Twenty-four months to a top medical career Physician assistant (PA) is one of the fastest-growing health careers. The Department of Labor projects a 39% increase in physician assistant jobs through 2018. The mean salary for practicing PAs in Ohio is $86,766. Internationally ranked and renowned for its medical facilities, northeast Ohio offers outstanding career opportunities. BW s 24-month program is full-time, encompassing rigorous didactic and clinical training for physician assistant students. The didactic and clinical phases are each 12 months in length. At the completion of the program, the Master of Medical Science (MMS) degree is awarded from Baldwin Wallace University and you will be prepared to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). 100% of BW s first graduating class of PA students passed the PANCE on their first attempt. BW physician assistants are employed across Ohio, and nationwide in Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, South Carolina and Virginia. They are practicing in specialties including Emergency Medicine, Family Practice, Trauma, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Gastroenterology, Surgery and Orthopedics. One of our recent graduates secured a fellowship in Acute Care Oncology at The Ohio State University James Comprehensive Cancer Center. Integrated approach that's workplace focused Small class sizes, faculty mentoring and collaborative learning are the hallmarks of a Baldwin Wallace education. BW s Physician Assistant Program offers a problem-oriented, evidence-based curriculum that combines lecture, laboratory, and small group seminars. In combination with our holistic approach to learning, BW s physician assistant program prepares you to be a patient care provider across diverse healthcare settings through well-placed clinical rotations. Clinical partners facilitate real-world learning Students have their clinical experiences with institutional partners representing the region's top health care facilities. You'll gain valuable hands-on experience from practicing professionals in a variety of settings, from major research hospitals to clinics to extended care facilities. Comprehensive program, competitively priced Baldwin Wallace University s MMS in Physician Assistant Program is packaged with a single, comprehensive price of $75,000 for the 24-month program (program beginning May 2016). This is an all-inclusive price covering tuition, fees, books, lab coat, stethoscope, and special fees for library electronic resources. New Program Approval by ARC-PA The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional to the Baldwin Wallace University Physician Assistant Program. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status. The status indicates that the plans and resource allocation for the proposed program appear to demonstrate the program s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards, if fully implemented as planned. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. www.bw.edu/pa paprogram@bw.edu 440-826-8012
MMS Physician Assistant Program - Application Process Admission to the Baldwin Wallace PA Program is a highly selective and competitive process. The Admission Committee carefully reviews the academic preparation and achievements of each candidate for admission. Selection is based on a combination of academic performance (GPA and GRE), letters of recommendation, personal narrative, shadowing experience with physician assistants working in the field, life/work experiences and an on-campus interview with program faculty. In addition to these application criteria, preferences for selection include: candidates with extensive direct patient care experience, Baldwin Wallace alumni and Ohio residents. Applicants to the PA Program must have earned a bachelor s degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (4.0 scale) in all college work, and a minimum 3.0 in program prerequisites and associated science courses. The average total GPA and science GPA for candidates selected for admission to the 2015 PA cohort is 3.8. 1. Apply for Admission. The PA Program utilizes the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Access the CASPA web site at https://portal.caspaonline.org and select Baldwin Wallace University. The application cycle is open every year from mid-april until November 1 for the class that matriculates the following year in May. Applicants must have a complete application submitted to CASPA by November 1, 2015 (cycle opens mid-april, 2015) to be considered for the Physician Assistant class beginning May 2016. A complete application requires that the application is e-submitted to CASPA and all transcripts, payments, and at least two letters of reference have been received by CASPA and attached to the application. Documents should be sent to CASPA several weeks prior to the deadline date to ensure all items arrive on time. 2. Official College Transcripts. Official transcripts from each college/university you attended must be mailed directly to: CASPA, P.O. Box 9108, Watertown, MA 02471. Candidates who are offered admission to the Baldwin Wallace University MMS Physician Assistant Program will be required to submit official transcripts directly to the BW Office of Admission prior to enrollment in the PA Program. 3. Three Recommendations. Candidates must submit three recommendations (references) to CASPA. At least one of the recommendations must be from a physician assistant or physician. The other two should be from health care professionals, a university/college professor or advisor, or a work supervisor or manager. 4. Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The GRE general test is required of all applicants to the PA program, and must be submitted to CASPA. The program GRE code is 0498 Baldwin Wallace U PA CASPA. The GRE must be taken within the last 5 years. Strong candidates have scores at or above the 50th percentile. 5. Personal statement. As part of the CASPA application process, prepare a 500-1000 word writing sample that helps the Admission Committee become acquainted with you in ways different from courses, grades and other objective data. 6. Direct Patient Care Experience. The following health care experience should be included in your CASPA application: Healthcare shadowing experience - candidates are required to log at least 40 hours of shadowing experience with a practicing physician assistant in the U.S. Other direct patient contact experience - so that the Admission Committee has a better idea of your background and preparation, candidates should list any other health care related work or volunteer experience in addition to PA shadowing. Criminal Record Candidates with a criminal record will not be eligible to enroll in the Physician Assistant Program at Baldwin Wallace University. All candidates must have a clear Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation (BCII) report and a clear Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) report. International Candidates Candidates for the PA Program must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. All prerequisite courses must be taken at a regionally accredited college or university in the United States. Clinical training and experience from another country brings depth to your application, but does not waive other prerequisite and application requirements. Transcripts from foreign institutions must be translated and verified by World Educational Services as part of the CASPA application process. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam is required for all candidates for whom English is a second language. Minimum TOEFL score of 550 on the paper-based exam, or 100 on the internet-based exam, must be achieved on a test taken within the last 2 years.
