School of Allied Health Professions

Department of Physician Assistant Studies

PA Clinical Course Descriptions

 

PYAS 6567 Clinical Externship Emergency Medicine  

[3 credits] The Emergency Medicine Clerkship is designed to introduce the student to healthcare in the Emergency Medicine Practice setting. The student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to: understand and manage patient problems in an emergency care setting; understand the broad base of knowledge required for the emergency care setting; apply this knowledge to benefit the physician and patient in the emergency care setting; apply previously acquired knowledge in the management of patients; apply principles of evidence-based medicine; apply data gathering techniques on unusual patient conditions for the purpose of publication; and participate in designing and/or collecting data in clinical trials. (4-week rotation)
 

PYAS 6565 Clinical Externship General Surgery

[3 credits] The General Surgery Clerkship is designed to introduce the student to healthcare in the General Surgery Practice setting. The student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to: understand and manage patient problems in a general surgery care setting; understand the broad base of knowledge required for the general surgery care setting; apply this knowledge to benefit the physician and patient in the general surgery care setting; apply previously acquired knowledge in the management of surgery patients; apply principles of evidence-based medicine; apply data gathering techniques on unusual patient conditions for the purpose of publication; and participate in designing and/or collecting data in clinical trials. (4-week rotation)
 

PYAS 6579 Clinical Externship Elective  

[3 credits] This four-week rotation may be completed in any subspecialty chosen by the student with the approval of the clinical rotation coordinator. The student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to: prepare and present patient records and a problem list in an organized fashion appropriate for the subspecialty service; understand the indications, contraindications, possible complications, and limitations in the treatment of  conditions treated by the subspecialist; understand the indications and limitations of various diagnostic procedures; assist effectively with necessary procedures in the pre- and post-operative periods if applicable; assist in all particulars delegated by the subspecialist; apply previously acquired problem-solving skills in the management of patients; apply principles of evidence-based medicine; participate in designing and/or collecting data in clinical trials; and make written and oral presentations on selected patient conditions. (4-week rotation)
 

PYAS 6559 Clinical Externship Family Medicine 

[6 credits] The Family Medicine Clerkship is designed to introduce the student to healthcare in the Family Practice setting. The student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to: understand and manage patient problems in a primary care setting; understand the broad base of knowledge required for the primary care setting; apply this knowledge to benefit the physician and patient in the primary care setting; apply previously acquired knowledge in the management of patients; apply principles of evidence-based medicine; apply data gathering techniques on unusual patient conditions for the purpose of publication; and participate in designing and/or collecting data in clinical trials. (4-week rotation)
 

PYAS 6560  Clinical Externship Internal Medicine 

[3 credits] The Internal Medicine Clerkship is designed to introduce the student to healthcare in the Internal Medicine Practice setting. The student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to: understand and manage patient problems in an internal medicine setting; understand the broad base of knowledge required for the internal medicine setting; apply this knowledge to benefit the physician and patient in the internal medicine setting; apply previously acquired knowledge in the management of patients; apply principles of evidence-based medicine; apply data gathering techniques on unusual patient conditions for the purpose of publication; and participate in designing and/or collecting data in clinical trials. (4-week rotation)
 

PYAS 6561 Clinical Externship General Pediatrics

[3 credits] The Pediatric Medicine Clerkship is designed to introduce the student to healthcare in the Pediatric Practice setting. The student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to: understand and manage patient problems in a pediatric care setting; understand the broad base of knowledge required for the pediatric care setting; apply this knowledge to benefit the physician and patient in the pediatric care setting; apply previously acquired knowledge in the management of pediatric patients; apply principles of evidence-based medicine; apply data gathering techniques on unusual patient conditions for the purpose of publication; and participate in designing and/or collecting data in clinical trials. (4-week rotation)
 

