Program Overview

Introduction to the Physician Assistant Program

The Physician Assistant (PA) program at Baylor College of Medicine is designed to prepare students for their future roles in the PA profession as clinicians, educators, researchers, policy experts, and patient advocates. The innovative 30-month curriculum goes beyond the competencies essential to the provision of high-quality patient care to ensure students achieve mastery of various skills and knowledge.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum is divided into a two-semester 13-month didactic phase and a three-semester 17-month clinical phase of instruction. The longitudinal Master's Paper Project experience is comprised of five required learning activities that begin mid-way during the didactic phase of the curriculum and end just days prior to graduation.

Didactic Phase

The didactic phase includes coursework in:

• Administrative sciences essential to the organizational, informational, and financial underpinnings of clinical practice
• Knowledge and skills required for practice-based learning and continuous improvement
• Interdisciplinary teamwork skills necessary to work as part of the healthcare team
• Epidemiological approach to understanding health and disease in human populations
• Differential diagnosis as a skill fundamental to the assessment, diagnosis, and treatment of illness and injury
• Motivational interviewing and behavioral counseling skills to identify and modify lifestyle practices that place persons at greater risk of illness
• The latest advances in molecular biology, genetics, immunology, information sciences, and diagnostic technologies
• The economics of medical care along with the ethical policies surrounding the provision of care

Clinical Phase

The clinical phase includes hands-on learning experiences in various clinical settings, where students practice and receive feedback on their history-taking, examination, and counseling skills.

Enrichment Pathways

Physician assistant students also have the option to pursue specialized interests through enrichment pathways offered in collaboration with the School of Medicine. Pathways open to PA students include:

• Medical Ethics Pathway: The Center for Medical Ethics and Health Policy offers the Medical Ethics Pathway for medical and physician assistant students seeking to develop greater knowledge and expertise in medical ethics.
• Tropical Medicine: The Diploma Course in Tropical Medicine offered by the Baylor's National School of Tropical Medicine is designed to prepare medical and physician assistant students with the knowledge and skills to diagnose and treat tropical infectious diseases.

Lifestyle Medicine

Lifestyle Medicine is the therapeutic use of lifestyle change in patient care to prevent and treat disease. The PA program includes modules in nutrition, physical activity, mental well-being, and behavior change, helping students learn how lifestyle can prevent or cause disease and how to apply skills related to nutrition assessment and counseling.

Curriculum Structure

The 30-month curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in the PA profession. The curriculum includes:

• A two-semester 13-month didactic phase
• A three-semester 17-month clinical phase
• A longitudinal Master's Paper Project experience

Leveraging Technology

The Anatomage table and software enhance the anatomy learning process for all students, providing a state-of-the-art learning experience.

Program Details

The PA program at Baylor College of Medicine is committed to providing students with a comprehensive education in the PA profession. The program includes:

• A 30-month curriculum
• A didactic phase and a clinical phase
• Enrichment pathways in medical ethics and tropical medicine
• A focus on lifestyle medicine
• The use of technology to enhance learning

Schools and Programs

Baylor College of Medicine offers a range of schools and programs, including:

• School of Medicine
• Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
• National School of Tropical Medicine
• School of Health Professions

Research

Baylor College of Medicine is committed to advancing research in various fields, including:

• Academic Centers
• Departments
• Faculty Labs
• Research Centers
• Research Offices

Community

Baylor College of Medicine is committed to serving the community through:

• Healthcare Outreach
• Education Outreach
• Global Programs
• Community Events

About

Baylor College of Medicine is a premier academic medical practice, delivering compassionate, innovative, evidence-based care. The college is committed to:

• Our Campus
• Departments
• Academic Centers
• Administrative Offices
• Affiliates
• Leadership
• Giving
• Alumni