PA Didactic Course Descriptions
[5 Credits] A lecture and laboratory course which focuses on cell, tissue, organ and
body system structures, and human cadaver dissection with emphasis on structure and
function of neuromuscular and skeletal systems.
[4 Credits] A lecture and laboratory course that focuses on the physiology of cell,
tissue, organ, and body systems with emphasis on physiological changes associated
with selected pathological conditions. Laboratory demonstrations focus on observation
and measurement of function in the body systems.
[3 Credits] This is lecture-based course designed to introduce the entry-level physician
assistant student to human disease processes, their origins, mechanisms of action
and effects on the human body with emphasis on the clinical manifestations of the
disease process. The course will give students the opportunity to analyze the pathological
conditions of normal physiology, to relate patients presenting signs and symptoms
to a pathologic condition and to develop techniques to counsel patients on modifiable
risk factors for disease processes.
[3 credits] The course will focus on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with
psychiatric conditions within the broader context of primary care medicine. The course
will emphasize the connection between the acquisition of basic clinical science information
and its application in direct patient care. The most current Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of the American Psychiatric Association will be used to introduce the student
to the classification of psychiatric disorders and the multi-axial approach to the
assessment of the patient.
PHARM 207 Medicinal Pharmacology
[5 credits] This course will be taken as an interdisciplinary course with graduate
students in Pharmacology. Medicinal Pharmacology for the Physician Assistant is a
course where the student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate the ability
to: identify the classes of drugs used to treat diseases commonly encountered in primary
care setting; identify classes of drugs commonly used to manage emergent conditions;
recognize the prototype and commonly used drugs in each class; identify the basic
pharmacodynamic properties of each class of drugs and the mechanism of action and
important consequences of using each class of drugs; recognize the signs and symptoms
of common adverse effects and of possible toxic or life-threatening effects; identify
precautions or contraindications to the use of a drug; identify significant drug-drug
interactions; recognize the importance of patient education in determining compliance,
avoidance of potential problems, and success of therapy; apply previously acquired
statistical and critical thinking skills to evaluate literature data; use resource
materials for determining proper usage of chemotherapeutic agents; and understand
the role of the physician assistant in writing prescriptions.
PYAS 6551 PA Professional Practice
[2 credits] The student will be given the opportunity to develop a thorough understanding
of: 1) the role of the physician assistant in health care delivery and the scope of
PA practice; 2) health law; 3) physician assistant profession and its history; and
4) ethical dimensions of health care. The course will also emphasize the PA's role
in health care delivery as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
[3 credits] Patient Evaluation is a lecture/lab course designed to give the entry-level physician assistant student in-depth instruction in the appropriate techniques of soliciting, organizing and interpreting of patient-specific medical information from patients of all ages, cultures, socioeconomic backgrounds and abilities. The laboratory portion of the course will allow the participants to practice and refine the skills presented in the didactic portion of the course.
The student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to communicate
skillfully with patients using appropriate interviewing techniques and to elicit a
thorough medical history.
[4 credits] Physical Diagnosis is a lecture/lab course designed to build upon the
skills developed in Patient Evaluation. The student will receive instruction in proper
performance of a comprehensive screening physical examination. Instruction will be
given in physical exam skills appropriate for persons across all life spans and will
include instruction in legal, ethical and cultural considerations associated with
physical examination of patients. The student will be required to participate in
the laboratory portion of the course, where physician assistant instructors will offer
hands-on demonstrations of proper physical exam techniques. The students will be paired
with peers to practice and develop physical exam skills. The course will culminate
in a practical exam in which the student will perform the entire screening physical
exam in a predetermined time frame.
[3 Credits] Clinical Ethics is a lecture-based course designed to introduce the entry-level
physician assistant student to ethical dilemmas encountered in clinical practice.
The course will be structured such that the student will upon completion of the course,
be able to identify, analyze and develop a plan to resolve common ethical dilemmas.
The course will include instruction in the principles of beneficence and non-maleficence,
respect for autonomy, loyalty, and fairness. Students will examine their role as health
care provider in relation to confidentiality, informed consent, end-of-life issues
and patients' rights. The students will also be introduced to the ethics of clinical
research, and the legal aspects of participating in clinical research.
