High Point University’s PA Program offers an inter-professional, students-first, experiential learning program that will prepare you to be the healthcare provider of the future as it is going to be!
For Graduate Admissions Information
For Graduate Admissions Information
Norcross Hall
Department of Physician Assistant Studies
(336)-841-9382
Daily from 8:30am — 5:00pm.
Faculty and Staff
Faculty and Staff
View All Physician Assistant Faculty and Staff
Department Chair, Program Director, and Assistant Professor
Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies
Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies
Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies
Vision
The vision of the High Point University Physician Assistant Studies Program is to be a national leader in PA education recognized for excellence in curriculum innovation, scholarship and community engagement.
Mission
The mission of the High Point University Physician Assistant Studies program is to deliver a student-centered, experiential curriculum grounded in high academic and ethical standards. The program strives to develop compassionate PAs who are self-directed, lifelong learners prepared to provide evidence-based, patient-centered care as members of an interprofessional health care team.
Values
As student-focused educators seeking to be role models for what the health care profession should be, we believe our actions should always be cohesive with patient-centric, evidence-based medicine and our core values of:
Collaboration
Compassion
Inclusivity
Innovation
Integrity
Positivity
Respect
Tenacity
What Makes HPU’s PA Program Unique?
High Point University’s PA Program offers an inter-professional, students-first, experiential learning program that will prepare you to be the healthcare provider of the future as it is going to be!
Program Overview
The HPU program in Physician Assistant Studies begins each Summer and spans 27 months over 7 continuous semesters. Part-time or interrupted attendance is not an option, and no online classes are offered. The program prepares graduates with the necessary knowledge and skills to:
- Reliably perform the role of the PA and meet the demands of an expanding local, national, and global health care environment.
- Provide health care services to all persons regardless of race, culture, spiritual beliefs, gender, or socioeconomic status while contributing to the advancement of knowledge in their discipline and in medicine.
The curriculum was designed to imaginatively blend critical thinking and intellectual inquiry with a practical need for innovation, skill, and knowledge within professional disciplines.
The innovative course of study includes an integrated set of educational experiences that focus on:
- Core Medical Sciences
- Critical Thinking
- Cultural Values
- Public Policy Issues
- Research applicable to the needs of the PA profession
- Service Learning Opportunities
ARC-PA Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the High Point University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by High Point University. 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 June 2029. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website here.
Physician Assistants (PAs) are healthcare professionals licensed or, in the case of those employed by the federal government, credentialed to practice medicine in association with designated collaborating physicians. PAs are qualified by graduation from an accredited PA educational program and/or certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Within the physician-PA relationship, PAs provide patient-centered medical care services as a member of a healthcare team. PAs practice with defined levels of autonomy and exercise independent medical decision-making within their scope of practice. PAs practice medicine providing diagnostic and therapeutic services in all practice settings. They are autonomous members of the healthcare team, collaborating with physicians and partnering with other Health Care Professionals. PAs may also be involved in medical research, medical education, and health care administration at various levels. All 50 states have enacted legislation granting prescriptive privileges to PAs. The physician-PA team enhances both access to and delivery of high-quality health care. PAs must possess strong cognitive and skill-based attributes and must function with the highest ethical standards in the delivery of health care to their patients.
The PA role demands intelligence, sound judgment, intellectual honesty, appropriate interpersonal skills, and the capacity to react to emergencies in a calm and reasoned manner. An attitude of respect for self and others, adherence to the concepts of privilege and confidentiality in communicating with patients, and a commitment to patient welfare are essential attributes.
Specific tasks performed by PAs cannot be delineated precisely because of the variations in practice requirements mandated by geographic, political, economic, and social factors. At a minimum, however, physician assistants are educated in areas of basic medical science, clinical disciplines, and discipline-specific problem-solving. PA practice is characterized by clinical knowledge and skills in areas traditionally defined by family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, etc., and practice in ambulatory, emergency, inpatient, and long-term care settings. PAs deliver healthcare services to diverse patient populations of all ages with a range of acute and chronic medical and surgical conditions, requiring the knowledge and skills to allow them to function effectively in a dynamic healthcare environment.
