Physician Assistant Studies - Radford University Carilion Campus

Program Director

Sara Nicely, DHEd, PA-C
Associate Professor
540-985-4029 (Office)
540-224-6698 (Fax)
snicely6@radfor.edu

Mission

The mission of the Physician Assistant Program is to graduate ethical, competent, and compassionate PAs who are well versed in the art and science of medicine and are prepared to effectively function as members and leaders of the interprofessional healthcare team.

Goals/Outcomes

To enroll students who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to the healthcare profession.
To provide a positive learning environment that is conducive to attainment of Student Learning Outcomes.
To provide a strong foundation of medical knowledge, clinical skills, and ethical and professional behaviors that will meet the needs of a practicing PA.
To instill an appreciation for lifelong learning skills and the need to provide the most current patient-centered care possible.
To provide the skills necessary to communicate and collaborate effectively within a team environment.
To graduate physician assistants who will serve as leaders in their professional lives and will participate in the education of future medical providers.

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Physician Assistant Program, the graduate will be able to:

Demonstrate the application of current, evidence-based medical knowledge to provide the most appropriate patient-centered care (Medical Knowledge).
Communicate effectively with patients, physicians, and other members of the healthcare team to foster interprofessional collaboration (Communication).
Demonstrate patient-centered care that is effective, timely, efficient, and equitable for the treatment of health problems and promotes wellness across the lifespan, regardless of individual characteristics (Patient Care)..
Model the use of bioethical and legal principles pertaining to the delivery of healthcare (Professionalism).
Positively impact and advocate for the appropriate provision of healthcare for patients, their families, and communities (Professionalism).
Exemplify a commitment to personal growth and development as well as growth and development of the physician assistant profession (Professionalism).
Demonstrate scholarship and commitment to lifelong learning through critical analysis, interpretation, and evaluation of current medical research and literature to enhance the delivery of health care (Practice-Based Learning and Improvement).
Demonstrate an ability to provide optimal medical care within a complex medical system (Systems Based Practice).

Accreditation

The Physician Assistant Program was originally accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the recognized accrediting agency for physician assistant education, in 1997. The current accreditation status granted by the ARC-PA to Radford University Carilion Physician Assistant Program is Accreditation-Continued. This status is granted to established programs that are in compliance with accreditation Standards. According to the ARC-PA definition, a status of accreditation-continued will remain in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards, ARC-PA requirements or procedures. The next accreditation review of the Radford University Carilion Physician Assistant Program is currently planned for March 2023.

Admissions Requirements

CASPA. Applicants must apply through CASPA, the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants. Radford University does not require a supplemental application. Deadline for submission is Nov. 1. DO NOT send application materials directly to the College or Program.
References. We recommend three references: one each from an academic advisor, a clinical supervisor and an employer. Substitutions may be made if all three are not available, but at least one reference should be from someone familiar with you in a work or professional setting. Submit these directly to CASPA using CASPA’s forms.
Essay. The CASPA application includes a written essay, which will be reviewed by our admissions committee. The essay should be of high quality and demonstrate graduate-level writing.
Bachelor Degree. A bachelor degree from a regionally accredited institution is required. We accept degrees from all disciplines provided you meet the Program’s course prerequisites.
GPA. The Radford University PA program requires a cumulative GPA on undergraduate and post baccalaureate work of at least 3.0. You must have earned a “C” or better on all prerequisite courses. Pass/Fail or placing out of a required prerequisite is not permitted, although AP credit appearing on college transcripts will be counted. Please contact the program if you have concerns about specific prerequisite coursework. We give no advanced standing/advanced placement or prior learning credit for PA program coursework. Each PA student must complete the entire curriculum at Radford University.
Transcripts. Send all transcripts to CASPA, not to the College. Students are to send transcripts to the College only after they are accepted and have paid their deposit.
Healthcare Experience. All successful candidates must have 500 hours of healthcare experience, paid, volunteer, or as a student, prior to enrollment in the PA program. This experience should be in areas with direct patient or client contact, for example, EMT, medical technology, nursing, and phlebotomy. Patient contact in fields such as health education, health promotion, and social work may be considered as long as work was in areas of patient or client services. The 500 hours need not be completed by the time of application. Applicants with formal certifications in a health-related field should provide a copy of license or certification upon request.
GRE. The Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required and should have been taken within the last five years. GRE scores are considered along with other applicant factors, and will be required before a candidate is interviewed. If you take the GRE before finishing your CASPA application.
International Students. International students must have their transcripts submitted for independent evaluation of equivalency by an acceptable credentialing evaluation agency. The Program suggests World Education Service. Students for whom English is not their primary language are required to submit their TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign language)score. The minimum score accepted for admission is 550 for the paper-based test (equivalent requirements are 80 for internet-based and 215 for computer-based tests). We encourage international applicants to have some coursework at an accredited U.S. or Canadian institution.
Prerequisite Courses. Applicants must have completed the following prerequisite coursework before beginning the program. At least 12 hours of this coursework must have been completed within the past three years.
- Anatomy and Physiology I & II with lab: 8 hours
- General Chemistry I & II with lab: 8 hours
- Biochemistry or Cell Biology: 3 hours
- Microbiology with lab: 4 hours
- Genetics or Immunology: 3 hours
- Statistics: 3 hours
- Medical Terminology: 1 hour
- Psychology: 6 hours; at least one upper-level course is required (Abnormal Psychology or Developmental Psychology are recommended as upper-level courses)

