Nov 22, 2024

2020-2021 Catalog

2020-2021 Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physician Assistant, MPA

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Admission

This program maintains an admission process unique to the program. Prospective students are encouraged to review the admission requirements in order to best prepare themselves for a successful future at EVMS.

Academic Calendar

This program maintains an academic calendar unique to the program that includes exam schedules. All students are encouraged to review the academic calendar in order to be successful future at EVMS.

Tuition Schedule

This program maintains an admission process unique to the program. All students are encouraged to review the tuition schedule in order to best prepare themselves for a successful future at EVMS.

Curriculum

The PA program is divided into two phases, spanning 28 consecutive months over seven semesters.

Phase I, the 16-month pre-clinical year, spans four consecutive semesters (66.5 credit hours) and incorporates traditional classroom interaction with clinical skills development and simulated patient interaction through the Sentara Center for Simulation and Immersive Learning.

In Phase II (33 credit hours), students complete 8 clinical field experiences with supervised, direct patient care in various medical and surgical disciplines, which form the basis of the professional socialization process and adaptation to the role and functions of a physician assistant.

Most of the clinical sites are located throughout Hampton Roads. Opportunities exist for clinical placements outside the region and for students to initiate new rotation sites. However, international clinical placements are not an option.

Graduates are required to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE) and meet state-specific regulations in order to practice clinically.

Course Sequence

PA students are expected to complete the program curriculum in the order specified below. Each semester’s coursework is to be considered prerequisite to the next semester. Students may not enter the program with advanced standing, regardless of educational or work experience, and no accelerated curriculum or course waivers are offered.

*For the courses that span more than one semester, credit hours are awarded in the last semester that it is taken.

Phase I: Didactic Curriculum

Semester One: 15.5 Credit Hours (Pre-Clincal: January to April)

Semester Two: 16.5 Credit Hours (Pre-Clinical: April to August)

Semester Three: 17 Credit Hours (Pre-Clinical: August to December)

Semester Four: 17.5 Credit Hours (Pre-Clinical: January to April)

Phase II: Clinical Curriculum

Each semester is approximately four months in duration. The sequence of clinical rotations is subject to change based on the number, specialty and location of preceptor sites, and will vary from student to student.

**Clinical electives include Orthopedics, Neonatology, Neurology, Dermatology, Cardiothoracic Medicine, Cardiology, Neonatology, Plastic Surgery, Trauma, Endocrinology, Pediatric Neurology, Gastroenterology, Pediatric Gastroenterology, and Nephrology. Additional electives can be pre-arranged with proper planning on the part of the student.

***MPA 5807 is not a traditional course but is a graduation requirement in order to accumulate 40 hours of community service. The class of 2021 is the last cohort to take this course. It also spans the entire clinical year, therefore they began it Summer of 2020 and it concludes end of Spring 2021.

****Courses that span the entire clinical year

Semester Five: 9 Credit Hours

Supervised Clinical Practice (SCP)

Semester Six: 9 Credit Hours

Supervised Clinical Practice (SCP)

MPA 5735 - Supervised Clinical Practice: Emergency Medicine
(5 weeks)
MPA 5745 - Supervised Clinical Practice: General Surgery
(5 weeks)
MPA 5755 - Supervised Clinical Practice: Women’s Health
(5 weeks)

Semester Seven: 15 Credit Hours

Supervised Clinical Practice (SCP)

MPA 5785 - Supervised Clinical Practice: Psychiatry and Behavioral Health
(5 weeks)
MPA 5790 - Supervised Clinical Practice: Elective I **
(This may consist of one 5-week elective in a chosen area of medicine)
MPA 5795 - Supervised Clinical Practice: Elective II **
(This may consist of one 5-week elective in a chosen area of medicine)
MPA 5837 - Senior Seminar ****
MPA 5802 - Interprofessional Practice ****
MPA 5807 - Service Learning Practicum ***

Faculty

Directors

Kimberly K. Dempsey, EdD, MPA, PA-C, Program Director

Richard Conran, PhD, MD, JD, Medical Director

Jayne R. Penne, MSPAS, PA-C, Admissions Director

Shannon M. Morris, MPA, PA-C, Admissions Director

Angela J. Cerezo, MPA, PA-C, Academic Director and Clinical Director

Core Faculty

Courtney C. Anderson, MPA, PA-C, Associate Professor

Bradford N. Boyette, MBA, MPA, PA-C, Assistant Professor

Amy P. Fantaskey, MD, Assistant Professor

W. Travis Kirby, MPAS, PA-C, Associate Professor

Arun M. Ram, MBBS, MD, Associate Professor

Lori S. Shelton, MMS, PA-C, Assistant Professor

Jennifer M. Wohl, DHSc, PA-C, Associate Professor

Additional Faculty

Paul F. Aravich, PhD, Professor

Craig W. Goodmurphy, PhD, Professor

Tom G. Parish, DHSc, PA-C Emeritus, DFAAPA, Professor Emeritus

Dan T. Thibodeau, MHP, PA-C, DFAAPA, Associate Professor

Administrative Staff

Nancy D. Stromann, Program Administrator

Elise E. DeWitt, Student Program Administrative Support Coordinator

Tiffany L. Smith, Student Program Administrative Support Coordinator

Erin L. Suit, Office Coordinator