Program Overview

 

Physician Assistants (PAs) are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and in most states can write prescriptions. Physician Assistants are educated in an intensive medical model curriculum designed to complement physician training. The broad educational program promotes health and wellness through the provision of quality primary care health education, in a diverse environment that values the discovery of knowledge, the development and dissemination, and practical application of that knowledge through community outreach and service.
Students are prepared through instruction, research and service with the professional and technical knowledge, skills and values to serve as compassionate health providers in local, state, national and global environments. Students entering The University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES) PA Program are required to posses the essential cognitive, physical and behavioral abilities to assimilate knowledge, develop skills and judgement. Through patient care experiences students develop appropriate decision making in clinical practice with collaboration among physicians and other allied professionals.
The Physician Assistant Department offers a Masters Degree in Physician Assistant. The Physician Assistant Program constitutes the professional preparation for students desiring to become Physician Assistants.
Graduates of the program will be prepared to deliver primary health care services to diverse patient populations with acute to chronic medical and surgical conditions in both rural and urban communities. As a Physician Assistant, they manage patients throughout the life cycle in both community and institutionally based clinical practices. Upon graduation, Physician Assistants take a National Certification Examination developed by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) in conjunction with the National Board of Medical Examiners.

The UMES Physician Assistant Program is fully accredited through the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA).