Didactic Year (MPAS-1)
Overview
Clinical medicine, pharmacology, and therapeutics are combined (Clinical Medicine and Pharmacotherapeutics) to allow students to complete the entire picture of the clinical encounter at one time and over three semesters. Pharmacology and therapeutics are combined with the clinical presentation in one-semester special topic Clinical Medicine courses of ‘Women’s Health’, ‘Pediatrics,’ ‘Orthopedics and Rheumatology,’ and ‘Health Promotion, Disease Prevention, and Nutrition.’ Additional courses in Imaging Studies, ECG Interpretation, Laboratory Studies, Anatomy and Physiology, and Medical Literature Interpretation and Evidence-based Medicine, Procedures, History and Physical Examination, Social and Behavioral Medicine, and Health Care Communication also exist. A clinical integration course focuses on the application of knowledge.
Learning strategies used in courses include the traditional lecture format, basic science laboratory, hybrid, small group tutorials, and patient case discussions. Objectives for each course are consistent with the goals of the Program. Regular patient contact is an important part of the Program. Students begin to see patients during the didactic year. Standardized patient evaluations, through simulation and actors, are also a regular part of the didactic curriculum.
Before proceeding into the clinical phase of the curriculum, students must satisfactorily complete all didactic work.
Coursework
Delivery method: Didactic courses are primarily in person with occasional online or hybrid sessions.
Didactic curriculum = 55 credit hours.
MPAS 502: Clinical Anatomy with Lab for PAs
4 Semester Hours
This course will use an anatomical approach to study human body structures with an emphasis on clinically relevant anatomy for students. Students will learn structural anatomy from the microscopic level through the formation of complete organ systems. This course is designed to provide PA students with an extensive background in human anatomy through lecture, laboratory, virtual dissection and independent learning exercises. The course will have a clinical emphasis. Lectures and labs will emphasize anatomy and anatomic relationships significant to the physical exam, common clinical medicine topics, and surgical procedures.
MPAS 503: Physiology for PAs
4 Semester Hours
This course is designed to provide PA students a foundation of basic science in cellular physiology through lecture and learning exercises. Normal physiology will be presented through an organ system approach. Functional cellular changes and pathologic changes will be included when clinically relevant.
MPAS 512: Interpretation of Imaging Studies for PAs
2 Semester Hours
This course introduces students to the basic principles of diagnostic imaging and interpretation in the management of patients. Examination of normal imaging studies is followed by examination and discussion of abnormalities caused by both trauma and disease.
MPAS 517: History and Physical Exam for PAs
2 Semester Hours
Prepares the student to perform history and physical examinations on patients. Normal, variations and common abnormal findings will be introduced. An emphasis is placed on the relationship of major signs and symptoms to their physiologic or pathophysiologic origins. Students will utilize lecture, recordings, simulation, live demonstration, other students and standardized patients.
MPAS 521: Clinical Medicine and Pharmacotherapeutics I for PAs
4 Semester Hours
Students are introduced to human health and disease encountered in the primary care setting. The course emphasizes a comprehensive approach including an integration of related anatomy and physiology, followed by pathophysiology, identifying risk factors, clinical findings, diagnostic methods, management including both medical and surgical, patient education, follow up and prevention.
In addition, students are introduced to the principles of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and the mechanisms of drugs to enable the rational use of effective agents in the diagnosis and treatment of disease considering mechanism of action, indications, adverse effects, drug interactions.
MPAS 530: Social and Behavioral Medicine
3 Semester Hours
This course emphasizes personality development, normative responses to stress, psychosomatic manifestations of illness, sexuality, responses to death/dying, behavioral patterns related to the maintenance and restoration of health. It focuses on normal/abnormal development of children, adults and seniors; Students acquire skills in basic treatment/counseling, patient education, substance abuse and violence screening.
MPAS 508: 12-Lead ECG Interpretation
1 Semester Hour
This course provides the physician assistant student with instruction in interpreting 12-lead electrocardiograms for heart rate, rhythm, conduction system blocks, electrical axis, hypertrophy, ischemia, injury, and infarction.
This course also provides instruction regarding the effects of various drugs, electrolyte disorders, diseases, and pacemakers.
