ACADEMICS
The Department of Physician Assistant Studies is the sole Physician Assistant
Program in the state of Minnesota. The Program's mission is to educate
generalist physician assistants oriented toward service to underserved
populations, both in the rural setting and urban areas.
A physician assistant is a dependent practitioner of medicine who practices under the supervision of a licensed physician. The PA can practice in a multitude of settings and specialties of medicine. Common job responsibilities including taking patient histories, performing physical exams, ordering and interpreting laboratory tests and radiological studies, formulating diagnoses, and administering treatment.
In the state of Minnesota, a physician assistant is registered with the Board of Medical Practice. In Minnesota, and most other states, the PA must be NCCPA (National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants) certified and hold a supervisory agreement with a licensed physician. Minnesota-registered PAs have prescriptive privileges under delegatory supervision with their physician for prescriptive medications.
The Physician Assistant Program at Augsburg is 36 months long with studies beginning each year in the summer semester (late May). The program accepts 28 students for each new class.
The first 19 months of study is didactic, or classroom work, including courses in human gross anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, pharmacotherapy, history and physical exam skills, research, and ethics and legal issues in medicine.
The clinical phase is 17 months in length. Each student is required to successfully complete clinical rotations in family medicine, pediatrics, women's health, psychiatry, emergency medicine, internal medicine, surgery and an elective rotation by choosing from various specialties. The clinical phase will culminate with a 12-week preceptor ship. The majority of established clinical rotation sites are in Minnesota in both rural and urban locations. Graduates will receive a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and a PA certificate.