University of New England

Program Information Admission Transfer Credit and Advanced Standing Curricular Requirements Program Standards Academic Policy Financial Information Graduation Requirements Department Website

Degree: Master of Science (M.S.), Physician Assistant

College: Health Professions

Department: Physician Assistant

Contact: Please call: 1-800-477-4UNE or 207-221-4398 for further information. Applications are available online from Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) www.caspaonline.org.

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Overview
The Master of Science - Physician Assistant Program (MSPA) has been planned to effectively utilize faculty expertise from the University's three colleges. Some faculty hold joint appointments with responsibility for teaching medical and physician assistant students as well as other health profession matriculants. Similarly, physician assistant candidates will receive clinical supervision as part of an integrated team of health providers. It is our expectation that these collaborative strategies toward teaching and learning will ultimately result in high quality, cost-effective health care delivery, particularly in medically under- served regions of New England.

Upon successful completion of the Physician Assistant Program, the University of New England awards the master of science degree. The program operates on a twenty-four month full-time calendar, beginning in early June of each year with a new incoming class.

Mission Statement
The mission of the University of New England Physician Assistant Program is to prepare master primary care physician assistants who will practice with physicians and other members of the health care team. Special emphasis is placed on educating clinicians who will provide healthcare to rural and urban underserved populations. The University of New England is committed to developing practitioners who are skilled in primary medical care, geriatrics, health promotion and public health practice.

Graduate Professional Competencies
The mission of the Program is accomplished by having graduates who meet the goals of the educational process.  Graduates of the Physician Assistant Program will:

• Understand the basic sciences of anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology and be able to utilize this knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases.
• Understand the principles of pharmacotherapeutics and to apply them in the treatment of patients.
• Elicit a detailed, accurate history and perform a thorough physical examination.
• Understand how to order and interpret appropriate diagnostic tests in a cost efficient manner.
• Present patient data and document it appropriately in the medical record.
• Provide quality acute and ongoing patient care by appropriately delineating patient problems and by formulating and implementing patient management plans, including referrals to other healthcare providers and agencies.
• Perform or assist in the performance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and manage or assist in the management of medical and surgical conditions, particularly in life threatening situations.
• Understand the principles of public health and incorporate health promotion and disease prevention into a patient care practice.
• Use information technology in the provision of quality healthcare and clinical decision-making.
• Evaluate the medical literature critically and apply this knowledge and the principles of evidence-based medicine to clinical practice.
• Provide compassionate and competent healthcare to patients of all ages and backgrounds.
• Understand the medical and social issues that affect the geriatric patient and provide appropriate management of these problems.
• Counsel patients, their families and their caregivers regarding issues of health, illness and medical care.
• Understand the historical and contemporary role of the physician assistant in the healthcare system.
• Participate effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
• Understand the principles of patient oriented healthcare and to communicate clearly with patients.
• Identify the special dynamics of providing healthcare to rural or underserved populations.
• Demonstrate appropriate professional behavior by following the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Code of Ethics of the Physician Assistant Profession.
• The educational philosophy of the Program seeks to instruct and mentor our students to achieve these competencies and encourage the development of cognitive, clinical, and professional skills necessary to become an effective healthcare provider.  The program also promotes the importance of life long learning and educates students to serve as leaders within the profession.
  
  

What is a PA?
The University of New England's Master of Science - Physician Assistant Program was designed according to the Essentials and Guidelines for an Accredited Educational Program for the Physician Assistant. The University of New England Physician Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

Other
Physician Assistants (PAs) are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Physician Assistants are qualified by graduation from an accredited physician assistant educational program and/or certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Within the physician/PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision-making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services under the general supervision of the physician.

Requirements

	•	At least 90 undergraduate credits from an accredited institution(s) at time of application, and a Bachelor Degree prior to matriculation (unless in UNE pre-PA accelerated 3/2 track).
	•	At least eight credit hours in biology courses with labs, equivalent to two semester courses, or six credit hours of advanced biology.
	•	At least eight credit hours of general chemistry, equivalent to two semester courses consisting of lecture and laboratory.
	•	Either the biology or chemistry credits must have been completed within eight years of matriculation.
	•	Four credit hours of anatomy and physiology consisting of lecture and laboratory.
	•	Completion of six credits in English, including at least three credits in English composition.
	•	Completion of six credits in psychology/sociology or related behavioral sciences.
	•	Courses in statistics, physics, biochemistry, and computer science are highly recommended.
	•	A minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 in all natural science courses (any biology, biochemistry, chemistry, and physics courses) and minimum overall GPA of 2.75.
	•	Paid or volunteer experience in a health/human services setting with direct patient/client contact will be viewed as highly desirable.
	•	Computer experience strongly recommended.

The Admission Committee reserves the right to make exceptions to the above when it deems such a decision is appropriate.

