Master of Physician Assistant Studies - Texas Hybrid Program (M.P.A.S.)
Master of Physician Assistant Studies Hybrid Program (M.P.A.S.)
Program Director/Assistant Professor: Joseph Hlavin
Director of Didactic Education/Associate Professor: Feroza Thompson
Director of Clinical Education/Assistant Professor: Cynthia Laux
Director of Program Assessment/Assistant Professor: Casey Maidon
Program Coordinator: Kenia Selva
Medical Director: David Olson
Clinical Placement Coordinator: Megan Harborth
Physician Assistants (PAs) are nationally certified and licensed healthcare professionals who practice medicine with a physician’s collaboration and/or supervision working as a team.
Mission
The Texas-based, hybrid 24-month Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Program is dedicated to the education and growth of the next generation of physician assistant clinicians through innovative, evidence-based education, professional development, and the best-practice of clinical skills. Our program will develop culturally sensitive clinicians who embrace diversity, equity, and inclusion when caring for patients within their communities.
Program Goals
- Recruit a multicultural student body that corresponds to the diversity of the U.S. population
- Provide an online learning experience and curriculum that prepares our students for a successful physician assistant career upon graduation.
- Prepare graduates to take the NCCPA PANCE with a first-time pass rate that meets and/or exceeds the national average.
Program Learning Outcomes
- Demonstrate core medical knowledge regarding established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care. (Medical Knowledge).
- Employ interpersonal and communication skills (including oral, written, electronic) to enable effective information exchange with patients, their families and members of the healthcare team. (Interpersonal & Communication Skills).
- Provide safe, entry-level patient care to include effective information gathering, appropriate diagnostic evaluation, and implementation of therapeutic management plans. (Patient Care).
- Exhibit professionalism by assuming responsibility for actions, recognizing personal limitations, expressing sensitivity to diversity, and respecting colleagues, faculty/staff, preceptors and patients. (Professionalism).
- Demonstrate ability to self-analyze current knowledge and clinical skills and enhance capabilities through reflection and critical appraisal of the medical literature. (Practice-based Learning & Improvement).
- Demonstrate awareness of the larger system of health services including access to healthcare, continuity of care and community support services. (Systems-based Practice).
Accreditation .
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Franklin Pierce University Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) Hybrid Program -- Round Rock, TX Campus sponsored by Franklin Pierce University.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-franklin-pierce-university-tx/.
Technical Standards
All candidates and graduates must possess and demonstrate throughout the program the necessary technical standards that establish the essential qualities required to achieve the level of competency to complete this program.
Observation and Sensation
- Candidates and graduates must possess sufficient visual, auditory, and tactile sensation to participate in the classroom, laboratory, and other educational or clinical settings.
- Must be able to receive verbal and nonverbal communications from patients and others, and to perform a complete patient physical exam.
Communication
- Candidates and graduates must be able to speak, hear, and observe patients, family members, and other clinicians.
- Communicate clearly and effectively through oral and written communication.
- Candidates and graduates must have the ability to receive and process communication from the healthcare team to respond in a timely manner and make appropriate decisions.
- Candidates and graduates must possess the skills to communicate attentively and sensitively to others while honoring the HIPAA policy.
Motor Skills
- Candidates and graduates must have sufficient strength, coordination, dexterity, and equilibrium to perform the activities required of a physician assistant, including performing a physical examination utilizing diagnostic instruments and techniques required in auscultation, palpation, percussion, and diagnostic maneuvers.
- Must be able to manipulate medical equipment for basic laboratory tests and procedures such as airway management, suturing, needle placement & IV, stethoscope & ophthalmoscope, tongue blades, gynecologic speculum and scalpel.
- Candidates and graduates must have the physical stamina to sit, stand, and move within classroom, laboratory, examination rooms, treatment rooms, and operating rooms for long periods of time.
Intellectual Ability
- Candidates and graduates must possess clinical problem solving and reasoning skills to think critically with sound judgment, emotional stability, maturity, and empathy.
