The document provides an overview of the Physician Assistant (PA) program at Mercer University, detailing the curriculum, accreditation status, mission statement, and profile of graduates. It emphasizes the importance of evidence-based medicine, interdisciplinary teamwork, and the PA's role in delivering patient-centered care under physician supervision. Additionally, it outlines admission requirements, estimated program costs, and clinical experience prerequisites for prospective students.

1. Welcome

2. Physician Assistants Physician Assistants (PAs) are health care professionals trained in the medical model, as are their physician supervisors, in nationally accredited educational programs. PAs are not independent clinicians; they are highly skilled professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. The PA’s ability for autonomous decision making and patient management contributes tremendously to the physician/PA team, thus ensuring the highest quality standards of patient care. PAs deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services to diverse rural and urban populations and may perform educational, research, and administrative activities. “ GAPA website”

3. Interesting PA Facts: 79,980 PAs in clinical practice beginning 2008 64% female Mean age: 41 y.o. Mean total income for clinically practicing PAs - $89,897 Mean income for new graduates - $76,232 257 million patient visits made to PAs in 2008 332 million prescriptions written by PAs in 2008

4. Mission Statement The mission of the Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Physician Assistant Program is to educate patient-centered medical providers of the highest quality who are leaders, life-long learners, possess an appreciation of ethical values and human diversity, and are provided a foundation to practice in every discipline of allopathic medicine. The Physician Assistant Program emphasizes evidence-based medicine, informatics, critical decision making, interdisciplinary teamwork, and continuous quality improvement.

6. Profile of a Graduate The Physician Assistant graduate of the Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences will be able to: 1. Elicit an accurate and thorough medical history 2. Perform a complete and problem focused physical examination 3. Develop a diagnostic plan using medical informatics and evidence-based medicine 4. Initiate an individualized therapeutic management plan 5. Provide patient-centered verbal and written instructions 6. Accurately document medical records 7. Perform medical and surgical procedures consistent with a primary care physician assistant 8. Exhibit administrative, management, and research skills 9. Demonstrate a commitment to professionalism in all situations 10. Dedicate ones self to a process of lifelong learning

8. Accreditation As a new program, we have received Provisional Accreditation through the Accreditation Review Commission on Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

10. Curriculum Overview 28 month Curriculum 13 month Didactic Phase 15 month Clinical Phase 9 Core Rotations (5 weeks each) 2 Elective Rotations (5 weeks each) Capstone Project Master of Medical Science degree

12. Didactic Curriculum Spring 2010 Didactic Phase Credit Human Anatomy & Lab 4 Clinical Physiology/Pathophysiology 3 Physical Diagnosis & Lab 6 Principles of Pharmacology 3 Clinical Decision Making 1 1 Medical Communication 1 Medical Ethics 1

13. Didactic Curriculum Summer 2010 Didactic Phase Credit Clinical Medicine 1 with Lab 8 Pharmacotherapy 1 2 Diagnostic Interpretation 1 2 Behavioral Medicine 3 Concepts in Medical Science 4 Clinical Decision Making 2 1

15. Didactic Curriculum Fall 2010 Didactic Phase Credit Clinical Medicine 2 with lab 8 Pharmacotherapy 2 2 Diagnostic Interpretation 2 2 Surgical Medicine 2 Electrocardiography 1 Emergency Medicine 3 Evidence Based Medicine 1 2 Clinical Decision Making 3 1

16. Didactic Curriculum Spring 2011 Didactic Phase Credit ACLS - Clinical Medicine 3 & Lab 3 Evidence Based Medicine 2 2 Concepts in Healthcare 2 Medical Nutrition 2 Human Sexuality 1

18. Clinical Phase Credit Clinical Core Rotations (5 weeks each) 5 ea • Behavioral Medicine • Emergency Medicine • Family Practice • Internal Medicine Outpatient • Internal Medicine Inpatient • Orthopedic Medicine • Pediatric Medicine • General Surgery • Women’s Health Elective Clinical Rotation 1 & 2 (5 weeks each) 5 ea

19. Elective Clinical Rotations Cardiology Dermatology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Hospice Hyperbaric Long Term Care Nephrology Oncology Rheumatology Transplant Services CT Surgery

21. Hospitals DeKalb Medical Center Piedmont Fayette Hospital Piedmont Hospital Piedmont Newnan Hospital Piedmont Mountainside Hospital Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center

22. Two of Georgia’s oldest and finest institutions announced their “partnership” to enhance the future of healthcare delivery and education throughout the state The Center will leverage the demonstrated strengths of Piedmont Healthcare and Mercer University in the areas of clinical care, research and educational services to improve the quality of health professionals and the health of Georgians Piedmont Healthcare and Mercer University identified several areas of joint interest to include the establishment of a new physician assistant program.

