PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The master's level program is 36 months in length. Studies begin in late
May of each year.
Academic Training (19 months)
The first 19 months of study involve didactic, or classroom work, including
courses in human gross anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, pharmacotherapy,
history & physical exam skills, research, and professional issues.
Clinical Training (17 months)
The clinical phase of the Physician Assistant Graduate Program is 17 months
in length. The initial 12 months is designed much like a physician's
internship. Each student is required to progress through seven required
rotations in the following disciplines: family medicine, internal medicine,
pediatrics, general surgery, women's health, emergency medicine, and
psychiatry. Each of these rotations is six weeks long. Additionally,
within that first 12 months, each student will complete six weeks total
of selected electives from disciplines such as orthopedics, ENT, dermatology,
etc.
The mission of the Physician Assistant Program at Augsburg College is to provide underserved populations and communities in Minnesota with generalist physician assistants providing them with much needed health care. The clinical phase of the program is designed to effectively train students for that type of practice by placing students in health care facilities outside the metropolitan area for a minimum of two rotations. Our goal is to provide students with one to two locations in which to complete their required rotations to take away some of the financial and travel burdens that a PA student often faces.
The Clinical Phase culminates with a twelve week preceptorship. This preceptorship is designed to solidify the student's primary care skills, and potentially place them in a setting that might be interested in recruiting a graduate PA. The preceptorship may be completed within the community that the student has been in for the required rotations, or may be elsewhere in the state.
The clinical education is taught by physicians, and supplemented by Physician Assistants and other health care providers. Each student is evaluated by the physician preceptor for the designated rotation. Nine times during the clinical phase students will return to Augsburg for testing as well as didactic and clinical skill workshops.