Services performed by Physician Assistants include, but, are not limited to, the following:
- EVALUATION: Elicit a detailed and accurate history, perform an appropriate physical examination, order appropriate diagnostic studies, delineate problems, develop management plans, and record and present data.
- DIAGNOSTIC(S): Order, perform and/or interpret diagnostic studies to identify pathophysiologic processes.
- MONITORING: Implement patient management plans, record progress notes, and participate in the provision of continuity of care.
- THERAPEUTIC(S): Perform therapeutic procedures and manage or assist in the management of medical and surgical conditions, which may include assisting surgeons in the conduct of operations and taking initiative in performing evaluations and therapeutic procedures in response to life-threatening situations.
- PATIENT EDUCATION: Counsel patients regarding issues of health care management to include compliance with prescribed therapeutic regimens, normal growth and development, family planning, and emotional problems of daily living.
- REFERRAL: Facilitate the referral of patients to other healthcare providers or agencies.
Introduction
The 27 month PA Program course of study is divided into a 15-month didactic phase and a 12-month clinical phase. The clinical phase also includes an evidence-based Master’s project. Self-directed learning is a key component of the curriculum.
Didactic Phase
The didactic phase of the program is an intensively integrated course of study. While there are a series of individual courses that students must take, the knowledge, skills and attitudes developed are interwoven throughout all parts of the curriculum. The didactic phase centers around “Clinical Decision Making”, a series of courses taught using an organ system approach through the lifespan and illustrating the standards of care across the gamut of health care delivery venues. Interactive lecture and small group formats are used to deliver the curriculum, highlighted by distinct experiential activities including problem-based learning, clinical simulation, standardized patients. The “Clinical Decision Making” series is supported by courses in Pathophysiology, Pharmacology/Pharmacotherapeutics, History and Physical Examination and Clinical Methods and Procedures.
Clinical Phase
During the clinical year, students experience seven five-week rotations in family medicine, inpatient medicine, emergency medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, women’s health and behavioral medicine. Students are able to further explore additional clinical interests by taking two electives in other areas or sub-specialties of medicine, as available. Students meet at the end of each rotation to discuss and present experiences in seminar format.
Semesters
Summer I
Summer I
| Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| PAS 5101 - Gross Anatomy | 5 |
| PAS 5103 - Fundamentals of the Medical Profession | 1 |
| PAS 5107 - Applied Biomedical Science | 4 |
| PAS 5109 - Introduction to Medical Imaging | 1 |
| PAS 5203 - Health Care Ethics and Policy | 1 |
| PAS 5151 - Health Care Provider Communication Skills | 2 |
| Total Credits | 14 |
Fall
Fall
| Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| PAS 5205 - Interprofessional Seminar I | 1 |
| PAS 5211 - Evidence-Based Medicine: Population Health | 1 |
| PAS 5221 - Pathophysiology I | 2 |
| PAS 5231 - Clinical Decision Making I | 7 |
| PAS 5241 - Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics I | 2 |
| PAS 5251 - History and Physical Examination I | 2 |
| PAS 5261 - Clinical Methods and Procedures I | 2 |
| Total Credits | 17 |
Spring
Spring
| Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| PAS 5307 - Fundamentals of Surgery | 1 |
| PAS 5311 - Evidence-Based Medicine: Research Design and Biostatistics | 1 |
| PAS 5321 - Pathophysiology II | 2 |
| PAS 5331 - Clinical Decision Making II | 7 |
| PAS 5341 - Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics II | 2 |
| PAS 5351 - History and Physical Examination II | 2 |
| PAS 5361 - Clinical Methods and Procedures II | 2 |
| Total Credits | 17 |
Summer II
Summer II
| Course Name | Credits |
|---|---|
| PAS 5411 - Evidence-Based Medicine: Masters Project Prep | 1 |
| PAS 5421 - Pathophysiology III | 2 |
| PAS 5431 - Clinical Decision Making III | 7 |
| PAS 5441 - Pharmacology and Pharmacotherapeutics III | 3 |
| PAS 5451 - History and Physical Examination III | 2 |
| PAS 5461 - Clinical Methods and Procedures III | 2 |
| Total Credits | 17 |
Clinical Year
Program Goals
- Admit highly qualified applicants.
