A curriculum organized by body systems
This 27-month program engages students through an innovative systems-organized curriculum that employs large and small group discussion, hands-on clinical skills labs, simulated patient experiences, lecture and patient scenario discussions. Over the course of the academic year, the patient scenarios and simulated patient experiences will increase in complexity. These will culminate in an Advanced Clinical Reasoning course in the fall that builds on existing learner-centered models by guiding students to reapply knowledge and build competence in all areas of the Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession.
The required Master’s Project supports and promotes professional development in the area of accessing, critically appraising, and applying the best evidence to address a research, patient care, service/education or quality improvement question relevant to PA practice or education. The clinical education phase consists of seven required rotations and two electives. Clinical sites are located throughout the central area of North Carolina.
Year I (beginning January)
Year I consists of a four-week introductory module followed by two progressive modules covering anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, pharmacology and physical diagnosis of the various body systems and medicine disciplines. The fall modules include population and special populations medicine courses, as well as advanced clinical reasoning, a master’s project and a clinical phase preparation course.
Year II
In Year II, the students complete 18 weeks of clinical education experiences before returning to campus for one week of continued professional development instruction and an opportunity to participate in the AAPA National Conference. Concurrently, they also begin their master’s project under the mentorship of faculty. The student then completes two 12-week blocks of clinical education experiences followed by a one-week return to campus. The second year ends with the students completing the program’s summative evaluation process.
Year III
In Year III, students complete their final six-week clinical education experience, followed by a one-week board review course and culminating with a final week of professional development and presentation of their final masters project. Students graduate in early March.