Physician Assistant Studies (GRAD)

The Division of Physician Assistant Studies in the Department of Health Sciences offers a rigorous and comprehensive 100+ credit hour master of health science in physician assistant studies degree with a focus on a generalist curriculum.

The curriculum is divided into a preclinical and a clinical phase. The preclinical phase functions to lay the foundation for students in their achievement of all program-defined competencies: Medical Knowledge, Patient Care, Professionalism and Cultural Sensitivity and Humility, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Systems-Based Practice and Self-Assessment and Ongoing Professional Development. This is done through multiple teaching and educational modalities, including lecture-based and experiential learning and ultimately prepares students to progress to the clinical phase.

The clinical phase of the curriculum enables students to build upon the knowledge acquired in the preclinical phase and develop skills to apply that knowledge in a variety of real-world healthcare environments and experiences. To achieve this, students rotate through core and elective Structured Clinical Professional Experiences (SCPEs). During these experiences and under the supervision of a qualified preceptor, students assess patients, establish diagnoses, present patient information to healthcare team members and work within the team to develop and enact a plan of care. The primary goal of the clinical phase is for the student to gain practical experience, further develop skills as a healthcare practitioner and learn the role of the physician assistant, as well as other members of the healthcare team.

Mission

The UNC Physician Assistant Program is honored to serve the mission of the UNC School of Medicine. We are dedicated to promoting high-quality, accessible, patient-centered health care for the people of North Carolina and the nation through excellence in education, scholarship and clinical service. The UNC PA Program is committed to the healthcare and workforce needs of North Carolinians and will use an interprofessional approach to prepare skilled and compassionate health care practitioners across the continuum of life.

Competencies

Graduates of the program must possess the knowledge, skills, attitudes and judgements to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient care. They must demonstrate the capacity to develop academic and emotional maturity and leadership skills to function in a medical team. These are reflected in the program’s competencies, which are adapted from the AAPA and PAEA competencies:

Medical Knowledge

• MK1: Demonstrate comprehension of basic sciences as it pertains to the human body and overall health, from conception to death, including anatomy, physiology and genetics.
• MK2: Apply understanding of human physiology and the pathophysiology of commonly presenting disorders to identify signs and symptoms of these disease states across the lifespan.
• MK3: Apply clinical reasoning and critical thinking to develop both a differential diagnosis and most likely diagnosis by discerning between normal and abnormal features of commonly presenting disorders.
• MK4: Formulate and recommend an appropriate, efficient, and cost-conscious diagnostic workup.
• MK5: Formulate and recommend an appropriate pharmacologic and/or non-pharmacologic management strategy in caring for healthy and ill patients across the lifespan.
• MK6: Formulate and recommend appropriate health maintenance, care and screening strategies for patients across the life span.

Patient Care

• PC1: Apply comprehension of human anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology to obtain complete and focused medical histories and perform comprehensive and focused physical examinations.
• PC2: Employ clinical knowledge in patient care settings to develop differential and most likely diagnoses and appropriately utilize clinical findings and/ or diagnostics to promote medical decision-making.
• PC3: Formulate and recommend patient-centered plans with consideration of each individual patient and their circumstances.
• PC4: Provide effective patient education and counseling emphasizing the promotion of personal and public health in accordance with the patient’s circumstances and values.

Professionalism & Cultural Humility

• PCH1: Consistently exhibit respect in interactions with peers, faculty, staff, patients, families and members of the healthcare team.
• PCH2: Foster collaboration with team members to enhance learning and optimize patient care.
• PCH3: Display personal accountability and engage in self-reflection, recognizing limitations and embracing constructive feedback.
• PCH4: Consistently practice cultural humility with peers, faculty, staff, patients, families and healthcare team members.
• PCH5: Apply ethical principles and adhere to state and federal laws in both educational and clinical settings, adhering to professional standards in the physician assistant profession.

Interpersonal & Communication Skills

• ICS1: Effectively communicate information and ideas with peers, faculty, staff, patients, families and healthcare team members.
• ICS2: Deliver concise and accurate patient information in the form of an oral presentation.
• ICS3: Compose concise and accurate medical documentation that demonstrates clear clinical reasoning and promotes comprehension by peers.

Systems-Based Practice

• SBP1: Appreciate and navigate the influences that affect patients’ access to and utilization of healthcare, including payor systems, health literacy and cultural, societal, environmental, socioeconomic and legal factors.
• SBP2: Effectively collaborate with healthcare team members within various practice environments to deliver high quality, patient-centered care.

Self-Assessment & Ongoing Professional Development

• SAPD1: Engage in practice-based and self-directed learning using peer-reviewed and evidence-based resources.
• SAPD2: Demonstrate a systematic approach to develop clinical questions, interpret novel medical literature and promote evidence-based clinical practice in both academic and healthcare settings.

Courses

Numbered 700-999:

• Physician Assistant Studies (PASC)

NOTE: Not all courses are offered every year/every term. Students should check with the DGS or SSM before registering for classes.

Master of Health Sciences in Physician Assistant Studies (M.H.S.)

Requirements for Admission

Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements:

1. Application submitted through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).
2. Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 OR a GPA of at least 3.0 for the last 60 credit hours of coursework.
3. Bachelor’s degree conferred from a regionally accredited institution in the US.
4. Minimum cumulative prerequisite GPA of 3.2. Please see the program’s Admissions Requirements for more detail regarding prerequisite coursework.
5. A minimum of 1,000 of paid, direct, hands-on patient care.
6. Three letters of recommendation with at least one letter from a practicing physician assistant.
7. Prospective students should also review the technical standards for the program prior to applying.

Division and Program Director

Katie Hanlon MMS, PA-C, Clinical Assistant Professor

Medical Director

Timothy Daaleman, DO, MPH, Professor of Medicine

Director of Preclinical Education

Nicholas Wiley, MHS, PA-C, Clinical Assistant Professor

Director of Clinical Education

Allison Phillips, MPAP, MHPE, PA-C, Clinical Assistant Professor

Chair of Admissions 

Nicole Mihailovich, MHS, PA-C, Clinical Assistant Professor

Faculty

Adam Ballance, MS, PA-C, Clinical Assistant Professor
Amy Hird, PA-C, MMS, MHPE, Clinical Assistant Professor
Ben Thompson, MHS, PA-C, Clinical Assistant Professor

Adjunct Faculty

Kunal Jakharia, MD, Assistant Professor