Physician Assistant

Contact Information

phone: (716) 839-8563
daemen.edu/physicianassistant

Program Director and Department Chair: Jennifer Barwell, PA-C, MPAS, DMSc

Associate Program Director for Didactic Education: Cara Innus, PA-C, MPAS, IFMCP

Associate Program Director for Clinical Education:  Allyson Kirk, PA-C, MPAS

Degrees Offered

Accreditation Information

The Physician Assistant Studies program (B.S./M.S., M.S.) is an accredited program. You can find accreditation information on the PA departmental web page.

Admission Information

The University offers two-degree tracks:

  • BS in Natural Science – Health Science and MS in Physician Assistant Studies
  • MS in Physician Assistant Studies

Applicants may only be accepted as first-year or graduate students. However, first-years accepted to the University with a reserved seat must complete at least four semesters of prerequisite coursework and meet published academic standards before matriculating in the PA Program. The PA Program does not accept transfer or change of major applications. The number of seats available for graduate students is limited. All applicants possessing or planning to possess, a BA or BS prior to matriculation must apply to the MS program.

All successful applicants must demonstrate evidence of strong mathematics and science preparation, knowledge of the profession, and superior interpersonal communication skills. Faculty interview required. The admissions process is very competitive. Please refer to the FAQ page for more specifics on prerequisites and minimum requirements.

Applicants for admission to the BS/MS degree track should apply directly to the Daemen University Office of Admissions.

Applicants for admission to the MS degree track must apply through the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).   Apply at www.caspaonline.org.

Daemen University reserves the right to make changes to the Physician Assistant curriculum and/or entrance criteria and/or program and graduation requirements. All enrolled students must meet all requirements if changed or amended by Daemen University.

Minimum Technical Standards For Admission And Matriculation

Additional non-academic criteria apply to students enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program. These Technical Standards are available on the website or on request from the Physician Assistant Department.

Mission

The mission of the Daemen University Physician Assistant Department is to provide its graduates with the knowledge and skills necessary to meet the challenges of delivering quality medical care with great autonomy in a team-based model to a diverse patient population within a complex American healthcare system. 

Program Learning Outcomes and Graduate Competencies:

The following domains are integrated throughout the graduate-level curriculum:

  1. Medical knowledge (MK) – possess the knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological and social-behavioral sciences, as well as apply this knowledge to patient care.
  2. Patient Care and Procedural Skills (PC/PS) – provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health
  3. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement (PBLI) – investigate and evaluate the care of patients, appraise, and assimilate scientific evidence, and continuously improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and life-long learning
  4. Systems-Based Practice (SBP) – an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care and the ability to call on system resources effectively to provide care that is of optimal value
  5. Interpersonal and Communication Skills (ICS) – effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals
  6. Professionalism (P) – a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities and an adherence to ethical principles

All graduates of the program will be expected to demonstrate the ability to:

  1. Integrate and apply knowledge of pathophysiologic principles of injury and disease and how it alters the anatomical structure and physiologic functioning of the human body recognizing associations of disease conditions and complications through application of scientific concepts. (MK, PC/PS)
  2. Elicit and interpret medical history (chief complaint, history of present illness, past medical history, social history, surgical history, allergies, family history, prior diagnostic workup and interventions, risk factors, and review of systems) that is relevant and accurate. (MK, ICS, PC/PS, P)
  3. Recognize and interpret patient information across the lifespan and appropriate to the health care setting while demonstrating responsive, empathetic, and active listening that establishes rapport with patients and caregivers. Accurately recognize and respond to non-verbal forms of communication during interactions.   (MK, ICS, PC/PS, P)
  4. Identify and interpret the signs of disease through visual, auditory, tactile, and/or olfactory means as manifested throughout the head to toe physical examination of the patient. (MK, PC/PS)
  5. Recognize and/or interpret normal and abnormal results from clinical laboratory tests. (MK, PC/PS, PBLI)
  6. Recognize and interpret normal and abnormal findings from routine diagnostic images and/or reports (MK, PC/PS, PBLI)
  7. Analyze patient information/data requiring clinical reasoning and problem solving skills to develop a differential diagnosis and problem list. (MK, PC/PS, PBLI)
  8. Determine appropriate and responsible therapeutic management plans for common medical conditions utilizing pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, surgical, preventive, and rehabilitative modalities with consideration of informed consent and ethical practice. (MK, PC/PS, PBLI, SBP)
  9. Document and present patient data, including interpretive recommendations and therapeutic plans, in a manner meaningful to the healthcare team.  (PC/PS, PBLI, SBP, ICS, P)
  10. Communicate information (oral and/or written) in a succinct yet comprehensive manner to patients, caregivers and other members of the health care team while ensuring appropriate confidentiality.  (PC/PS, SBP, ICS, P)
  11. Perform physical examinations, diagnostic and clinical procedures meeting accepted standards of care while optimizing the safety of themselves and others including the use of universal precautions and sterile technique. (MK, PC/PS, ICS, P)
  12. Determine appropriate counseling for patients regarding physical and mental health, including nutrition, exercise, disease management and prevention, normal growth and development, reproductive health, compliance, and adherence.  (MK, ICS, P)
  13. Assess the severity of, and respond to, common potentially life-threatening emergencies.  (MK, PC/PS, SBP)
  14. Appropriately refer patients to meet the needs of diverse patients and families considering social, emotional, spiritual, cultural, economic, and/or environmental factors.  (PC/PS, ICS, SBP)
  15. Function as a responsible member of the inter-professional healthcare team who identifies within their scope of practice the limits of their own ability, requests assistance when necessary, and maintains socially acceptable, respectful, and professional relationships with patients, caregivers and other members of the team.  (ICS, P)
  16. Accept and respond to constructive criticism and resolve conflicts in a socially acceptable and professional manner while providing care with honesty and integrity.  (ICS, P)
  17. Critically evaluate and utilize evidence-based protocols and clinical algorithms in providing patient care.  (MK, SBP, PBLI)
  18. Navigate the health care system to advocate for optimal patient care and safety while limiting risk. (PC/PS, SBP, P)

Description

A first-year student is admitted as a B.S. Natural Science – Health Sciences major.  A seat in the Physician Assistant Program is reserved pending completion of all prerequisite coursework, core curriculum requirements, direct patient contact experiences, and meeting the program’s published academic standards. Four academic semesters, at a minimum, are required to complete the prerequisite coursework and core curriculum requirements.  Students possessing a bachelor’s degree are admitted directly to the Physician Assistant Program.

The program is three years (32.5 months) in duration and affords each student an understanding of the medical sciences and their application to clinical situations. The first two academic years are devoted to didactic work in the basic medical sciences, fundamentals of clinical medicine, professional issues, and the psychosocial aspects of health care delivery. Students spend the third year completing 40 weeks of supervised clinical practice experiences in various teaching hospitals, clinics, and physician offices.