[3 Credits] Clinical Genetics is a lecture-based course designed to provide the entry-level
physician assistant student with a basic understanding of medical genetics so that
they can begin the process of developing into a knowledgeable, competent, healthcare
practitioner. The course will review basic molecular genetics, molecular terminology
and inheritance patterns. The student will receive instruction in various diagnostic
techniques associated with medical genetics. Development and teratogenesis will also
be covered. The remainder of the course will be focused on the identification of select
clinical genetic topics, their clinical presentations, treatment options and any ethical
issues associated with the manifestation or treatment of the disorder. Included will
be instruction pertaining to the ethical, legal and social issues of select genetic
disorders.
PYAS 6572 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
[3 credits] Health Promotion and Disease prevention is a lecture-based course in which
the student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to: apply practical
knowledge concerning the practice of preventive medicine; identify resources that
provide preventive and community health services; identify reliable Internet and other
sources of information; utilize sources of information pertaining to legal regulations
on reportable diseases or health hazards; and apply these and other acquired skills
in the education of patients concerning medical, psychological, surgical, and terminal
illnesses.
[7 credits] Clinical Medicine I is a lecture/lab course designed to build upon the
skills developed in Patient Evaluation and Physical Diagnosis, Differential Diagnosis
and the basic sciences. This course covers the principles of evaluation and management
of general medical conditions in a systems based-approach. Lecture, case studies,
small-group discussions and independent studies are used to incorporate pre-requisite
and co-requisite knowledge of pathophysiology, patient evaluation and diagnostic medicine
in order to reach appropriate patient assessments. This course is designed specifically
to prepare the student for supervised clinical practice. The course will utilize a
system based approach to clinical problem solving. The student will be given the opportunity
to demonstrate the ability to: 1) recognize and understand clinical signs and symptoms
of diseases; 2) interpret results obtained by analysis of body tissues and fluids;
3) interpret basic radiographic procedures; and 4) utilize clinical data in the management
of medical problems.
PYAS 6556 Clinical Medicine II
[8 credits] This course is a continuation of Clinical Medicine I. This course is designed
specifically to prepare the student for supervised clinical practice, and is a continuation
of Clinical Medicine I for the Physician Assistant. In this course, the student will
be given the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to: recognize and understand clinical
signs and symptoms of diseases; interpret results obtained by analysis of body tissues
and fluids; interpret basic radiographic procedures; and utilize clinical data in
the management of medical problems. Problem-based learning techniques will be used
in the laboratory portion of the course to assist the student in the refinement of
clinical problem solving skills.
PYAS 6571 Culture and Diversity
[3 credits] Culture and Diversity is a lecture-based course designed to increase the
physician assistant student's awareness of the complexities of providing healthcare
to persons from diverse cultural backgrounds. This course will explore various cultural
healing practices and encourage students to explore their own cultural experiences
and bias. The goal of this course is to explore cultural diversity and the challenges
presented to the healthcare professional and to increase the cultural competency of
the developing physician assistant.
PYAS 6552 Clinical Diagnostics
[3 Credits] Clinical Diagnostics is a lecture course with three components: radiologic
study ordering and interpretation, ECG ordering and interpretation, and laboratory
study ordering, and interpretation. This course provides skills in ordering and interpreting
lab values from chemistry, hematology, immunology, microbiology, parasitology, virology,
genetics, and mycology testing. Basic ECG and x-ray interpretation skills are introduced
in preparation for clinical externships.
PYAS 6558 Differential Diagnosis
[3 credits]Differential Diagnosis is a lecture-based course designed to build upon
the skills developed in Patient Evaluation and Physical Diagnosis. The course will
provide instruction in the development of a thorough, patient appropriate differential
diagnosis. Medical decision making based on anatomy, physiology, pathology and the
history and clinical presentation will be stressed. Students will be challenged to
develop critical thinking skills using case-studies based on actual patient presentations.
[2 credits] the course is a lecture-based course designed to introduce the entry-level
physician assistant student to basic research techniques. The course will focus on
developing proficiency in searching and interpretation of current medical literature.
This course is the first course in the preparation of the student for the capstone
project. All students will be assigned a faculty mentor to guide their progress through
research skill development. The goals of the course are to equip the student with
the skills needed to assess the literature for evidence-based information, to develop
medical writing skills and to develop lifelong practices of critical analysis of the
medical literature for evidence-based treatment practices.
[2 credits] Research Methods for the Physician Assistant II is a lecture-based course designed to continue the entry-level physician assistant student's proficiency in research. This course will further refine skills in literature analysis and the formatting of conclusions for the evidence-based practice of evaluation and management of disease process. Upon completion of this course, the student will produce a complete literature review for the capstone project.