Physician Associate Program University of Oklahoma, Health Sciences Center College of Medicine Department of Family and Preventive Medicine Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
History PA Profession began at Duke in 1965 OUHSC-OKC PA Program was established in 1970 30-month program with graduates earning a Master of Health Science degree upon successful completion of the program. Accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
Change in Accreditation Status At its September 2014 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has placed the University of Oklahoma Physician Assistant program sponsored by University of Oklahoma on Accreditation - Probation status until its next validation review in September 2016. Probation is a temporary status of accreditation conferred when a program does not meet the Standards and when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened. Once placed on probation, programs that still fail to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and/or risk having their accreditation withdrawn.
Change in Accreditation Status New PA Program Director July 2014 Report will concentrate our efforts that are already in motion Highlights: Our 5-year first-time Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) rate is 99%, exceeding the national rate of 93% The latest US News and World Report ranked the University of Oklahoma Physician Associate Program 16th in the US We attract and admit the very best students that Oklahoma has to offer We will recruit and place a 2015 and 2016 class and they will qualify to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) We are fully confident that we will be reinstated with full accreditation September 2016 A reporting of the citations and our response to the citations will be posted on our website under the Accreditation tab or http://www.oumedicine.com/familymedicine/academic-information/paprogram---okc/accreditation
PANCE
Tulsa PA Program Established in 2008 Part of the University of Oklahoma School of Community Medicine Tulsa and OKC PA programs independently accredited Tulsa PA Program has a separate application process CASPA application available at www.caspaonline.org Supplemental application through OUHSC Students applying to both programs MUST complete application and submit supplemental information (letters of recommendations, position statements, resumes, etc.) to BOTH programs.
What is a PA? What can they do? Where do they work?
Physician Assistants are... The AAPA defines a PA as, A physician assistant (or PA) is a nationally certified and statelicensed medical professional. PAs practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians and other providers. They practice and prescribe medication in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and all U.S. territories, with the exception of Puerto Rico. The Oklahoma Medical Board states, In the United States, a physician assistant (PA) is an advanced practice clinician licensed to practice medicine with the supervision of a licensed physician. Health care services" means services which require training in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease, including the use and administration of drugs, and which are performed by physician assistants under the supervision and at the direction of physicians.
Difference between PA & NP PA s are trained as generalist NP s choose a specialty training PA s follow medical/physician model NP s follow medical/nursing model Delegatory authority differs state to state
Physician Assistants may... Obtain medical histories Perform physical examinations Perform diagnostic tests (PAP smears, EKG, etc.) Order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests Diagnose and treat medical problems
Physician Assistants may Prescribe medications Debride, suture and care for wounds Initiate and manage emergency treatment Assist in surgery Make hospital rounds Write medical orders in hospitals
Physician Assistants work... Anywhere physicians work such as: Private physician offices/clinics Public and private hospitals Emergency departments All branches of the armed forces Veterans affairs facilities Schools and industrialized settings Federal and state correctional institutions
OUHSC-OKC PA Program Classes begin early-june Graduation in November Curriculum is divided into two sections: Didactic Component Clinical Component
Didactic Curriculum June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May June July Aug Anatomy Focuses Physiology Pharmacology Human Behavior Biochemistry Med Term Lab Medicine Neuroanatomy Clin Med I Radiology Clin Med II Physical Diagnosis Pathophysiology Clin Med III Patient Management Skills Curriculum has not changed. Some courses were merged, others moved to more appropriate point in curriculum
Typical didactic weekly schedule Classes generally held 8-5, Monday - Friday Occasional Saturday and evening courses are required
Clinical Curriculum Emergency Medicine (2-Month Rotation) Primary Care Primary Care (2-Month Rotation) Mental Health Surgery Obstetrics, Gynecology Pediatrics Elective Medicine I Medicine II Medicine III Internal Medicine Preceptorship Clinical Year Courses Medical Practice Management & Specialty Populations, Literature Review
Clinical Rotation Information Location All rotations MUST be completed within Oklahoma Preceptorship may be done out-of-state Board-Prep Exam Days All students must return to OKC each month for a board preparation written examination Clinical year courses as assigned
Rural Rotation Information Rural Rotations All of your rotations may be scheduled in a rural setting. Either the 2-month Primary Care or the 2-month ER must be done in a rural setting. Housing As a courtesy, the program provides housing at some rural clinic sites. Any rotation that is 50 miles or less from the OUHSC campus is considered a drivable rotation and housing will not be provided. Students may be required to commute 30 minutes or more to certain rotations.
