M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies

Mission

The Division of Physician Assistant Studies supports Long Island University’s mission through the education of men and women of all ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds in the art and science of medicine in order that they may become competent, compassionate, high quality healthcare providers.  

Goals and Outcomes

Goal 1: Medical Knowledge: The LIU PA Program strives to prepare students and graduates to be knowledgeable, clinically competent providers who are expected to meet or exceed the national mean first-time pass rate on the PANCE. 

Goal 1 Outcomes:

• The PA Studies PANCE first time test taker report may be viewed via the link posted to the PA Studies website page.

Goal 2: Community service: The LIU PA Program encourages PA students to serve the community and to embrace compassionate service as a fundamental cornerstone of Physician Assistant practice.

Goal 2 Outcomes:

• PA students organize food drives to serve the hungry in New York City's most indigent neighborhoods. 
• Donation of books and clothing to the Pediatric Department at Brooklyn Hospital. 
• PA students volunteer with Habitat for Humanity NYC in rebuilding homes for families in need.

Goal 3: Professionalism: The LIU PA Program strives to generate national and regional awareness, appreciation, and promotion of the value and key role of the PA on the health care team. The LIU PA Program strives to engender a sense of pride in the profession, service to the profession, and leadership in its students.

Goal 3 Outcomes:

• The LIU PA program has a 100% student membership rate in the New York State Society of Physician Assistants (NYSSPA).
• The LIU PA Program has a 100% student membership rate in the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).
• PA students participate annually in the "PAs on the Plaza" in New York City Rockefeller Plaza on the NBC Today Show during PA week every October to promote the recognition of the PA profession.

Goal 4: Interprofessional Education: The LIU PA Program strives to educate students to successfully collaborate with colleagues and work in interdisciplinary teams in order to promote patient centered care and ensure the best possible outcome for the patient.

Goal 4 Outcomes:

• Student participation in the University's Interprofessional Education (IPE) events with the LIU School of Pharmacy, the School of Health Professions, and the School of Nursing to work together on model patient case scenarios to generate and frame an interprofessional group discussion with regard to ethics and healthcare provider roles in professional practice. 

Program Competencies

The program’s defined competencies are based on the Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession as developed jointly by the National Commission on Accreditation of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), the Accreditation Review Commission for Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), and the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).

Student success in achieving program competencies are monitored throughout all phases of the program. For example, but not limited to, the program’s faculty and clinical preceptors evaluation of students through a variety of assessment tools, including but not limited to multiple choice examinations, collaborative group projects, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), reflection papers, and clinical performance evaluations.

Our graduates will demonstrate entry-level proficiency as PAs in the following program competencies:

Medical Knowledge

• History and physical findings and diagnostic studies to formulate differential diagnoses

• Management of general medical and surgical conditions to include pharmacologic and other treatment modalities

• Interventions for prevention of disease and health promotion/maintenance

Interpersonal and Communication Skills
- Demonstrate interpersonal and communication (verbal, nonverbal, written, and electronic) skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, patients’ families, physicians, professional associates, and other individuals within the health care system
- Accurately and adequately document information regarding care for medical, legal, quality, and financial purposes

Patient Care
- Obtain an accurate history and perform a comprehensive physical exam
- Perform medical and surgical procedures common to primary care
- Provide health care services and education aimed at disease prevention and health maintenance

Professionalism
- Demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements
- Demonstrate sensitivity to a diverse patient population by identifying the socio-cultural, familial, psychological, economic, environmental, and spiritual factors impacting health care and health care delivery; and responding to these factors by planning and advocating the appropriate course of action at both the individual and the community level

Practice-based Learning & Improvement
- Critically evaluate the medical literature in order to use current practice guidelines and apply the principles of evidence-based medicine to patient care

Systems-based Practice
- Provide advocacy and support to assist patients in obtaining quality care and in dealing with the complexities of health care delivery systems
- Demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of health care to provide patient care that balances quality and cost, while maintaining the primacy of the individual patient

Admissions

Students may attend LIU Brooklyn on a part-time or full-time basis while completing their prerequisite courses. During this phase students are expected to:

Direct Care Experience

Complete a minimum of 500 hours of direct patient care experience by no later than at the time of matriculation to the Division of Physician Assistant Studies. Of these 500 hours, a minimum of 400 hours must be completed by the time of submission of CASPA application. Acceptable types of direct patient care experience include:

— Medical assistant
— Surgical technologist
— Licensed practical or registered nurse
— Dental assistant
— Dental hygienist
— Certified nursing assistant
— Home health aide
— Residential aide
— Emergency medical technician
— Paramedic
— Physical therapist
— Occupational therapist
— Physical therapy assistant
— Physical therapy aide
— Occupational therapy assistant
— Occupational therapy aide
— Respiratory therapist
— Perfusionist
— Electrocardiographic (EKG) technician
— Phlebotomist
— Ophthalmologic technician
— Volunteer work involving direct patient care
— Shadowing a physician, physician assistant or dentist
— Athletic Trainer
— Scribe

Academics

• Obtain at least a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university no later than at the time of matriculation to the Division of Physician Assistant Studies.
• Maintain a required grade-point average of 3.0 or above (overall and science) in courses taken at an accredited college or university.
• Demonstrate acceptable academic performance.
• Complete all prerequisite coursework, which includes the courses listed below.
• All such courses must be taken at an accredited college or university. The student must receive a grade of no less than C. All prerequisite courses must be completed no later than at the time of matriculation to the Division of Physician Assistant Studies.
• One year (two courses) of not less than 4 credits each in general biology, with laboratory;
• One year (two courses) of not less than 4 credits each in general chemistry, with laboratory;
• One semester (one course) of not less than 4 credits in human anatomy, with laboratory;
• One semester (one course) of not less than 3 credits in human physiology, with or without laboratory;
• One semester of microbiology (at least 3 credits);
• One semester of statistics (at least 3 credits)

All prerequisite coursework must be college-level courses (AP courses will not be accepted). Any prerequisite courses listed above taken more than 10 years prior to matriculation will not be accepted.

Application

Initial application to the Professional Phase of the program for transfer students should be made through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) by visiting www.caspaonline.org. CASPA will collect and summarize all of the applicant's data (application form, transcripts, and recommendations) which will be forwarded to the Physician Assistant Program. When all materials have been collected and reviewed, selected applicants will be invited for a personal interview. If the candidate is accepted to the program, a deposit of $1500 is required to hold a seat in the incoming class.

The application to the Division of Physician Assistant Studies is evaluated on the following criteria:

1. A cumulative grade-point average of 3.0.
2. A cumulative science grade-point average of 3.0.
3. A personal statement as to why the applicant wishes to become a physician assistant.
4. Breadth and amount of patient care experience.
5. Three satisfactory recommendations included in the CASPA application.
6. Completion of course work and above criteria within a specified time limit.
7. Completion of the GRE by CASPA APPLICATION DEADLINE (January 15). There is not currently a minimum score set by the Division of Physician Assistant Studies for this examination. Our GRE Code is 2369.
8. A recommendation for acceptance from the Division of Physician Assistant Studies Admissions Committee, based upon all entities as described above.

All applications will be screened and reviewed. Some applicants are selected for personal interviews based on the strength of the written application. If an applicant is invited for a personal interview, the interview itself is evaluated on the criteria of satisfactory performance based on assessment of qualities such as interpersonal relations, concern for others, integrity, and an ability to communicate effectively and maturely.

The Division of Physician Assistant Studies does not offer advanced standing to any applicants, including those who have prior experience as a medical student or physician assistant student or who are foreign medical graduates. 

International Students

Applications are welcome from international graduate students who hold the equivalent of a four-year bachelor’s degree. All international and non-native applicants must take the TOEFL examination. The minimum total score accepted is 79 on the Internet-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 550 for the paper-based test. All international students who attended colleges and universities outside of the United States will need to submit a course-by-course evaluation of their transcript(s) by an accepted international credential evaluation agency.

The Division is accredited to have 42 students enrolled in the curriculum. Please apply online at My LIU. For more information on the admissions process, visit the Office of Admissions website.

Advanced Standing Policy

The Division of Physician Assistant Studies does not offer advanced standing to any applicants, including those who have prior experience as a medical student or physician assistant student or who are foreign medical graduates.

Technical Standards

Observation - The ability to observe is required for demonstrations, visual presentations in lectures and laboratories, laboratory evidence and microbiological cultures, microscopic studies of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathological states. A candidate must be able to observe patients accurately and completely, both closely and from a distance. Observation requires functional vision and somatic sensation and is enhanced by a sense of smell.

Communication - A candidate should be able to speak, hear and observe patients in order to elicit information, perceive non-verbal communications and describe changes in mood, activity and posture. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients through speech, and through reading and writing. Communication in oral and written form with the health care team must be effective and efficient.