Requests for waivers of any of these requirements will be considered on an individual basis, must be made in writing to the program, and must be supported with excellent reasons.

Interviews for admission take place on campus. Applicants who are selected to be interviewed will be scheduled for an interview session several weeks ahead of time. Interview sessions begin in November and run through February. Admission decisions are made after each interview session, and outstanding candidates are accepted within 2 weeks after the interview.

The decision to admit a candidate rests with the admissions committee. Decisions are based on applications, overall and prerequisite grades, healthcare experience, essays, GRE scores, references, and interviews.

Program Requirements

Graduate Competencies

The Physician Assistant Program curriculum at Radford University reflects a philosophy of lifelong learning and patient-centered care. Coursework integrates medical treatment modalities with health promotion, behavioral medicine, and disease prevention to meet the needs of a changing healthcare environment. The Program curriculum is based on the mission statement, curricular outcomes, competencies, and technical standards for the physician assistant profession. The professional documents and requirements (AAPA, PAEA, NCCPA, ARC-PA’s Competencies for the Physician Assistant and the Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education) provide the foundation for the curriculum.
Physician Assistant faculty and clinical preceptors serve as mentors for students, modeling professional ethics and attitudes conducive to healthcare professionals and demonstrating required medical knowledge and skills. The course of study emphasizes case-based learning and a systems approach, linking theory and practice. Students learn to value and practice interprofessional teamwork and healthcare delivery to diverse populations.

Medical Knowledge

The Program provides instruction in the basic medical sciences, including anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, clinical pharmacology, and the genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease. It provides instruction in clinical medicine and clinical skills that cover the major organ systems. In addition, the Program provides supervised clinical practice in family medicine, general internal medicine, emergency medicine, general surgical care - including operative experiences, pediatrics, women’s health, psychiatry and behavioral medicine, and orthopedics. Upon completion of the Program, the graduating student will be able to:

Understand etiologies, risk factors, underlying pathologic processes, and epidemiology, including genetic factors, for medical conditions.
Perform patient interviews and exams, effectively identifying symptoms and signs of medical conditions.
Select and interpret appropriate diagnostic and lab studies.
Manage general medical and surgical conditions, including understanding the indications, contraindications, side effects, interactions, and adverse reactions of pharmacologic agents and non-pharmacologic treatment modalities.
Identify the appropriate site of care for presenting conditions, including identifying emergency cases and cases requiring referral or admission.
Identify appropriate interventions for prevention of medical conditions.
Identify appropriate methods to detect conditions in an asymptomatic individual.
Differentiate between normal and abnormal anatomic, physiologic, laboratory, and other diagnostic findings.
Use history and physical findings and diagnostic studies to formulate a differential diagnosis, assessment, patient management plan, and comprehensive problem list.
Provide care to patients in all stages of life, including preventive, acute, chronic, rehabilitative, and end-of-life care.
Apply principles of patient self-management in those with chronic diseases, including developing patient-provider partnerships, setting collaborative action plans and goals, and making provisions for appropriate follow-up.
Apply an understanding of human behavior and psychological development to patients’ conditions and situations.