23. End of Rotation (EOR) Two days, all students, on campus Evaluation Cognitive Skills Presentations Student Special subjects / topics Advisor /advisee meetings

24. The Davis Building

25. Classroom

26. Physical Exam Lab

27. Exam Room

28. Anatomy Models

29. Important Facts ■ Matriculation Date: Spring Semester 2010 ■ Current Enrollment: 38 students ■ Future Class Enrollment: 50 students annually

30. Class of 2011 Average Overall GPA: 3.43 Average Natural Science GPA: 3.30 Average GRE Score: 1118 Average number of direct patient care hours: 2,455 Undergraduate majors: Accounting 1 Kinesiology 1 Athletic Training 2 Medicine 1 Biology 15 Nutrition 1 Biology/Chemistry 3 Pre-Professional 1 Chemistry 2 Psychology 1 Computer Science 1 Therapeutic Recreation 1 Health Science 2

31. Class of 2011

32. PA Program Admissions Requirements Preferred cumulative undergraduate (and relevant Science related graduate degree) GPA 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Preferred undergraduate Natural Science GPA of 2.75 or better. Bachelor’s of Science/ Arts degree from a regionally accredited college or university. Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Preference is given to applicants whose combined scores (verbal and quantitative) are 1000 or above. Three References PA or physician College/University professor or instructor Additional non-relative

33. Prerequisite Requirements Natural Science Requirements General Biology with Labs (2 courses) 8 cr Microbiology with Lab 4 cr Anatomy with Lab (or A&P 1 with Lab) 4 cr Physiology with Lab (or A&P 2 with Lab) 4 cr General Chemistry with Labs (2 courses) 8 cr Organic Chemistry with Lab 4 cr General Biochemistry 3 cr Only grades of C or higher are acceptable for all pre-requisite coursework Anatomy, physiology and microbiology must be completed within the last 10 years. Additional Course Requirements Intro or General Psychology 3 cr Developmental or Abnormal Psychology 3 cr English Composition (2 courses) 6 cr Statistics or Biostatistics 3 cr Candidates may strengthen their application by completing any of the following recommended courses: Cell Biology, Embryology, Endocrinology, Ethics, Genetics, Histology, Immunology, Neuroscience, Organic Chemistry II, and Speech

34. PA Program Admissions Requirements Survey courses do not meet the prerequisite requirements. No transfer credits accepted from other PA programs. Candidates may be conditionally accepted with up to two outstanding prerequisites; however, all coursework must be completed prior to matriculation. TOEFL exam is required for all students for whom English is a second language. A minimum TOEFL score of 550 PBT, 213 CBT, or 80 IBT must be achieved on a test taken within the last 2 years. International students must comply with additional credentialing requirements as established by the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences.

35. Clinical Experience Requirements Clinical Experience of 1000 hours demonstrating direct patient care. The following are some accepted categories of experience: EMT / Paramedic Registered Nurse Licensed Practical Nurse Medical Assistant Physical Therapist Occupational Therapist Athletic Trainer Medical Corpsman Respiratory Therapist Pharmacist Hospice Volunteer Radiology Technician Phlebotomist Surgical Technician Nursing Assistant/Aide Emergency Room Technician Peace Corp Volunteer Physical Therapy Assistant Clinical Health Educator Dietician Psychologist Patient Care Technician

37. Admissions Information ▪ Application deadline: August 1, 2009 for class entering in January 2010 ▪ Application available online at CASPA www.caspaonline.org Supplemental application available at: cophs.mercer.edu/pasuppapp.shtm ▪ Rolling admissions process ▪ GRE Codes: ▪ School Code 5623 ▪ Department Code 0699

39. Estimated Program Costs Please note that these fees are estimated and subject to change. Estimated Program Costs (per semester): Tuition $ 8,083.00 Tech Fee $ 100.00 Laptop/PDA $ 325.00 Recommended Text Books: Didactic Phase $ 2,200.00 Clinical Phase $ 500.00 One Time Fee: Equipment/Uniform $ 1,350.00 *Estimated Total Cost: $63,606.00, for the class entering in January 2010

40. Technology Requirement The Physician Assistant Program requires each student to participate in the technology lease/purchase program which includes: Lease/purchase of the approved notebook computer, PDA, and pre-loaded software. The technology requirement is included in the total cost of attendance used for financial aid purposes. The technology lease/purchase program is supported by the Mercer University Technology Support Services (TSS). As emphasized in the Program’s mission statement; we strongly endorse the use of informatics and evidence-based medicine in supporting critical decision making and patient-centered care.

42. Meet the Program Team Director Brad Schwarz, M.S., PA-C Program Specialist Laura Baumgarten, LPN Academic Coordinator Patricia Kelly, MMSc, PA-C Associate Academic Coordinator Ami Robinson, MMSc, PA-C Didactic Faculty Angela Dunaway, Pharm.D., PA-C Academic Support Specialist Barbara Fleming Clinical Coordinator Nadja Vawryk-Button, MHS, PA-C Associate Clinical Coordinator Shalonda Pettis, MMSc, CPC, PA-C Clinical Support Specialist Mignon Young

44. Meet the Program Team Student Affairs and Admissions Associate Dean Jim Bartling, Pharm.D. Associate Director Jordana Stephens Berry, MBA Admissions Coordinator Melva Lord Enrollment Associate Kendra Goosen Student Affairs Clerk Megan Springfield

45. Contact Us Student Affairs and Admissions Office Mercer University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 3001 Mercer University Drive, PAC-121 Atlanta, GA 30341 (678) 547-6232 (678) 547-6063 (fax) Email: paprogram@mercer.edu

46. Mercer PA-S