Program Details

The Weber State University (WSU) Physician Assistant Program is a two-year, full-time, intensive graduate-level program that trains individuals with clinical experience and a strong academic background to become physician assistants and leaders in the field of medicine.

The curriculum is integrated and experiential, providing an innovative structure that helps students move from learning, understanding and applying the science of medicine to analyzing and integrating medical information in the context of complex patients with multiple comorbidities. Students who complete 92 credit hours, as well as a Master’s Project and Summative Competency Assessments, are eligible for graduation.

Accreditation, PANCE & Student Attrition

Mission and Values

Why the WSU PA Program?

Small cohort of 20 students and faculty-to-student provides personalized attention and a sense of community
Dual emphasis on primary care and inpatient hospital internal medicine
Serve the local area with three-month clinical rotations in primary care and inpatient hospital medicine
Beautiful building with mountain views and natural lighting houses two dedicated classrooms and a lounge area
24/7 state-of-the-art clinical skills space to hone clinical skills and practice solving challenging medical cases
Faculty with over 60 years of combined clinical experience providing students with invaluable insights and knowledge for a comprehensive medical education

Weekly simulated medical training scenarios that facilitate the transition from learning and understanding the science of medicine to analyzing, interpreting and applying medical information within the context of complex patients with multiple comorbidities and social issues
End-of-semester comprehensive summative exams help students solidify knowledge and acquisition of program competencies
Preparation for clinical training and the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)
Affordable tuition and fees

Mission and Values

We use the acronym “PURPOSE” to outline the values of the WSU PA Program.

P PATIENTS
U UNWAVERING INTEGRITY
R RESILIENCE
P PROFESSIONALISM
O OPEN-MINDEDNESS
S SENSE of HUMOR
E EXCELLENCE

Mission
Values

Our core values are derived from our purpose, and our purpose from a commitment to our patients. This commitment influences everything from our curriculum design to the high expectations we set for academic excellence and to the requirements for thoughtful self-reflection.

We believe that putting the patient first and foremost will fuel a passion for learning and teaching medicine. We are confident that if students remain connected to the purpose, they will find that the rewards outnumber the difficulties of a rigorous academic program and, eventually, a demanding clinical practice.

PA Program Goals

Goal 1: Prime
Admit highly qualified students that reflect our community and are prepared to successfully complete the WSU PA Program.

Success Indicators
- Interview pool will contain more than 15% of students from the northern Utah region by 2025.
- Student cohorts will contain more than 15% of students from the northern Utah region by 2030.
- Attrition rate of less than 5% due to academic deficiencies.
Goal 2: Prepare
Prepare graduates to practice evidence-based and cost-effective primary care and adult hospital medicine as members of interdisciplinary teams.

Success Indicators
- End-of-Didactic summative assessment first-time pass rates of more than 90%.
- End-of-Curriculum summative assessment first-time pass rates of more than 90%.
- Scores of 3.0 (competent) or better on preceptor evaluations of students in Primary Care and Hospital Medicine Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs).
- All students successfully complete a basic certificate in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QIPS) from the Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI).
Goal 3: Pass
Meet or exceed the US national average first-time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE).

Success Indicator
- First-time PANCE pass rates meet or exceed the national average.
Goal 4: Practice
Serve as part of the solution to the healthcare workforce shortage by increasing the number of qualified medical providers in our community.

Success Indicators
- 95% of students will complete primary care and internal medicine SCPEs within the northern Utah region.
- Following graduation, more than 50% of students will work in the northern Utah region.

Curriculum

Didactic courses are taught using a systems-based approach that helps students achieve clinical acumen by creating meaningful applications between biomedical science, clinical science, pharmacotherapy and professional practice.

The content integrates various teaching methods, including lectures, labs, problem-, team- and inquiry-based learning, simulation, interprofessional activities, evidence-based practice and community engagement.

After successfully completing didactic training, students begin Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs) in their second year. This involves various clinical settings in multiple medical disciplines under the supervision of a clinical preceptor. In direct patient care environments, students expand and apply basic medical knowledge, practice clinical and technical skills, and participate in the team-based practice of medicine.

Only students admitted to the WSU PA Program can take courses within the department. The curriculum is sequential, meaning students must complete the program by passing each exam and course before progressing to subsequent classes and semesters.

Before you apply, understand what our program looks like over the 24-month duration:

Catalog: Full Program Curriculum

Year One

Year Two

Entrustable Professional Activities

Entrustable Professional Activities are the observable and measurable professional activities a PA must be competent to perform upon entry into professional clinical practice. Upon completion of the program, WSU physician assistant students can be entrusted to:

EPA 1
Interview a patient/family to obtain a medical history.

EPA 2
Perform technically proficient physical and mental status exams.

EPA 3
Prioritize a differential diagnosis following the collection of medical history and exam data.

EPA 4
Recommend, order, and interpret diagnostic and screening tests.

EPA 5
Perform clinical and technical procedures when indicated during the course of patient care.

EPA 6
Identify patients requiring a higher level of care and initiate appropriate evaluation and management.

EPA 7
Develop and implement treatment plans that include clinical and/or pharmacologic interventions, referrals to members of the healthcare team and patient counseling/education.

EPA 8
Document and present a clinical encounter.

EPA 9
Collaborate as a member of an interprofessional team.

EPA 10
Contribute to a culture of safety and quality.

Upon Graduation

Upon graduation, students become eligible for board certification by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and can sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE). Once certified, Physician Assistants can apply for a medical license in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.