Communication Skills

The Program provides instruction in interpersonal and communication skills resulting in effective communication and collaboration between patient, families, and other healthcare professionals. Upon completion of the Program, the graduating student will be able to:

Create and sustain a therapeutic and ethically sound relationship with patients.
Present patient information in an articulate and concise manner in oral and written form
Use effective listening, nonverbal, explanatory, questioning, and writing skills to elicit and provide information.
Accurately and adequately document and record information regarding the care process for medical, legal, quality, and financial purposes.
Adapt communication style and methods suitable and appropriate for patients of varying backgrounds and cultures.
Obtain a pertinent history of the disease from the patient’s perspective.
Provide medical care to patients from diverse populations, including use of an interpreter and history taking through a third party.
Work effectively with physicians and other healthcare professionals as a member or leader of a healthcare team or other professional group.

Patient-Centered Care

The Program provides instruction in the care and management of patients across the lifespan, with a focus on cultural awareness and sensitivity. Upon completion of the Program, the graduating student will be able to:

Work effectively with physicians and other healthcare professionals to provide patient-centered care.
Demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients and their families.
Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on the patient’s information and preferences.
Develop and carry out patient management plans.
Counsel and educate patients and their families about:
- Coping with illness and injury.
- Adherence to prescribed treatment plans.
- Modification of behaviors to more healthful patterns.
- Management of chronic medical problems.
- End-of life-issues.
- Human sexuality.
Competently perform medical and surgical procedures considered germane to primary care.
Provide healthcare services and education aimed at preventing health problems and maintaining healthy, therapeutic lifestyle.
Recognize and treat substance abuse, violent behavior, and abuse in a patient and/or a patient’s family.

Professionalism

The Program provides instruction on professional issues and medical ethics. Upon completion of the Program, the graduating student will demonstrate the following:

Knowledge of the history of the physician assistant profession and the current trends in the profession.
An understanding of legal and regulatory requirements, as well as the role of the physician assistant.
A professional relationship with physician supervisors and other healthcare providers.
Awareness of limitations, openness to seek and accept constructive criticism, and motivation to expand knowledge base.
Respect, compassion, and integrity, along with responsiveness to the needs of patients and society.
Accountability to patients, society, and the profession.
A commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, and informed consent.
Sensitivity and responsiveness to the patient’s culture, age, gender, and disabilities.
An ability to communicate information regarding patients’ medical conditions and research materials to colleagues and peers.
Knowledge of the legal issues of healthcare and their relation to physician assistant practice.
Knowledge of reimbursement issues, including documentation, coding and billing, and professional liability.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

The Program provides instruction to foster lifelong learning and critical thinking skills. It provides the skills necessary to search, interpret, and evaluate the medical literature in order to maintain a critical, current, and operational knowledge of new medical findings, and their application to individualized patient care. Upon completion of the Program, graduating students will be able to:

Demonstrate awareness of with practice-based improvement methodologies.
Locate, appraise, and integrate evidence from scientific studies related to patients’ health problems.
Obtain and apply information about the population of their patients and the larger population from which patients are drawn.
Use information technology to manage information and to access online medical information.

Systems-Based Practice

The Program provides instruction on providing patient-centered care that uses the most up-to-date methods to deliver medical care in a cost-effective and timely manner. Upon completion of the Program, the graduating student will be able to:

Use information technology to support patient care decisions.
Demonstrate familiarity and application of different types of medical practice and delivery systems.
Demonstrate knowledge of the funding sources and payment systems that provide coverage for patient care.
Partner with supervising physicians, healthcare managers, and other healthcare providers to assess, coordinate, and improve the delivery of health care and patient outcomes.

Technical Standards

All students must possess the following abilities and skills in order to meet the technical standards of the Radford University PA Program. Students who do not demonstrate these standards during the course of the program are at risk for dismissal.

