CAPS)

Curriculum

The curriculum is divided into four semesters.

Fall Semester 1 Schedule and Descriptions

The first semester includes the following courses:

• OSAC-UIHC Compliance M1/PA1 Class: A 1-week mandatory online course with compliance modules, attestation, and assessment quizzes.
• ACB:8101 Medical Gross Human Anatomy: A complete dissection of the body with regional emphasis stressing relationships to the living system.
• MED:8121 Clinical and Professional Skills I: Introduction to concepts of clinical reasoning, communication, physical examination, and evidence-based clinical practice.
• MED:8122 Medicine and Society I: Delivery of individual disease prevention/health promotion services and introduction to social determinants of health.
• MED:8123 Foundations of Cellular Life: Genetics, embryology, molecular biology, biochemistry, cell biology, and histology.
• MED:8124 Mechanisms of Health and Disease I: Normal and healthy processes within and among mechanisms of oxygenation, metabolism, and genetics/development.

Spring Semester 2 Schedule and Descriptions

The second semester includes the following courses:

• MED:8131 Clinical and Professional Skills II: Interpersonal skills, lifelong learning, interviewing skills, physical examination skills, and ethical issues in patient care.
• MED:8132 Medicine and Society II: Knowledge and skills related to health promotion and disease prevention from a medicine and society perspective.
• MED:8133 Mechanisms of Health and Disease II: Normal and healthy processes within and among mechanisms of immunology/inflammation, locomotion/integument, and neuropsychiatry.
• MED:8134 Mechanisms of Health and Disease III: Abnormalities or disruptions leading to disease within and among mechanisms of oxygenation, metabolism, and genetics/development.

Summer Semester 3 Schedule and Descriptions

The third semester includes the following courses:

• PA:8212 Fundamentals of EKG and ACLS for PA Students: Theory and practice with a fundamental analysis of EKG strips and interpretation.
• PA:8213 Fundamentals of Radiology for PA Students: Theory and practice for interpretation of radiographs.
• PA:8301 Seminar for PA Students: Professional issues that affect the physician assistant's practice of medicine.
• PA:8302 PA Professional and Clinical Skills: Hands-on experience and activities, including suturing, injections, and prescription writing.

Fall Semester 4 Schedule and Descriptions

The fourth semester includes the following courses:

• MED:8221 Clinical and Professional Skills III: Advanced clinical reasoning skills through focused patient encounters and interactions with special patient populations.
• MED:8222 Medicine and Society III: Health services organization and delivery, with emphasis on community dimensions of medical practice and patient safety.
• MED:8223 Mechanisms of Health and Disease IV: Abnormalities or disruptions leading to disease within and among mechanisms of immunology/inflammation, locomotion/integument, and neuropsychiatry.
• MED:8224 Mechanisms of Health and Disease Keystone: The transition between classroom instruction in mechanisms of health and disease and clinical practice.