Physician Assistant Studies

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Sara Nicely, DHEd, PA-C, Department Chair and Program Director

Professor
540-831-1963 (Office)
540-224-6698 (Fax)
snicely6@radford.edu

Physician Assistant, MS

Mission

The mission of the Radford University 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 of the interprofessional healthcare team.

Goals/Outcomes

• Recruit and enroll students from diverse backgrounds who demonstrate academic excellence and a commitment to the healthcare profession.
• Provide a positive, inclusive, and equitable learning environment that fosters the retention and success of a diverse student population.
• Provide a strong foundation of medical knowledge, clinical skills, and ethical and professional behaviors that will meet the needs of a practicing PA.
• Prepare students to provide patient-centered, evidence-based medical care.

Physician Assistant Program Competencies

1. Medical Knowledge

Graduates will demonstrate and apply core knowledge of biomedical and clinical science to provide appropriate evidence-based, culturally sensitive, patient-centered care across the lifespan (preventive, acute, chronic, and emergent disease management).

2. Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Graduates will be able to communicate effectively with a diverse patient population.  Graduates will be able to engage patients in shared decision-making.

3. Patient Care

Graduates will be able to recognize and understand that influences of the larger community and cultural diversity may affect the health of patients across the lifespan.  Graduates will have knowledge of social determinants of health and their impact on care decisions.

4. Professionalism

Graduates will be able to recognize that the patient is at the center of all healthcare decisions and to partner with the patient or designated patient representative to define the patient’s healthcare goals.  Graduates will be able to collaborate with members of an interprofessional patient care team based on an understanding of the roles and scopes of practice of healthcare professionals.  Graduates will be able to apply ethical and legal principles of healthcare.

5. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

Graduates will be able to practice evidence-based medicine, recognizing the importance of life-long learning and adherence to standards of care.

6.  Systems-Based Practice

Graduates will be able to articulate essential aspects of value-based healthcare and apply this understanding to the delivery of safe and quality care. 

Accreditation

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Radford University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Radford 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 March 2033. 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 at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-radford-university/.

Admission Requirements

• CASPA. Applicants must apply through CASPA, the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants. Radford University does not require a supplemental application. The deadline for submission is Nov. 1. DO NOT send application materials directly to the University 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.
• Personal Statement. The CASPA application includes a personal statement, which will be reviewed by our admissions committee. The personal statement should be of high quality and demonstrate graduate-level writing.
• Bachelor Degree. A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution is required. We accept degrees from all disciplines provided you meet the PA program’s course prerequisites. 
• GPA. The Radford University PA program requires a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 for undergraduate and post-baccalaureate work. 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 University. Students are to send transcripts to the University only after they are accepted and have paid their deposit. 
• Healthcare Experience. All successful candidates must have 500 hours of healthcare experience  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 not required.
• 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 five years. Courses can be completed in person or online from a regionally accredited institution.
  • 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. These requests must be made in writing to the program and supported with excellent reasons.

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

Program Requirements

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. 

Programs

A degree represents the academic level of a program and the general category into which it falls. For example: Master of Arts, Master of Science, etc. At Radford University, the term “Arts” in a graduate degree generally implies a language and thesis requirement. The minimum number of semester hours for a Radford University graduate degree is 30.

• Physician Assistant, M.S. - Radford University Carilion Campus

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