Admission Information Application Deadline OCTOBER 1
Application Criteria Requirements Application Credit Hours Prerequisites Grade Point Averages and GRE Resume Personal Statement Letters of Recommendations Personal Interview
Application Deadline is OCTOBER 1 It is the applicant s responsibility to ensure ALL application materials are received by October 1. Failure to have all materials postmarked by October 1 st will result in an incomplete application. Incomplete applications are not considered for interviews. Apply early, allows time to submit missing or incomplete information Check Application Status All application materials received will be posted on the admissions website http://www.ouhsc.edu/admissions/home.aspx If it is not posted to your application check list, we do not have it
Prerequisites Non-Science English Composition I English Composition II US History Government Algebra (or higher) Psychology Psychology Elective (NOT sociology) English, History, Government are waived if Bachelor degree will have been awarded prior to the start date of PA courses
Prerequisites Science General Chemistry I General Chemistry II Physics Human Anatomy Physiology Microbiology Pathogenic Microbiology, Immunology, Genetics, or Virology One semester of Anatomy and one semester of Physiology OR two semesters of a combined anatomy and physiology course (A&P) There is no preference for one course over another for pathogenic microbiology, immunology, genetics, or virology
College credit outside the US Additional paperwork needed Transcripts evaluated by WES TOEFL if needed Born outside the US Minimum Score of 100 Handout with specific steps http://www.oumedicine.com/familymedicine/academic-information/pa-program--- okc/prospective-students/international-students-international-graduates
GRADE POINT AVERAGE & GRE SCORES GRADE POINT AVERAGES GRE SCORES GPA 3.68 GRE WRITING 3.92 SCIENCE GPA 3.59 GRE QUANTATIVE 151.07 LAST 60 HOURS GPA - 3.75 GRE VERBAL 152.04 GRADUATE HOUR GPA 3.79 DEGREE INFORMATION number of students earning Associate s Degree 0 number of students earning Bachelor s Degree 43 number of students earning Master s Degree 5 number of students earning degree higher than Master s Degree 2 UPPER LEVEL SCIENCE Average number of upper-level science courses taken (or will be taking) beyond the prerequisite requirements 8 PREVIOUS APPLICANTS Accepted applicants that have previously applied to the program 22 of 50
Poor Grades Fix the Problem Last 60 Hours are Important Good indicator of your current academic status Science Hours are Important It is recommended to take a higher level course in the same field when science course grade is poor
Resume NO standard resume format is required Focus on: Involvement in pre-pa organizations Work experience Volunteerism Leadership experience Involvement in professional clubs/organizations/sororities/fraternities Shadowing experiences (list PA, specialty and time spent with PA) List students that you have talked with and any PA classes you may have attended
Personal Statement One-page statement on why you want to be a PA Allows us to evaluate your writing style Gives the interviewers a chance to learn something about you prior to the interview
Letters of Recommendation Recommend professional references (not personal) Make sure letters have your first and last name on them Give references self-addressed, stamped envelopes Tell them they need to be submitted early to ensure the deadline is satisfied
Personal Interview Occurs in early January Allows us to get to know you personally, not just what is on paper We are mostly interested in what kind of person you are and how you would fit into our program Recommendations: Make eye contact, smile, relax! Be honest and forthright with your answers Know why you want to be a PA rather than any other profession Ask questions of the interviewers
Healthcare Experience We understand that it can be hard to get healthcare experience It is more important to find out the role of PAs in various settings Volunteering is encouraged Helping others is the foundation of medicine Shows compassion and empathy towards others