Motor - A candidate should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation and percussion, as well as to carry out diagnostic maneuvers. A candidate should have motor function sufficient to execute movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients. Such skills require coordination of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and sensation.

Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities - Problem solving is a critical skill demanded of physician assistants; this skill requires all of these abilities. The candidate must also be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships as well as the spatial relationship of structures.

Behavioral and Social Attributes - A candidate must have sufficient emotional health to fully use his or her intellectual ability, to exercise good judgment, to complete all responsibilities, and to attend to the diagnosis and care of patients. A candidate must be able to develop mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients and colleagues. A candidate must be able to tolerate physical and emotional stress and continue to function effectively. A candidate must possess qualities of adaptability, flexibility and be able to function in the face of uncertainty. He/she must have a high level of compassion for others, motivation to serve, integrity and a consciousness of social values. A candidate must possess sufficient interpersonal skills to interact positively with people from all levels of society, all ethnic backgrounds and all belief systems.

The administration of the Physician Assistant program recognizes its responsibility to present candidates who have the knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient care. The responsibility for these technical standards is primarily placed on the Physician Assistant Admissions Committee to select entering Physician Assistant students who will be the candidates for the degree.

Health Requirements

All students entering or re-entering the M.S. degree in Physician Assistant Studies must complete and submit a Health Examinations/Vaccinations form located in the Forms & Documents section of the University's Admissions website, as well as the Division’s health forms. The Division’s health forms will be sent along with the package of materials that is mailed out once a student is accepted into the program and sends in the deposit to hold the seat. Additional health forms are required for entry into the clinical year of the Division’s curriculum.

Didactic Year Curriculum

Fall Semester

Spring Semester

Summer Semester

TOTAL CREDITS: 40

Clinical Year Curriculum

Each clinical year student completes ten (10) clerkships of five (5) weeks in length. The faculty creates an individual rotation schedule for each clinical year student. The student must return to the LIU campus at the end of each clerkship for a two-day End-of-Rotation Meeting with the faculty.

Students must rotate in each of the following clerkships during the clinical year:

FALL, SPRING, SUMMER (3 courses per term)

FALL 2 (following the Clinical Year)

Student Employment Policy

Student employment is not recommended for the PA student due to its rigorous curriculum. However, any student engaging in gainful employment during their time at the PA Program must notify the Program Director.

Background Checks and Drug Testing

Many of our clinical/field experience affiliates now require the completion of criminal background checks and/or drug testing for employees, volunteers and students affiliated with the site. Therefore, students may be asked to undergo a criminal background check, and/or a drug screen. A criminal conviction and/or the use of illegal drugs may impede or bar your entry into your chosen field of study. Students desiring entrance into the School of Health Professions should be aware that our clinical/field affiliates can reject or remove a student from the site if a criminal record is discovered or if a drug test is positive. In the event that a student is rejected from a clinical/field site due to information contained in the criminal background check, or drug screen, you may be unable to complete a required clinical/field experience. If you are unable to complete program requirements, you may be advised to withdraw from the program.

In addition, students seeking entrance into health and human service professions should be aware that the presence of a criminal record can result in the refusal of licensing/certification/registration agencies to issue the credential needed to practice in that field of study. Prospective students are urged to contact the pertinent state and/or federal licensing board to inquire whether a criminal record will have an impact on your eligibility to obtain licensure or certification.

Tuition and Fees

LIU PA Students and prospective PA students are encouraged to visit the LIU website for details regarding tuition and fees as well as policies regarding tuition and fees at:

http://liu.edu/Brooklyn/Enrollment-Services/Tuition

Faculty and Staff

Camille Kiefer, PA-C, RN | Interim Program Director | camille.kiefer@liu.edu

Stephen DeRoux, MD | Medical Director | stephen.deroux@liu.edu

Brittany O'Gara, MPAS, PA-C | Director of Admissions | Assistant Professor | brittany.ogara@liu.edu 

Sherry Shaker, MS, PA-C | Assistant Professor | sherry.shaker@liu.edu

Laura Goshko, RPH | Assistant Professor | laura.goshko@liu.edu

Danielle Vitalo, MPAS, PA-C | Assistant Professor | danielle.vitalo@liu.edu

Katherine Browne, MBA | Administrative Assistant | katherine.browne@liu.edu