Intellectual: A student must have the mental capacity to assimilate and learn a large amount of complex and technical information. He or she must be able to conceptualize and solve clinical problems. It will be imperative that the student be able to synthesize and apply concepts and provide or understand detailed information to or from various disciplines in order to formulate diagnostic and therapeutic plans. Students must be able to learn to read and comprehend technical materials, laboratory reports, and understand pharmacokinetics.
Observation: The ability to be observant is required for attention to demonstrations and visual presentations, laboratory evidence, and microscopic studies of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states. A student must be able to observe patients accurately and completely, at a distance and in close proximity. This requires functional vision, hearing, and somatic sensation, and is enhanced by a sense of smell.
Communication: A student must be able to speak with, hear, and observe patients in order to elicit information, perceive nonverbal communication, and describe changes in mood, activity, and posture. The student must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively in English with patients from different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds. Students must be able to develop professional rapport, efficiently and effectively communicate with the healthcare team, orally and in writing.
Motor: A student must have motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, percussion, and auscultation, as well as carry out diagnostic maneuvers. He or she must be able to execute movements required to provide general care and emergency treatment. Such skills require coordination of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and sensation. Students must have sufficient postural control, neuromuscular control, and eye-to-hand coordination in order to use standard medical/surgical instruments. One must possess sufficient control of the upper extremities to meet the physical requirements for training and for performing a safe physical examination.
Emotional: A student must have the emotional health to use fully his or her intellectual ability, exercise good judgment, and carry out all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients. The Physician Assistant Program at Radford University is demanding, both intellectually and emotionally. Students must display sufficient emotional health to withstand stress, uncertainties, and changing circumstances that characterize the rigors of our Program and the reality of life as a dependent practitioner. Physician assistant students must be able to work cooperatively with other students, staff, faculty, and patients. These qualities will be assessed during the course of study.
Interpersonal: A student must be able to develop mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients and colleagues. The ability to tolerate physical and emotional stress and continue to function effectively is a necessity. Students must be adaptable, flexible, and able to function in the face of uncertainty during the course of study and in clinical practice. Students must have integrity, the motivation to serve, a high level of compassion, and a consciousness of social values. Students need interpersonal skills to interact positively with people from all levels of society, ethnic backgrounds, and beliefs. Included in the interpersonal technical standards is the responsibility of the student to be on time for class so as not to be disruptive to classmates, faculty, or guest lecturers. Students who are responsible for the care of others, such as parents or children, will need to secure care for these individuals that will allow for appropriate attendance. Reliable transportation is also a necessity.

Standards of Professional Conduct

The Standards and Guidelines for an Accredited Educational Program for the Physician Assistant states:

The role of the Physician Assistant 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 the patient’s welfare, are essential attributes.

PA students must exhibit a high level of maturity and conduct themselves in a highly professional manner consistent with the responsibilities for patient care entrusted to them during their training. Professional behavior is not easy to define, but unprofessional behavior is readily identifiable. Failure to adhere to the following standards necessitates review by the Student Evaluation and Promotion Committee (SEPC) and may result in corrective action and/or dismissal from the Program.

Respect: Students are expected to treat all patients, faculty, staff, guest lecturers, clinical preceptors, and fellow students with dignity and respect. Appropriate classroom behavior is expected. Conflicts should be resolved in a diplomatic and reasoned manner. Students should be tolerant of diversity in student and patient populations. PA training involves a close working environment with other students, including physical examination of fellow students and discussion groups that may reveal information of a personal nature. Approach these situations with respect for the privacy, confidentiality, and feelings of fellow students. You can disagree without being disagreeable.
Communication: Effective communication is essential in your role as a student and as a medical provider. While enrolled here, you should follow these communication guidelines:

Respond to fellow students readily and tactfully.
Demonstrate proper verbal, nonverbal, and written communication.
React in a positive manner to feedback and criticism.

Flexibility: PA training involves instruction from practicing clinicians with unpredictable schedules. At times, schedules for lectures or clinical sessions may be adjusted with short notice. The advantage of inviting practicing clinicians outweighs this inconvenience, and students should be flexible and tolerant of changes.
Integrity: You are expected to follow all policies and codes in the Radford University Catalog and PA Handbook; pay special attention to policies pertaining to academic honesty. PA students are also expected to display the highest ethical standards commensurate with work as a healthcare professional.
Identification: PA students must always identify themselves as Physician Assistant Students to patients and site staff. Never present yourself as a physician, a resident, a medical student, or a graduate physician assistant. You MUST always wear a short clinical jacket while at clinical sites, unless instructed not to do so by the site or the Program. Always wear your official name badge while in class and at clinical sites. While in the PA Program, students may not use previously earned titles (e.g., RN, DC, PhD) for identification.
Confidentiality: Respect the confidentiality of patients and fellow students; you are not permitted to discuss any patients by name outside the clinical encounter. Any discussion regarding a patient’s diagnosis, care, and condition should be conducted with discretion and preferably in private. For academic presentations and history and physical assignments, identify a patient by initials or chart numbers. Failure to adhere will result in dismissal from the Program per Carilion policy.