- Candidates and graduates must be able to accurately collect, measure, organize, prioritize, calculate, reason, analyze and integrate data to make decisions in a timely manner.
- Must be able to comprehend the medical literature to use this knowledge in problem solving and patient care.
- Must be able to interpret diagnostic testing and treatment regimens.
Behavior
- Candidates and graduates must be able to establish and maintain appropriate professional relationships.
- Must work cooperatively with other members of the health care team.
- Must be able to prioritize competing demands and exercise good clinical judgment.
- Must be able to respond to emergencies in a calm and reasonable manner and handle physical, mental, and emotional stress while functioning effectively.
- Must be able to develop rapport with patients and their families as well as their colleagues.
- Must be able to demonstrate compassion, empathy, motivation, integrity, and flexibility while interacting with a diverse population.
- Must be able to accept criticism and modify behavior and practice as needed.
- Candidates and graduates must understand and apply ethical standards and responsibility in their daily practice.
- Candidates and graduates must demonstrate emotional stability to deliver the appropriate patient care in all settings.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
All applicants who were born outside of the United States and who did not graduate from a United States high school will be required to submit internet-based TOEFL (iBT) scores with their application. A minimum total score of 100 (with at least 25 in each section) is required. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) code for submitting your score to CASPA is 3709.
Advanced Placement
The M.P.A.S. Hybrid Program is a full-time program and does not offer advanced placement
for students.
Work Policy
In order to enhance student learning and assure student success in the M.P.A.S. Hybrid
Program, it is recommended that students do not work while enrolled in the program.
If a student chooses to work while enrolled in the program, work schedules cannot
interfere with class attendance, academic performance, or clinical rotation schedules.
Students are never required to work for the program in any capacity.
Physician Assistant Hybrid Program Academic Policies
The policies below are in addition to the standards noted above as set by the College
of Health and Natural Sciences.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
All M.P.A.S. Hybrid Program students must achieve and maintain a term grade point
average (TGPA) and cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.0 or higher to remain
in good academic standing. M.P.A.S. Hybrid Program students may have no more than
two grades lower than a B- on the academic record at the time of graduation. Any student
not meeting this minimum will be required to meet with their academic advisor to establish
and sign a Learning Contract to address academic deficiencies. A student will be considered
to have attained satisfactory academic progress when the student receives consistent
course grades of B- or better and maintains a cumulative and TGPA of 3.0. Students
with a history of academic probation will be referred for academic dismissal from
the program if they fail to maintain the academic standards of the program or University.
The M.P.A.S. Progress and Promotions Committee meets throughout each term to review
and discuss each individual student’s progress.
Concerns regarding a student’s academic performance will be documented and referred to the student’s academic advisor. At the close of each term, academic records will be reviewed by the Program Director. Appropriate sanctions will be applied if necessary. Students on Academic Probation at the end of the didactic year cannot progress to the clinical year without approval of the M.P.A.S. Progress and Promotions Committee. In addition to academic expectations regarding Academic Standing, recipients of all forms of financial assistance are expected to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.
*Note: The standards and policies of the M.P.A.S. Hybrid Program supersede any university policy regarding academic probation and/ or dismissal.
Part-time Enrollment and Deceleration
The design of the curriculum within the M.P.A.S. Hybrid Program does not allow for
students to attend part-time.
Students who cannot continue on a full-time basis may consider applying for a Leave of Absence (LOA), which then must be approved by the Program Director. Poor academic performance is not a valid reason for taking a LOA. Only those students with an approved LOA (or other extenuating circumstance approved by the Program Director) will be allowed to decelerate. Deceleration is defined as movement from the student’s entering cohort to a subsequent cohort. Students who decelerate may be required to repeat some or all of the coursework completed at the time of withdrawal.
Summative Evaluation
The Summative Evaluation is administered within the last four (4) months of the program during Professional Practice IV. It is used to assess the culmination of medical knowledge, clinical and technical skills, clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities, interpersonal and communication skills, patient care, and professionalism which we require all students to have learned prior to program completion.
