454 Dr. Pallavi Patel College of Health Care Sciences—Department of Physician Assistant About the Program The Department of Physician Assistant—Orlando offers a modern program that lasts 27 months. Upon successful completion of study, the student is awarded a Master of Medical Science degree in Physician Assistant. The curriculum includes rigorous instructions in basic science subjects, followed by clinical medicine, physical diagnosis, clinical laboratory medicine, clinical pathophysiology, clinical procedures, surgical skills, electrocardiography, radiology, and psychiatry. The student also takes courses in the Master of Medical Science program including health care law and ethics, epidemiology and biostatistics, research methodology, cultural issues in health care, publication skills, and medical research, as well as a graduate project. During the clinical year of study, the student participates in clinical rotations predominantly in Central Florida. Required six-week rotations include family medicine, internal medicine, behavioral health, pediatrics, gynecology and prenatal care, emergency medicine, general surgery, and one selective of six weeks from one of the following areas: dermatology, geriatrics, otorhinolaryngology, cardiology, neurology, or orthopedics. The clinical year contains one four-week elective rotation. With a sound foundation in medical training, NSU graduates are prepared to work in many clinical areas, both in primary care and specialty medicine. Accreditation The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation— Continued status to the Nova Southeastern University— Orlando Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Nova Southeastern University—Orlando. Accreditation—Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards. Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2024. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. Mission Statement • to provide a high-quality training program designed for, and dedicated to producing, culturally competent physician assistants who will provide quality health care in rural, urban, underserved, and culturally diverse communities • t o provide an exemplary educational experience, which emphasizes primary medical care, yet will enable graduates to manifest competency and skill in a variety of clinical environments • to inspire graduates to pursue lifelong learning • t o foster leadership qualities, which will enable graduates to improve access to quality, affordable health care • t o heighten the stature of the physician assistant profession by training quality graduates Program Goals • P roduce competent graduates to provide primary health care. • I ncrease accessibility of quality health care in the primary care setting. • D evelop student skills necessary for lifelong learning and leadership roles and promotion of the physician assistant profession. Course of Study The Physician Assistant Program curriculum is completed following an acceptable bachelor’s degree. The comprehensive PA curriculum, completed in a consecutive manner, is oriented to primary care and prepares the student to practice in a wide variety of clinical settings. The first 15 months of study consist of basic sciences and clinically related didactic courses. All courses are required and must be successfully completed before advancing to the next semester or the clinical year. During this time frame, students may be in class from Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., additionally, there may be occasional weekend hours. Because of its highly integrated and compact curriculum, the PA department requires matriculants to complete the entire curriculum at NSU. Therefore, no requests for advanced placement, transfer of credit, and credit for experiential learning will be considered. The clinical year is devoted to 12 months of clinical training with required six-week clinical rotations in family medicine, internal medicine, emergency medicine, behavioral health, pediatrics, prenatal care/gynecology, general surgery, as well as a selective rotation in orthopedics, dermatology, geriatrics, cardiology, neurology, or otorhinolaryngology and a four-week elective. The rotations are as follows: • Emergency Medicine (six weeks) • Family Medicine (six weeks) • Internal Medicine (six weeks) Physician Assistant Program—Orlando
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