Physician Assistant Program Informa on

CONTENTS

April 2018

PROGRAM MISSION

Transform Students Into Highly Competent Physician Assistants

VISION

Excellence in Physician Assistant Educa on

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

Foster an enthusias c learning environment commi ed to student success

Promote pa ent‐centered collabora ve care

Model and cul vate compassion

Respond to the need for primary care providers in Kansas

Encourage health care for rural and underserved popula ons

Emphasize evidence‐based prac ce and promote lifelong learning

Program Overview 2

Requirements 3‐4

Pa ent Care Experience 5

Technical Standards 6

How To Apply 7

Program Costs 8‐9

Curriculum 10

Physician Assistant

Wichita State University

1845 Fairmount

Wichita, KS 67260‐0214

316‐978‐3011

physician.assistant@wichita.edu

ADMISSIONS TIMELINE

4‐26‐18 2018‐19 CASPA applica on opens

* WSU PA Program supplemental applica on deadline

9‐1‐18 CASPA applica on deadline (applica ons must be complete and verified)

9‐1‐18 WSU Graduate School applica on deadline (Applicants with foreign transcripts see pages 3

and 6)

Dec 2018 Invita ons for onsite interviews are sent to select qualified applicants

Jan 2019 Onsite interviews

Feb 2019 Offer le ers for the WSU PA Class of 2021 are sent

Jun 2019 Mandatory Orienta on/Classes begin

* Qualified applicants will be emailed a link to the supplemental applica on with an individually

assigned deadline to submit the applica on and fee

The WSU Department of Physician Assistant offers a 26 month graduate course of study that leads to a Master of Physician Assistant degree.

Applicants interested in vying for one of the 48 slots offered annually have a strong background in the natural and clinical sciences suppor ng their bachelor degree. The selec on process screens candidates based on past academic performance, previous health care experience, an orienta on toward service and an on‐site interview.

PA Students will spend their first year learning clinical medicine, how to perform a medical history and physical examina on and beginning their research project. Graduate coursework included in the didac c phase includes clinical medicine, clinical laboratory, pharmacotherapy, anatomy, pathophysiology, research and evidence‐ based prac ce, clinical skills, preven ve medicine and health care professional issues.

Students complete 8 clinical rota ons during their second year. Focus areas include: family med‐icine and primary care, pediatrics, prenatal care and women’s health, emergency medicine and acute care, general surgery, behavioral health and geriatrics. The WSU PA Program enjoys the support of preceptors throughout Kansas along with a few rota ons in Oklahoma, Missouri and Nebraska. In keeping with the broad range of clinical ac vi es, students have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of clinical rota on sites including at least two rota ons in a rural loca‐

on. All students will be assigned to clinical rota ons outside of the urban areas and should therefore expect to spend several months in rural areas of Kansas.

The WSU Physician Assistant Department prepares students to func on as health care general‐ists. Students are prepared to become licensed professionals and encouraged to serve in pri‐mary care areas where the health care need is greatest.

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PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM OVERVIEW

1. Applicants must have a bachelor degree from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university.

2. Prerequisite coursework must be completed if it was not included in the bachelor degree (see page 4). A. CORE prerequisite coursework should be no more than 10 years old. B. Coursework taken at a university outside of the U.S. must be from a recognized ins tu on in that country whose requirements for a bachelor degree are substan ally equivalent to a U.S. four year bachelor degree. Foreign coursework must be evaluated by a foreign transcript evalua on service before it will be accepted for considera on by CASPA. The applicant is responsible for arranging for evalua on of all transcripts (refer to CASPA’s website for details). C. Applicants with foreign coursework must apply to the WSU Graduate School and be determined admissible prior to submi ng the CASPA applica on.

3. Ideally, the bachelor degree and all prerequisite coursework should be completed before applica on. (see page 4) A. All Core Science Prerequisites must be completed with a grade submi ed to CASPA at the me of applica on. B. A candidate can apply while comple ng other bachelor degree coursework and other prerequisites, but these must be completed before star ng the program, and comple on must be verified before acceptance into the program is finalized.