As the Summative Evaluation is the means by which we verify that each student is prepared to enter clinical practice, a student will be permitted to take the Summative Evaluation only after successful completion of all preceding courses in the didactic and clinical phases of the program. Students must also be in good academic standing to be eligible for the Summative Evaluation. Exceptions to these rules will be permitted only under extenuating circumstances, on a case-by-case basis, and at the sole discretion of the Program Director.
Students must demonstrate satisfactory performance in the Summative Evaluation in order to successfully complete the program.
Course Sequence
Didactic Phase
Grad Fall Term I August-November
ME600 Human Anatomy and Physiology I 2 Credits
ME603 Basic Sciences I 2 Credits
ME605 Patient Assessment I 1 Credit
ME607 Clinical Pharmacology I 1 Credit
ME609 Clinical Dermatology 2 Credits
ME611 Clinical EENT 2 Credits
ME613 Mindfulness in Medicine 1 Credit
ME615 Evidence-based Medicine (EBM) and Introduction to Research Methods 1 Credit
ME617 Preventive Medicine 1 Credit
ME621 Introduction to Health Professions 1 Credit
ME623 Diagnostic Methods I 1 Credit
Total 15 Credits
Grad Term II Winter November-March
ME625 Human Anatomy and Physiology II 2 Credits
ME627 Basic Sciences II 2 Credits
ME629 Patient Assessment II 1 Credit
ME641 Clinical Pharmacology II 1 Credit
ME643 Clinical Cardiology 4 Credits
ME649 Clinical Pulmonology 3 Credits
ME661 Clinical Gastroenterology 3 Credits
ME663 Diagnostic Methods II 1 Credit
ME665 Clinical Psychology and Behavioral Health 1 Credit
ME667 Clinical Skills 1 Credit
Total 19 Credits
Grad Term III Spring March-May
ME669 Human Anatomy and Physiology III 2 Credits
ME671 Basic Sciences III 2 Credits
ME673 Patient Assessment III 1 Credit
ME675 Clinical Pharmacology III 1 Credit
ME677 Clinical Musculoskeletal/Rheumatology 3 Credits
ME679 Clinical Neurology 2 Credits
ME681 Clinical Endocrinology 2 Credits
ME683 Clinical Infectious Disease and Emergency Medicine 1 Credit
ME685 Diagnostic Methods III 1 Credit
ME687 Cross Cultural Health 1 Credit
Total 16 Credits
Grad Term IV Summer June-August
ME701 Human Anatomy and Physiology IV 1 Credit
ME703 Basic Sciences IV 2 Credits
ME705 Patient Assessment IV 1 Credit
ME707 Clinical Pharmacology IV 1 Credit
ME709 Clinical Renal and Genitourinary 3 Credits
ME711 Clinical Pediatrics 2 Credits
ME713 Clinical Hematology 1 Credit
ME715 Clinical Women’s Health 2 Credits
ME717 Clinical Surgery 2 Credits
ME719 Medical Ethics 1 Credit
Total 16 Credits
Clinical Phase YEAR TWO
(SCPEs will vary during the Clinical Year terms)
ME721 SCPE Internal Medicine 5 Credits
ME723 SCPE Family Medicine 5 Credits
ME725 SCPE Emergency Medicine 5 Credits
ME727 SCPE Surgery 5 Credits
ME729 SCPE Pediatrics 5 Credits
ME731 SCPE Women’s Health 5 Credits
ME733 SCPE Behavioral Medicine 5 Credits
ME735 SCPE Elective 1 5 Credits
ME737 SCPE Elective 2 5 Credits
ME739 Professional Practice I 1 Credit
ME741 Professional Practice II 1 Credit
ME743 Professional Practice III 1 Credit
ME745 Professional Practice IV 1 Credit
Total 49 Credits
Total Credits over 8 Terms = 115 Credits
