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.
[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.
[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.
[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.
[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.