4. A minimum GPA of 3.00 (4.0 scale) is required for both overall coursework and science course work. A. Both GPAs will be calculated by CASPA using all courses on the transcripts you submit to CASPA and reported to us on your CASPA applica on. B. All prerequisite course work must be completed with a “C‐” grade or higher. C. Prerequisites not verified on an official transcript or taken for “credit only” or “Pass/Fail” will not be accepted to sa sfy a prerequisite requirement.

5. Selected applicants will be invited to an on‐site interview with program faculty. A endance is required but does not assure admission to the program. A. The interview includes (but is not limited to) an assessment of academic poten al, mo va on and commitment to the PA profession, and interpersonal and communica on skills.

6. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a commitment to diversity, leadership, and service.

7. Applicants must be able to meet the Academic and Technical standards. (see page 6)

8. Health care experience (direct pa ent care) is strongly preferred, but not required. (see page 5)

9. Applicants, at their own expense, must pass a background check prior to program admission. Admi ed students

will be required to obtain and pass a drug screen. In addi on, clinical rota on sites may also require students to undergo random serum or urine drug tes ng at the expense of the student. Inability or refusal to do so will re‐quire the program to suspend or dismiss the student from the program.

10. Acceptance of foreign bachelor’s degrees is decided on an individual basis and a er evalua on by a transcript evalua on service.

11. Applicants whose na ve (first) language is not English must submit English proficiency scores by November 1, 2018. (see page 4)

Program requirements will not be waived for any reason. Likewise, experien al credit toward prerequisites or ad‐vanced standing will not be granted. Transfer credit policies can be found in the latest edi on of the WSU Graduate Catalog. Student posi ons will not be held from year to year. If an applicant rejects or cancels an offered posi on at any me prior to star ng the program, the individual will have to re‐apply if he/she desire admission at a future date.

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REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

Page 4

PREREQUISITE COURSEWORK

CORE SCIENCE PREREQUISITES

Must be complete at the me of applica on!

12 Credit Hours of Chemistry w/Lab

(Recommended sequence—chemistry I, chemistry II, biochemistry)

9 Credit Hours of Biology to include Microbiology w/Lab

(Recommended sequence biology I, biology II, microbiology)

5 Credit Hours of Human Anatomy and Physiology w/Lab

OTHER PREREQUISITES

Must be completed before the start of the program

3 Credit Hours of Sta s cs

3 Credit Hours of General Psychology or higher level psychology

1 Credit Hour of Medical Terminology 

SUGGESTED COURSES

STRONGLY RECOMMENDED Pharmacology

Gene cs Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry

Pathophysiology Addi onal courses in Anatomy & Physiology

beyond the required 5 hours

RECOMMENDED Gerontology

Medical Ethics Health Care Policy

Epidemiology Abnormal Psychology

Human Nutri on

These courses and courses like these provide valuable background to prepare students for admission to the program and allow applicants to demonstrate their ability to succeed in rigorous science/medical courses similar to what they will encounter in the program.

STANDARDIZED TEST SCORES

GRE We DO NOT require GRE scores

ENGLISH PROFICIENCY Applicants whose na ve (first spoken) language is not English are required to sa sfy one of the fol‐lowing English proficiency requirements:

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) Minimum Internet‐based score is 79

Interna onal English Language Tes ng Service (IELTS) Minimum Internet‐based score is 6.5

The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE) Minimum Internet‐based score is 58

Official scores must be sent directly from the tes ng agency to Wichita State University (Ins tu onal code of 6884) and must be less than two years old. TOEFL scores can be submi ed di‐rectly to CASPA. The deadline to submit English proficiency test scores is November 1, 2018.

LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

4 Le ers of recommenda on must be submi ed directly to CASPA. We do not accept documents outside of the CASPA applica on.