- Deliver a curriculum that ensures that all graduates possess the requisite knowledge and skills for entry to PA practice.
- Educate Physician Assistants in a generalist model prepared to practice in a variety of healthcare settings and disciplines.
- Engage faculty and students in active and ongoing professional, scholarly, and community engagement activities.
View the attached document to see how the HPU PA program is achieving its program goals.
The Didactic Phase of the program takes place over 4 semesters of graduate-level academic coursework. The curriculum is structured around active-learning strategies, practical lab sessions, simulated case presentations, problem-based learning sessions, and off-campus clinical interaction.
The Clinical Phase takes place during the second year and spans a total of 12 months. Students take part in supervised clinical rotations during which time they participate in the evaluation and management of patients in a wide variety of clinical areas. Students are not required to supply their own clinical sites or preceptors. In addition, all students are required to produce a research project during their clinical year.
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
The following program learning outcomes are assessed by High Point University Department of Physician Assistant Studies to ensure graduates will possess the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to demonstrate entry-level competency in providing patient care across the lifespan and in a variety of health care settings. The program summative evaluation, given prior to graduation, is based on these program learning outcomes.
1. Perform comprehensive and problem-focused histories. (P)
2. Perform comprehensive and problem-focused physical exams. (P)
3. Interpret diagnostic study results typical for emergent, acute and chronic medical conditions. (C)
4. Formulate a differential diagnosis based upon patient data. (C)
5. Diagnose common medical and behavioral health conditions. (C)
6. Diagnose potentially life- or function-threatening medical and behavioral health conditions. (C)
7. Develop comprehensive management plans for emergent, acute, and chronic conditions. (C)
8. Accurately and concisely communicate patient encounter findings to other healthcare providers through written documentation and oral presentation. (P)
9. Communicate healthcare-related information to patients in a patient-centered fashion. (A,P)
10. Demonstrate professional behaviors to the highest ethical and legal standards. (A)
11. Critically evaluate the medical literature, use current practice guidelines, and apply the principles of evidence-based medicine to patient care. (C)
12. Perform clinical procedures common to PA practice. (P)
(C)ognitive
(A)ffective
(P)sychomotor
| (C)ognitive | (A)ffective | (P)sychomotor |
NCCPA PANCE Pass Rate
The Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) is a computer-based, multiple-choice test that assesses medical and surgical knowledge. This examination must be successfully passed in order for graduates to become eligible for licensure. The PANCE Five Year First Time Taker Summary Report for the High Point University PA program is available here. The PANCE Exam Final Summary report is available here.
For more information on the exam or the NCCPA, visit www.nccpa.net
ARC-PA Student Attrition
*Attrition rate calculation: Number of students who attritted from cohort divided by the entering class size.
**Graduation rate: Number of cohort graduates divided by the entering class size.
Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the High Point University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by High Point University. 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 June 2029. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.
The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website here.
The High Point University PA program is proud to partner with Novant Health in the clinical education of future PA providers. Novant Health is an integrated Healthcare entity of 15 medical centers, greater than 1,600 physicians in over 640 locations. This contractual relationship establishes a mutual commitment to quality clinical education of PA students by supporting required and elective Supervised Clinical Practice Experience (SCPE) both now and with future growth.
NC-SARA
NC-SARA does not deal with professional licensing board approval for any courses or programs leading to professional licensure. If you are not a resident of North Carolina and you are taking an online course or hybrid program leading to professional licensure, High Point University cannot guarantee whether the course or hybrid program meets requirements for professional licensure in your state. High Point University recommends that you consult with the appropriate licensing agency or board in their state or territory—including states participating in NC SARA—prior to beginning their course of study. For questions about this disclaimer, please contact Dr. Jeff Adams, Vice President for Research and Planning, at 336.841.4581 or jeadams@highpoint.edu.
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