MPAS 510: Interpretation of Laboratory Studies for PAs
3 Semester Hours
This course introduces the physician assistant student to the use and interpretation of laboratory studies used in the diagnosis, screening, and/or monitoring of disorders commonly encountered in clinical practice.
MPAS 519: History and Physical Exam with Lab for PAs
3 Semester Hours
Students learn to perform history and physical examinations on patients. Normal, variations and common abnormal findings will be introduced. An emphasis is placed on the relationship of major signs and symptoms to their physiologic or pathophysiologic origins. Students will utilize lecture, recordings, simulation, live demonstration, other students and standardized patients.
MPAS 523: Clinical Medicine and Pharmacotherapeutics II for PAs
7 Semester Hours
Students are introduced to human health and disease encountered in the primary care setting. The course emphasizes a comprehensive approach including an integration of related anatomy and physiology, followed by pathophysiology, identifying risk factors, clinical findings, diagnostic methods, management including both medical and surgical, patient education, follow up and prevention.
In addition, students are introduced to the principles of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and the mechanisms of drugs to enable the rational use of effective agents in the diagnosis and treatment of disease considering mechanism of action, indications, adverse effects, drug interactions.
MPAS 537: Healthcare Communications for PAs
1 Semester Hour
This course encourages critical thought process. Students will develop interpersonal and oral and written communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families and other health professionals.
MPAS 538: Medical Literature Interpretation
1 Semester Hour
This course is designed to prepare the physician assistant student to apply the concepts of research design and statistical analysis within the clinical environment. Research skills developed in this course emphasize a systematic and scientific approach to problem solving.
MPAS 552: Women’s Health
2 Semester Hours
Students are introduced to women’s health issues encountered in the primary care setting, including obstetrics and gynecology. The course emphasizes a comprehensive approach including an integration of related anatomy and physiology, followed by pathophysiology, identifying risk factors, clinical findings, diagnostic methods, management including both medical and surgical, patient education, follow up and prevention.
MPAS 525: Clinical Medicine and Pharmacotherapeutics III for PAs
6 Semester Hours
Students are introduced to human health and disease encountered in the primary care setting. The course emphasizes a comprehensive approach including an integration of related anatomy and physiology, followed by pathophysiology, identifying risk factors, clinical findings, diagnostic methods, management including both medical and surgical, patient education, follow up and prevention. In addition, students are introduced to the principles of drug absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and the mechanisms of drugs to enable the rational use of effective agents in the diagnosis and treatment of disease considering mechanism of action, indications, adverse effects, drug interactions.
MPAS 527: Clinical Procedures with Lab for PAs
4 Semester Hours
This course provides the physician assistant student with the knowledge and skills required to perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures commonly performed in clinical practice.
MPAS 528: Health Promotion, Disease Prevention and Nutrition
1 Semester Hour
This course emphasizes intervention strategies, public health considerations in selected disease states, immunizations, environmental health, behavioral considerations in prevention and assessment of disease and health, implications for individual and population-based patient care, nutrition, provider education and resource utilization.
MPAS 532: Pediatric Medicine
2 Semester Hours
This course is an introduction to common pediatric health problems from the newborn period through adolescence. The lectures focus on health promotion, disease prevention and screening, pathology identification and management, and patient education and counseling for the pediatric patient and his/her family.
MPAS 550: Orthopedics and Rheumatology
2 Semester Hours
Students are introduced to orthopedic and rheumatologic conditions encountered in the primary care setting. The course emphasizes a comprehensive approach including an integration of related anatomy and physiology, followed by pathophysiology, identifying risk factors, clinical findings, diagnostic methods, management including both medical and surgical, patient education, follow up and prevention.
MPAS 560: Clinical Integration for PAs
3 Semester Hours
This course provides students with an opportunity to manage virtual patients by applying the knowledge, skills and attitudes developed in other professional physician assistant coursework.
Grade Standards
The faculty of record assigns grades for all courses and clinical rotations in the PA curriculum.
Didactic Year Grading Scale
The following programmatic grading scale will be used:
| A | 92.50-100.00% |
| A- | 89.50-92.49% |
| B+ | 83.00-89.49% |
| B | 76.50-82.99% |
| B- | 70.00-76.49% |
There will be no rounding.