Student Interactions Come to class with our students Gives insight to what your life will be like if you are accepted into this program Focus on learning: Blood and guts of the program Emotional demands of PA student life Effects on personal time and family life
Financial Commitment Due to the intense nature of the program students are discouraged from working Student loans are available to cover not only the cost of tuition and fees, but also the costs of daily life expenses Average amount of student loans varies but usually ranges from $71,000-$81,000
Program Costs-Estimated Tuition and Fees for 2014-2015 Academic Year Total Resident Tuition, Mandatory, & College Fees-$35,359.20 o 1st year- $13,731.65 o 2nd year-$13,731.65 o College Fees-$530.00 o 3rd year-$7365.90 Total Nonresident Tuition, Mandatory, & College Fees-$68,801.70 o 1st year Non-$27,108.65 o 2nd year Non-$27,108.65 o College Fees-$530.00 o 3rd year Non-$14,054.40
Program Costs-Estimated Additional Program Cost Total Estimated Additional Program Cost- $10,935.00 o Books/Supplies- $7396.00 o Computer- $2500.00 o Medical Equipment- $1039.00 If you need more information in regards to Financial Aid and/or Tuition and Fees please feel free to visit the websites for Financial Aid or the Bursar Services. You may also email us at infookcpa@ouhsc.edu or visit our website.
Selection Letters Mailed by the Office of Admissions in February Acceptance Alternate List Denial
Recommendations if not Selected Prepare for possibility of not being selected Enroll in spring courses Don t get discouraged Many students are not accepted on their first application Applying a second time shows determination and commitment Seek advisement Personal one-on-one advisement with PA Program faculty is available to those not accepted
Recommendations if not Selected General recommendations Follow PA Program Faculty recommendations Get degree, if not done already Gain more shadowing experience Take upper level science courses or graduate courses Healthcare experience Volunteering
Outlook on PA Profession PA profession is one of the fastest growing and highly regarded professions in the country and is critical to the future of cost-effective, quality healthcare delivery in the U.S. Demand for physician assistants has skyrocketed more than 300 percent in the last three years Ranked one of the 30 fastest growing occupations PA jobs are expected to increase 38% by 2022
PA profession ranks high in today s economy Forbes.com ranked physician assistant first in its list of best masters degrees for jobs CNNMoney.com ranked PA as number two on its best jobs in America list U.S. News & World Report ranked the PA profession as one of the 50 best careers of 2011 Kiplinger's named PA as one of its great careers for your future The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that PA will be the second fastest growing health occupation between 2008 and 2018
Employment and Salary There is a need for PAs in Oklahoma PA Program keeps a job list that is available free-of-charge to PAs and PA students Many students have job contracts prior to graduation Average starting salary for new graduates ~ $90,000 With experience (and depending on specialty area) many PA salaries exceed ~$100,000 annually
Final Recommendations Practice interview skills with an advisor/professor/boss Research our program and the PA profession prior to interview Visit our website @ www.ouhsc.edu/paprogram Talk to PAs and PA students Visit the AAPA and SAAAPA websites (http://www.aapa.org/ and www.saaapa.aapa.org) Outside resources OAPA NCCPA OMLB ARC-PA PAEA Be knowledgeable of current events and medical issues Bring copy of latest transcript with you to the interview (official and unofficial)
More Information PA Program www.ouhsc.edu/paprogram 405-271-2058 Class and Students PAstudents-OKC@ouhsc.edu Pre-PA Advisement Sessions infookc-pa@ouhsc.edu Prerequisites and Course Transfer Information Office of Admissions 405-271-2359 http://www.ouhsc.edu/admissions /Home.aspx Online Application https://apps.ouhsc.edu/admissions/ http://www.okpa.org/ http://www.aapa.org/ http://www.paeaonline.org/