Note: Before matriculation, accepted applicants will need to obtain a physical exam with proof of up-to-date immunization status and a current Health Provider Basic Life Support course. This information must be presented upon registration.

 

Procedures and Policies

	•	Applications for admissions are accepted through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistant Programs (CASPA) at www.caspaonline.org May 1 through October 1. All admission decisions are completed in the early spring prior to the June start date.
	•	On-campus interviews are granted to qualified applicants upon invitation by the Admissions Committee, and are required for admission to the program.
	•	All admission policies and procedures are subject to continuous review by the Admissions Committee and may be changed without notice.
	•	Deadline for submission of a competed application with all supporting documents is October 1st of each year prior to the start of June classes.

Transfer Credit
Transfer credits are rarely awarded to students who transfer from another physician assistant program. The program director will award transfer credits on a case-by-case basis.

Advanced Standing
Students who have taken basic science graduate or undergraduate courses rarely qualify for advanced placement (advanced standing). This policy is usually reserved for students who have advanced education/degrees in a particular subject matter. To obtain credit for a course, the student must request an Advanced Placement Form from the program. A request for advanced placement must be approved by the course director and program director.

Experiential Learning
No credit will be awarded to students for experiential learning.

Phase I of the program of study consists of 56 credit hours in pre-clinical didactic course work. The summer, fall and spring terms include instruction in the fields of microbiology, clinical medicine, pharmacology, emergency medicine, anatomy, physiology, and evidence based medicine, surgery and epidemiology. 

Twelve months of clinical rotations will take place upon successful completion of the didactic phase. The program ends with a final week on campus, consisting of two credit hours, which provides a forum for the presentation of students' research projects  to peers and faculty; offers assistance in preparing the graduating students for certification; and gives physician assistant candidates an opportunity to integrate the didactic and clinical portions of their training in preparation for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam. 

	Course/Program Area	Credits
	Summer I
	June - August (10 weeks)
	PAC 500 - Anatomy	5
	PAC 503 - Clinical Assessment I	2
	PAC 506 - Integrating Seminar I	1
	PAC 509 - Clinical Medicine I	1
	PAC 511 - Health Promotion Disease Prevention	2
	PAC 520 - Behavioral Science	2
	PAC 541 - Epidemiology	1
	Semester total	14
	Fall
	September - December (15 weeks)
	PAC 513 - Clinical Assessment II	1
	PAC 516 - Integrating Seminar II	1
	PAC 517 - Microbiology	3
	PAC 518 - Pharmacology I	3
	PAC 519 - Clinical Medicine II	8
	PAC 522 - Interdisciplinary Geriatric Education Practicum I	1
	Semester total	17
	Spring
	January - May (20 weeks)
	PAC 510 - Professional and Ethical Issues for Healthcare Providers	2
	PAC 533 - Clinical Assessment III	2
	PAC 536 - Integrating Seminar III	1
	PAC 537 - Emergency Medicine and Surgery	5
	PAC 538 - Pharmacology II	1
	PAC 539 - Clinical Medicine III	10
	PAC 540 - Interdisciplinary Geriatric Education Practicum II	1
	PAC 544 - Evidence Based Medicine I	3
	Semester total	25
	Spring II - Summer II
	June - June (12 months)
	Clinical Rotations
	PAC 600 - Internal Medicine (6 Weeks)	6
	PAC 601 - Internal Medicine (6 Weeks)	6
	PAC 602 - Emergency Medicine (6 Weeks)	6
	PAC 603 - Surgery (6 Weeks)	6
	PAC 607 - Family Medicine I (6 Weeks)	6
	PAC 608 - Family Medicine II (6 Weeks)	6
	PAC 612 - Primary Care Selective	6
	PAC 613 - Elective	6
	PAC 611 - Rotation Seminars	2
	PAC 620 - Preparation for Clinical Practice	1
	PAC 624 - Evidence Based Medicine II	1
	Semester Total	52

Academic Program Standards
PA students must complete all MSPA Program requirements and receive a passing grade in all courses and clinical rotations to be eligible for graduation.

Technical Standards
All students must be able to meet the following University of New England Physician Assistant Program technical standards to successfully complete the Physician Assistant Program.  A candidate for the Physician Assistant Program must have abilities and skills in five categories: observation, communication, motor, intellectual, and behavioral/social. Reasonable accommodation for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis, but a candidate must be able to perform in an independent manner. The following skills are required, with or without accommodation:

Observation:  Candidates must have sufficient sensory capacity to observe in the lecture hall, the laboratory, the outpatient setting, and the patient's bedside. Sensory skills adequate to perform a physical examination are required. Functional vision, hearing and tactile sensation must be adequate to observe a patient's condition and to elicit information through procedures regularly required in a physical examination, such as inspection, auscultation and palpation.