INQUIRIES

If you have further ques ons about WSU’s PA program, please email:

physician.assistant@wichita.edu

Transcript evalua on is not provided.

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Registered Nurse Scribe Medical Technologist

Respiratory Therapist Paramedic Military Corpsmen

Licensed Prac cal Nurse Dental Hygienist OR Technologist

X‐Ray Technologist Athle c Trainer EMT/MICT

Physical/Occupa onal Therapist Physical Therapy Assistant Cer fied Nurse Aide

Medical Social Worker Mental Health Care Counselor Medical Assistant

Aide in Dialysis Unit Optometry Assistant

Chiroprac c Assistant Phlebotomist

EXAMPLES OF ACTIVITIES THAT ARE NOT DIRECT PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE:

Medical records personnel or clerical worker in a medical office or hospital

Pharmacy technician/clerk

Observa on of any kind (i.e., shadowing a physician or PA)

Training without employment (such as EMT/MICT, etc.)

Health care experience which is part of a health care training program (i.e., clinical rota ons, field work, or internships)

Caring for one’s own family

Providing first aid as a coach, scout leader, etc.

SHADOWING Shadowing is strongly preferred, but not re‐quired. Shadowing is advantageous because it can help you be er understand what a PA does.

PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE

EXAMPLES OF DIRECT PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE THAT MAY BE CONSIDERED:

PATIENT CARE EXPERIENCE

Direct pa ent care experience is

expected, but not required. Experience

listed on your applica on will be verified.

TECHNICAL STANDARDS

The WSU PA Program curriculum incorporates the teaching of technical skills necessary for the prac ce of medicine. Students

must be able to perform successfully in a wide variety of clinical situa ons, and therefore are required to have adequate

ability in physical, cogni ve and behavioral areas. Students are expected to confirm their ability to meet the following

standards (with or without reasonable accommoda ons consistent with applicable law) upon admi ance to the program.

Physical abili es required for sa sfactory comple on of curriculum:

• The ability to observe demonstra ons and other forms of instruc on, as well as the observa on of pa ents for physi‐

cal evalua on. Observa on necessitates the func onal use of vision both at a distance and close at hand. Other sensory modali‐

es, such as touch and smell enhance observa on.

• The ability to communicate effec vely in English. Communica on necessitates the ability to speak, hear and perceive

nonverbal communica on. Wri ng, reading, interpre ng graphs and diagrams, as well as computer literacy, are also essen al for

effec ve communica on throughout the PA Program curriculum and in pa ent care.

• The ability to perform physical exams, diagnos c tests, surgical procedures, and treatment modali es for general and

emergent medical care requires sufficient sensory and motor func on. The curriculum requires that students have coordina on

of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and other sensory func on to perform tasks such as intuba on, cathe‐

teriza on, suturing, cast applica on, palpa on, ausculta on, administra on of intravenous medica on, basic life support (BLS),

advanced cardiac life support (ACLS), etc.

Cogni ve abili es required for sa sfactory comple on of curriculum:

• Analy cal reasoning, problem solving, cri cal thinking, and the ability to intellectually grasp a large volume of infor‐

ma on are essen al for successful comple on of the curriculum. These skills would include understanding of measurements and

calcula ons. Students will be required to integrate informa on from pa ent histories, exams, and diagnos c tests and then re‐

late it to medical knowledge to form diagnoses and treatment plans.

Behavioral abili es required for sa sfactory comple on of curriculum:

• The ability to demonstrate compassion, concern for others and a mo va on to service, as well as maturity that is ex‐

pressed through ethical and professional behavior, the ability to complete tasks without unnecessary delay, dependability to take

responsibility and ini a ve, willingness to be flexible, and the use of clean and tac ul language, are all essen al to excellent

medical care and successful comple on of the curriculum. Prac cing good judgment when choosing pa ent care, including the

ability to iden fy ones limit of knowledge and seek help.

Students must be able to func on effec vely under stress. The curriculum includes a demanding schedule, changing clinical envi‐

ronments, and uncertain es inherent to medical care.

