Dear Prospective Student,
Thank you for your interest in pursuing a career as a Physician Assistant and considering our Program.
As program director, I want to share with you several of the many factors that make us unique.
Commitment to Health Professions
The UNE PA Program is an established program at a University known for its commitment to the health professions. We are one of only several universities in the nation with so many programs devoted to patient care.
Since its founding in 1978, our College of Osteopathic Medicine has had an extraordinary impact on health care in Maine, New England, and the nation. Our PA Program is one of nine health care programs that make up UNE’s Westbrook College of Health Professions (WCHP). Other WCHP programs include Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Social Work, Nursing, Nurse Anesthesia, Dental Hygiene, and Athletic Training.
Our College of Pharmacy is a new addition to our campus and the development of a College of Dental Medicine is well under way. All Portland-based programs are part of a new InterProfessional Education Collaborative (IPEC) which continues a long tradition in team-based health education and patient-centered delivery of care.
Successful History
We are proud of our PA Program’s long and successful history. The physician assistant’s role in the workplace has changed much since we graduated our first class in 1996. We continually assess our curriculum to be sure we prepare our students for these ever increasing expectations and challenges.
We have a distinguished faculty who share my commitment to academic excellence. Please read the faculty profiles and see the depth and breadth of experience brought to our students.
Basic Science and Pathophysiology
Our program is built upon a strong basic science and pathophysiology foundation. This fosters an understanding, not just recognition, of disease processes and clinical medicine. We teach evidence-based medicine theory and work in small groups to develop critical thinking skills necessary to address complex medical and surgical problems.
Patient Care
Patient care is introduced in the first year of the program through our nationally recognized InterProfessional Geriatric Education Practicum so that students can begin their clinical year with confidence in their medical knowledge, clinical skills, and professional presence. As emphasized in our mission, our didactic and clinical years provide community-based opportunities to work with the underserved at home and abroad.
Our Program strongly believes in the sensitive, reflective and thoughtful care of our patients and ourselves. All of our patients need to be listened to, understood, and treated unconditionally with respect, empathy and kindness as though they were members of our own family. As we learn about our patients, we also believe in the opportunities created for us to learn about ourselves.
Choosing a Physician Assistant Program is about matching the individual program’s uniqueness to your needs. I would encourage you to read through our website and feel free to contact our Office of Graduate and Professional Admissions for additional information. We look forward to assisting you in achieving your Physician Assistant career goals.
Sincerely,
George Bottomley, DVM, PA-C
Program Director and Associate Professor
Physician Assistant Program