Prerequisite Coursework While undergraduate degrees in any major area are welcomed, candidates must have completed specific prerequisite courses with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. The average GPA for students entering the BW Physician Assistant Program in 2015 was 3.8. All prerequisite coursework must be obtained from a regionally accredited institution in the U.S., should be completed within the last 7 years, and candidates must have a working knowledge of these courses. The Physician Assistant Program reserves the right to request a proficiency examination or deny application for coursework outside of the 7 year window. One semester of each of the following courses are required prior to enrollment in the program with a grade of C or better. These are minimum prerequisite requirements. All science courses listed below must be taken from Biology or Chemistry departments. Additional courses in biology and chemistry are recommended. The PA program will not accept online laboratory or virtual laboratory courses in the natural sciences. Biology I with lab Biology II with lab Anatomy and Physiology I with lab Anatomy and Physiology II with lab Microbiology with lab General Chemistry I with lab General Chemistry II with lab Organic Chemistry I with lab Introductory Psychology English Composition Statistics or Biostatistics Medical Terminology One semester of Human Anatomy with lab and one semester of Human Physiology with lab may be substituted for the two combined Anatomy and Physiology courses with labs. Additional suggested coursework may include: Cell/Molecular Biology, Immunology, Histology, Embryology, Endocrinology, Epidemiology, Neuroscience, Pathophysiology, Virology, Developmental/Abnormal Psychology, College Algebra. Courses that have been retaken are included in the GPA calculation along with the more recent course grades. Advanced Placement (AP) courses may satisfy prerequisite coursework only after evaluation by the Admission Committee. No previous coursework will transfer to replace courses in the PA program. There will be no advanced standing permitted in the PA program. Application Timeline Baldwin Wallace University utilizes the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Applications and credentials for candidates applying for enrollment in May 2016 must be submitted to CASPA by November 1, 2015 (cycle opens mid- April, 2015). The PA Faculty review and select candidates for the interview process as completed applications are sent to Baldwin Wallace University from CASPA, beginning in the early Fall of 2015. Interviews are by invitation. If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted for this purpose. Candidates are notified of an admission decision in writing. In some cases, candidates may be conditionally admitted, pending successful completion of their science prerequisites. Due to limited enrollment, some qualified candidates will be placed on an alternate list. The Physician Assistant Program will review the enrollment capacity for new students throughout the spring, and will notify candidates should an opening become available. Once a candidate has been offered admission, he or she must confirm their intent to enroll by paying a $500 enrollment confirmation fee within two weeks of admission. By February 1, admitted students must pay a tuition deposit of $1000 to hold their place in the class. If a candidate is offered admission after February 1, $1500 must be paid within one week to hold the student's seat in the class. These payments to Baldwin Wallace University are nonrefundable, and will be applied to the student s first semester of tuition.
Curriculum BW s MMS in Physician Assistant degree is a full-time, 24-month program encompassing rigorous didactic and clinical training for physician assistant students. The didactic and clinical phases are each 12 months in length. At the completion of the program, a degree is awarded from Baldwin Wallace University. Graduates of the program will be prepared to take the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). Year 1 - Didactic Curriculum Courses Credits Semester I (May to August) PAS 510 Clinical Anatomy 6 PAS 511 Pathophysiologic Foundations of Medicine 4 PAS 512 History Taking and Medical Documentation 3 PAS 521 Laboratory and Diagnostic Testing I 3 PAS 531 Pharmacology I 4 PAS 541 Physician Assistant Profession 1 Total for Semester 21 Semester II (August to December) PAS 503 Evidence-Based Medicine 2 PAS 513 Clinical Medicine I 7 PAS 514 Physical Exam Techniques 3 PAS 522 Laboratory and Diagnostic Testing II 3 PAS 532 Pharmacology II 4 PAS 542 Biomedical Ethics 2 Total for Semester 21 Semester III (January to May) PAS 507 Leadership in Healthcare 1 PAS 515 Clinical Medicine II 7 PAS 516 Procedural Skills and Special Populations 3 PAS 523 Psychiatry and Emergency Medicine 5 PAS 533 Pharmacology III 4 PAS 543 Public Health and Policy Systems 2 PAS 600 Masters Seminar 2 Total for Semester 24 Semester IV (May to June) PAS 591 Clinical Preparations 4 Total for Semester 4 Total Preclinical Hours 70
Curriculum Year 2 - Clinical Curriculum Students must complete each of the clinical courses listed below. Each clinical rotation is four weeks in length. Clinical Year Rotations Credits PAS 601 Rotation # 1 3 PAS 602 Rotation # 2 3 PAS 603 Rotation # 3 3 PAS 604 Rotation # 4 3 PAS 605 Rotation # 5 3 PAS 606 Rotation # 6 3 PAS 607 Rotation # 7 3 PAS 608 Rotation # 8 3 PAS 609 Rotation # 9 3 PAS 610 Rotation # 10 3 PAS 611 Rotation # 11 3 Call Back Days 1 per Rotation Total Clinical Hours 33 Summative Exam TOTAL PROGRAM HOURS 103 Clinical Rotations include the following: Family Medicine Surgery Emergency Medicine OB/GYN Pediatrics Psychiatry Internal Medicine I Internal Medicine II Mandatory Elective Rotation I Mandatory Elective Rotation II Mandatory Elective Rotation III New Program Approval by ARC-PA -- The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional to the Baldwin Wallace University Physician Assistant Program. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status. The status indicates that the plans and resource allocation for the proposed program appear to demonstrate the program s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards, if fully implemented as planned. Accreditation Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. For further questions regarding the accreditation process, please contact the BW PA Program or the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), 12000 Findley Road, Suite 150, Johns Creek, GA 30097. Telephone: (770) 476-1224.