• Also required, is the ability to maintain appropriate rela onships with colleagues, faculty, pa ents and other health

care professionals conducive to providing quality medical care and services.

Any applicant/student with a ques on about these technical standards or their ability to meet them will be strongly encour‐

aged to discuss them with the Wichita State University Office of Disability Services prior to the interview process.

• This resource can be accessed at www.wichita.edu/disabilityservices

• Any student with an ability limita on or in need of special accommoda on will be requested to no fy the Program

Director in wri ng prior to the beginning of didac c coursework or immediately upon obtaining knowledge, awareness or diagno‐

sis of such a condi on requiring accommoda on.

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HOW TO APPLY TO WSU’S PHYSICAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM

CASPA Applica on

The Central Applica on Service for Physician Assistant (CASPA) Applica ons will be available beginning April 26, 2018 at h ps://portal.caspaonline.org/

Suppor ng informa on, including transcripts, must be sent to CASPA as directed in the online applica on. Keep in mind this process can take significant me. It is the responsibility of the applicant to see that all transcripts and other materials are received by CASPA within the designated me‐frame.

Applica ons must be *complete and verified by September 1, 2018. We encourage early submission to allow CASPA processing to be complete by September 1st. Applica ons that are late or incomplete will not be con‐sidered or returned.

*Complete and Verified Defini on: Applicants must have their applica on verified (GPA calculated) by the deadline

date. Applica ons must be completed (e‐submi ed, payment received, transcripts received, and 4 le ers of

recommenda on received, at least four weeks in advance of the deadline to ensure the applica on is verified on me.

Supplemental Applica on 1. A er the WSU PA Program has received your CASPA applica on and determined that you have met minimum

admission requirements, a link to the supplemental applica on will be emailed to you with a submission dead‐line.

2. The purpose of the supplemental applica on is to collect addi onal informa on not collected in the CASPA applica on.

3. This supplemental applica on should be submi ed to the Program before your assigned deadline, along with a $75 non‐refundable WSU PA Program applica on fee, which is payable online.

*Wichita State University Graduate School Applica on At the me you complete the CASPA Applica on you should also complete an applica on to the WSU Graduate

School. h ps://applyweb.com/wichitas is a from A

d is required to be eligible for ! It is the responsibility of the applicant to see that all transcripts are sent directly to the WSU Graduate School. Applica ons must be submi ed no later than September 1, 2018 The applica on fee is $60.00 Acceptance into the WSU PA Program is con ngent on acceptance by the Graduate School.

*Applicants with foreign coursework must apply to the WSU Graduate School and be determined admissible prior to submi ng the CASPA applica on.

not in its and on the of sexual as a or disability. The has to handle

of KS 978‐6791.

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WHAT KIND OF STUDENT ARE WE LOOKING FOR Strong academic record and evidence of poten al to succeed in a difficult graduate program Mo va on and drive to achieve excellence Demonstrated commitment to rural/underserved popula ons, service, leadership, and personal and profes‐

sional growth Compassion, humility, teachability and a value for human dignity and equality Respect for pa ent‐centered, collabora ve care Flexibility to make rapid transi ons, along with maturity in handling stressful situa ons Apprecia on of the unique opportunity to become a member of the PA profession Financial resources sufficient to support themselves without working

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Wichita State University Department of Physician Assistant

Tui on, Fees and Expenses for 2018‐2019 (Based upon fiscal year 2018 tui on rates, fees‐‐subject to change)

OTHER EXPENSES

Background Check Students must obtain, pay for and successfully pass a background check as a condition of acceptance into the Program. The cost for the background check will vary depending on student’s state(s) of residence. A second background check may be required by some clinical rotation sites within 30 days of the rotation. Drug Screen Prior to the start of the clinical year all students are required to complete and pass a 10 panel drug screen. Immunization Tracking Students will utilize an immunization tracking account during the Program. It is $25 to create the account and $10 to renew. Malpractice Insurance All students are required to carry malpractice insurance throughout the program. The policy is arranged by our department and is currently priced at $175.00 per year.