PYAS 6564 Clinical Externship Women's Health 

[3 credits] The Women's Health Clerkship is designed to introduce the student to healthcare in the Women's Health Practice setting. The student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to: understand and manage patient problems in the Women' health care setting; understand the broad base of knowledge required for the Women's Health care setting; apply this knowledge to benefit the physician and patient in the Women's Health setting; apply previously acquired knowledge in the management of patients; apply principles of evidence-based medicine; apply data gathering techniques on unusual patient conditions for the purpose of publication; and participate in designing and/or collecting data in clinical trials. (4-week rotation)
 

PYAS 6566 Clinical Externship Psychiatric

[3 credits] The Psychiatric Clerkship is designed to introduce the student to healthcare in the field of behavioral medicine. The student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate the ability to: understand and manage patient problems in a psychiatric care setting; understand the broad base of knowledge required for the psychiatric care setting; apply this knowledge to benefit the physician and patient in the psychiatric care setting; apply previously acquired knowledge in the management of patients; apply principles of evidence-based medicine; apply data gathering techniques on unusual patient conditions for the purpose of publication; and participate in designing and/or collecting data in clinical trials. (4-week rotation)
 

PYAS 6568 Clinical Preceptorship

[6 credits] This eight-week preceptorship may be completed in any specialty or subspecialty chosen by the student with the approval of the clinical rotation coordinator. The preceptorship is designed to give the student additional clinical exposure in a medical/surgical area of their choosing. This opportunity is often used by preceptors to assess the student for possible employment. The student will be given the opportunity to demonstrate advanced ability to: prepare and present patient records and a problem list in an organized fashion appropriate for the subspecialty service; understand the indications, contraindications, possible complications, and limitations in the treatment of  conditions treated by the subspecialist; understand the indications and limitations of various diagnostic procedures; assist effectively with necessary procedures in the pre- and post-operative periods if applicable; assist in all particulars delegated by the subspecialist; apply previously acquired problem-solving skills in the management of patients; apply principles of evidence-based medicine; participate in designing and/or collecting data in clinical trials; and make written and oral presentations on selected patient conditions. (8-week rotation)
 

PYAS 6557 Clinical Practice Issues

[2 credits] Clinical Practice Issues for the Physician Assistant is a lecture-based course covering advanced clinical practice issues affecting the physician assistant profession. These topics will be included in the course, but not limited to: billing and coding issues, hospital credentials, state, national and international practice acts and issues of professionalism. The students will have the opportunity to work individually and in small group on projects designed to increase their familiarity with issues facing the clinical practitioner.
 

PYAS 6578 Capstone Project 

[1 credit] This course will build upon the concepts presented in PYAS 6562 and PYAS 6570 (Research I and Research II). The student will be required to develop a capstone project based upon the previously developed research proposal.  The student will be required to incorporate evidence-based practice in the project and will formally present the findings to the class and faculty and will also submit the findings in a written form of publishable quality. The conclusion of the project will evaluate the sum of the literature to make recommendations regarding the application and utility of the information in an evidence-based practice.
 

PYAS 6563 Seminar I

[1 credit] One seminar course is taken each semester of the clinical (second) year of PA school. This discussion-based course meets one day each month when students return from clinical rotations. Students present clinical cases, reflect on clinical experiences, and prepare for the next clinical experience. Students will present a short PP presentation on a PANCE Blueprint topic to the class.
 

PYAS 6569 Seminar II

[1 credit] One seminar course is taken each semester of the clinical (second) year of PA school. This discussion-based course meets one day each month when students return from clinical rotations. Students present clinical cases, reflect on clinical experiences, and prepare for the next clinical experience. Students will present a short PP presentation on a PANCE Blueprint topic to the class.
 

PYAS 6576 Seminar III

[1 credit] One seminar course is taken each semester of the clinical (second) year of PA school. This discussion-based course meets one day each month when students return from clinical rotations. Students present clinical cases, reflect on clinical experiences, and prepare for the next clinical experience. Students will present a short PP presentation on a PANCE Blueprint topic to the class.