Physician Assistant Education Program

College of Health Related Professions:
Physician Assistant Education Program

The Physician Assistant (PA) is a professional member of the health care team who is qualified by academic and clinical education to practice medicine with supervision by a licensed physician.

The Physician Assistant (PA) is a professional member of the health care team who is qualified by academic and clinical education to practice medicine with supervision by a licensed physician. Physician Assistants follow a medical model of patient care and are qualified to perform a wide range of duties traditionally performed only by physicians. Physician Assistants obtain patient histories; perform physical examinations; diagnose illnesses; determine treatment plans; order and interpret laboratory, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures; prescribe medication; and provide patient education, counseling and follow-up care. Employed in all health care settings and in every medical and surgical specialty, physician assistants function to increase access and enhance the quality of patient care while contributing to medical cost containment. Demand for physician assistant services is rapidly increasing with approximately six employment opportunities for every new graduate. The physician assistant's scope of practice is delegated according to practice setting, level of expertise and health care institutional guidelines.

The Program

The two-year, full-time program is designed to provide the academic and clinical foundations for Primary Care Physician Assistants; to foster the development of the attitudes, values and behavior appropriate for professional health care providers; and to prepare students to participate in team approach to patient care. Emphasis is placed on understanding the role and responsibilities of physician assistants in the provision of quality health service, health promotion and disease prevention, and in the treatment and management of disease states.

The program, which begins on June 1, offers a twenty-seven month upper-division professional course of study leading to a B.S. degree. The curriculum integrates the basic sciences, social sciences, medical sciences and clinical experiences to provide a comprehensive introduction to the practice of medicine. The four semester didactic phase consists of lectures, laboratories, practica, and simulation experiences designed to provide students with the knowledge necessary to address patients in a clinical context. The clinical phase consists of ten supervised clerkships (clinical training experiences) at a broad range of clinical affiliates, designed to provide seniors with a valuable opportunity to develop and refine their professional clinical skills. Graduates of the program are qualified to practice medicine as primary care Physician Assistants under the supervision of licensed physicians.

The program is accredited by the Committee on Allied Health Education. Graduates are required to successfully complete the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant (NCCPA) Initial Certification Examination and to become licensed and registered to practice medicine as physician assistants in New York State.

Statistics and Contacts:

Entering Class Size - 25

For further information contact:

Physician Assistant Education Program
SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn
450 Clarkson Avenue, box 1222
Brooklyn, NY 11203
Telephone: (718) 270-2324

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