Health Insurance All students are required to carry health insurance while a student in the PA program. There is a student policy available through Wichita State University. See http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=shc&p=/healthinsurance for more information. Physical Exam and Students are required to provide evidence of good physical health and current Im-munizations immunizations. Finger Print Fee Student may be required to obtain finger prints for clinical rotation Books Books are purchased during the academic year. There are suggested books for purchase during the clinical year. Supplies Anatomy software $35 Anatomy scrubs & long lab coat $75 Anatomy gloves $10 Program scrubs $170.00 Short white coat $200.00 ID Badges $10.00 Suture Kit $45 Equipment Instruments $1000.00 The list of required equipment will be discussed at orientation Laptop Computer $1000.00 All students are required to have a windows-based computer

Transportation & Housing Transportation and living costs (room and board) are not covered during any phase of the Program. Living expenses may vary for each student depending on personal situation and assigned clinical rotations during the 2nd year. The average monthly rent in Wichita is $650. WSU Housing Information can be found on the Housing and Residence Life webpage: http://www.wichita.edu/housing

These are ated Tuition, fees, and expenses are subject to change

HELPFUL WEBSITES : Additional information about University policies regarding student services, including tuition and fee procedures, withdrawals, refunds and student griev-ance procedures may be found in the WSU Graduate School Catalog which is available online at http://webs.wichita.edu/?u=GRADSCHOOL&p=/Publications/gradcatalog/. Wichita State University Physician Assistant Program: http://wichita.edu/pa American Academy of Physician Assistants: http://www.aapa.org/

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PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM CURRICULUM

Summer Semester (7 credit hours)

PA 789 Clinical Anatomy (5)

PA 789L Clinical Anatomy Lab (1)

PA 717 Professional Issues (1)

Fall Semester (22 credit hours)

PA 700 Clinical Prac ce I (3)

PA 700L Clinical Prac ce I Lab (1)

PA 716 Clinical Laboratory (2)

PA 718 Clinical Medicine Cardiology (3)

PA 727 Preven ve Medicine (2)

PA 729 Clinical Behavioral Medicine (2)

PA 731 Clinical Medicine Dermatology (2)

PA 732 Clinical Medicine EENT (2)

HS 710 Applied Clinical Pharmacology (3)

HP 800 Research Methods for Evidence‐Based Prac ce (2)

Spring Semester (22 credit hours)

PA 719 Clinical Medicine Pulmonology (3)

PA 722 Clinical Medicine Gastroenterology (3)

PA 724 Clinical Medicine OB/GYN (3)

PA 728 Clinical Medicine Endocrinology (2)

PA 730 Clinical Medicine Musculoskeletal (2)

PA 734 Clinical Medicine Neurology (2)

PA 736 Clinical Prac ce II (2)

PA 736L Clinical Prac ce II Lab (1)

HS 711 Pharmacologic Management of Acute and Chronic Diseases (3)

HP 801 Interprofessional Evidence‐Based Prac ce (1)

Summer Semester (6 credit hours)

PA 721 Clinical Medicine Genitourinary Renal (2)

PA 801 Advanced Clinical Rota on I (4)

Fall Semester (14 credit hours)

PA 802 Advanced Clinical Rota on II (4)

PA 803 Advanced Clinical Rota on III (4)

PA 804 Advanced Clinical Rota on IV (4)

PA 896 Directed Study in Research I (2)

Spring Semester (15 credit hours)

PA 805 Advanced Clinical Rota on V (4)

PA 806 Advanced Clinical Rota on VI (4)

PA 807 Advanced Clinical Rota on VII (4)

PA 850 Experien al Learning (1)

PA 897 Directed Study in Research II (2)

Summer Semester (7 credit hours)

PA 899 Advanced Clinical Rota on VIII (7)

Total Number of credit hours are subject to change

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