Communication:  Candidates must be able to communicate effectively in both academic and health care settings. Candidates must show evidence of effective written and verbal communication skills.

Motor:  The ability to participate in basic diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers and procedures (e.g. palpation, auscultation) is required. Candidates must have sufficient motor function to execute movements required to provide care to patients. Candidates must be able to negotiate patient care environments and must be able to move between settings, such as clinic, classroom building, and hospital.

Physical stamina sufficient to complete the rigorous course of didactic and clinical study is required. Long periods of sitting, standing, or moving are required in classroom laboratory, and clinical experiences.

Intellectual:  Candidates must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize. Problem- solving, one of the critical skills demanded of physician assistants, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, candidates should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures. Candidates must be able to read and understand medical literature. In order to complete the Physician Assistant Program degree, candidates must be able to demonstrate mastery of these skills and the ability to use them together in a timely fashion in medical problem-solving and patient care.

Behavioral and Social Attributes: Candidates must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt completion of all academic and patient care responsibilities. The development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients and other members of the health care team is essential. Flexibility, compassion, integrity, motivation, interpersonal skills and the ability to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice are all required.

For more information on disabilities and accommodation, please contact the UNE Office of Students With Disabilities at (207) 602-2815.

Grading Policy
Upon completion of a course of study, the faculty member in charge of that course submits the number of hours taught and a grade for each student to the academic coordinator. The MSPA program uses a high pass/pass/fail grading system.

Incomplete Policy
An incomplete (I) grade is given to a student who is doing passing work in a course, but who, for reasons beyond his/her control, is not able to complete the work on time. The I grade must be changed within the time limit determined by the instructor and may not extend beyond six weeks following the end of the semester or thirty days following the end of an eight-week session. The I grade defers computation of credits for the course to which it is assigned. Failure to complete the work before the limitation date, or within the time imposed by the instructor, results in the assignment of an administrative F grade for the course.

Course Add/Drop or Withdrawal Policy
Due to the standard curriculum sequence within the MSPA Program, students are not allowed to add or drop courses. Students may not withdraw from a MSPA course; to do so indicates a complete withdrawal from the MSPA Program.

Repeat Course Policy
Courses in the MSPA Program are offered once per year. If a course is failed the student is allowed to repeat it; however, s/he must wait until the next time that course is offered in the MSPA Program schedule. Until the course is offered again the student must apply for and remain on a leave of absence.

Upon completion of a repeated course, a new listing and assigned grade are placed on the student's transcript. The original course listing and grade remain on the student's transcript. All courses are listed chronologically on the transcript by semester or academic period in which they are enrolled.

Tuition and Fees
Tuition and fees for subsequent years may vary. Other expenses include books and housing. For more information regarding tuition and fees, please consult the Financial Information section of this catalog.

Lab Fees
A fee to cover the expenses for specific science courses (e.g., anatomy, microbiology), Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), and evaluative testing, including the use of high-fidelity simulators, will be charged.

Equipment
Students in the didactic phase will be required to obtain certain medical equipment. A list of required equipment is included with pre-matriculation materials. During the first week of class, the program will bring vendors to the school to demonstrate various brands of equipment. The vendors will give the students a group discount, but students are not obligated to purchase the equipment from these vendors. Estimated cost to the student is $550 - $775. Price is dependent on type, brand and quality of equipment. The University assumes no financial responsibility for this equipment.

Books
Students in the didactic phase can plan on spending approximately $1,200 to $1,500 on required textbooks. Course syllabi and the program book list also include recommended books which students are not required to purchase, but may wish to have as important reference materials.

Other Expenses
Students are responsible for expenses involved with travel, parking, living expenses and meals at clinical sites.

Financial Aid
Detailed information and applications are available on request from the Financial Aid Office at the University Campus. Call 207-602-2342 or visit the Financial Aid website.

Student Employment
The program discourages students from having outside employment while attending the PA Program. If a student feels that it is necessary to work while in the program, it is advisable that the student informs his/her academic advisor.

Students must complete all program requirements prior to the issuance of their Master of Science degree and the certificate of completion of the program. The Core Faculty Committee will be responsible for notifying the program director when students have completed all of the requirements for graduation.

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Notice and Responsibilities Regarding this Catalog

This Catalog documents the academic programs, policies, and activities of the University of New England for the 2008-2009 academic year. The information contained herein is accurate as of date of publication August 1, 2008.

The University of New England reserves the right in its sole judgment to make changes of any nature in its programs, calendar, or academic schedule whenever it is deemed necessary or desirable, including changes in course content, the rescheduling of classes with or without extending the academic term, canceling of scheduled classes or other academic activities, in any such case giving such notice thereof as is reasonably practicable under the circumstances.

While each student may work closely with an academic advisor, he or she must retain individual responsibility for meeting requirements in this catalog and for being aware of any changes in provisions or requirements.