Mar 28, 2024  
2017-2018 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog 
    
2017-2018 Undergraduate and Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Physician Assistant Science, M.P.A.S.


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Chair: Donna L. Yeisley, M.Ed., PA-C
Medical Director: Mitch Joseph, D.O.

Adjunct Faculty in Physician Assistant Science: Peter Bartolomucci, RN; Donald Beckstead, M.D.; Elliot Bilofsky, D.O.; Eric Bridenbaugh, PA-C; Nicole Buchanan, PA-C; William Carney, M.D.; Lawrence Glad, M.D.; John Karduck, M.D.; Peter Kreckel, RPh; Alicia Lombardo, O.D.; Jane Maslonik, RD; Kimberly Muffie, PA-C; Marilyn Passanita, PA-C; Stephen Pyo, PA-C; Timothy Reitz, NREMT-P; Sara Rearick, RN; Steve Ruddeck, PA-C; Susanne Wise, PA-C; Beth Woods, PA-C; Stephen Yanoshak, D.O.


Clinical Preceptors: Amanda J. Adams, M.D.; Joseph Antonowicz, M.D.; Leslie Archer, PA-C; Tara Assi, PA-C; Tammy Aungst, PA-C; Barry Austin, D.O.; John Baker, D.O.; Emily Barker, PA-C; Johnnie Barto, M.D.; Brenda Bellissimo, PA-C; Leah Bennett, PA-C; Autumn Beyer, PA-C; Elliot Bilofsky, D.O.; Howard Black, M.D.; William Bohonyi, M.D.; Michael Burgraff, PA-C; Scott Carnivale, M.D.; Joseph Castel, M.D.; George Castellano, M.D.; Safdar Chaudhary, M.D.; Rakesh Chopra, M.D.; Tabitha Conrad, PA-C; Timothy Coombs, M.D.; Marc Cordero, M.D.; George Cummings, III, D.O.; Mary Dougherty, M.D.; Olivia Drager, PA-C; Tony Drummond, PA-C; Penne Edgell, M.D.; Bettina Ellsworth, M.D.; Rebecca Faherty, PA-C; Pamela Fanning, PA-C; Regino Flores, M.D.; Bruce Foster, D.O.; Jason Fronczak, D.O.; Chris George, PA-C; Emily George, PA-C; James Gides, PA-C; Lawrence Glad, M.D.; Robin Golden, PA-C; Patrick Gray, M.D.; Steven C. Gribar, M.D.; Tim Groves Jr., PA-C; Michael Halter, D.O.; Bethany Haskins, PA-C; Ginny Hilton, PA-C; Damian Horner, D.O.; Stephanie Hoover, PA-C; Patricia Hoyne, M.D.; Ameena Jabir, M.D.; Rizwan Jabir, M.D.; Steve Jarboe, PA-C; Mitch Joseph, D.O.; Matthew Kearney, PA-C; Gregory Kimble, D.O.; Amy King, M.D.; Ben Klennert, PA-C; Shawna Koehle, PA-C; Sarah Kopnicky, PA-C; Frank Kush, M.D.; Brian Lieb, D.O.; Jorge Lindenbaum, M.D.; John Littlejohn, M.D.; Megan Long, PA-C; Scott Magley, M.D.; James Mansberger, D.O.; Liva Marasco, PA-C; Ted A. Matthews, M.D.; Deanna Maurer, PA-C; David McConnell, Jr., M.D.; Fiona McLellan, M.D.; Conor Mulcahy, D.O.; Jennifer Nunnelee, PA-C; John Onderko, PA-C; Elizabeth Paros, PA-C; Kisher Patel, M.D.; Paige Patterson, M.D.; Chelsa Polonia, PA-C; Robert Potter, M.D.; Laurie Powell, CNM; Perveen Punjani, M.D.; Kaitlyn Reeder, PA-C; Julie Reitnauer, PA-C; Richard A. Renza, D.O.; Craig Richman, M.D.; Elias Rifkah, M.D; Megan Rockey, PA-C; Virginia Roth, PA-C; Travis Rudge, PA-C; Kevin Sanders, PA-C; Stephen E. Sargent, M.D.; Arun Sawardekar, M.D.; Jerome Scherer, D.O.; Stephen Schmidt, M.D.; Qamar Shaikh, M.D.; Khalid Shalaby, M.D.; Rachel Sharan, PA-C; Jane Shughart, PA-C; Roopam Sood-Khandpur, M.D.; James Stewart, M.D.; Kevin Sugalski, D.O.; Robert Sussman, M.D.; Gregory C. Sweeney, M.D.; James Tatum, M.D.; Jennifer Taylor, PA-C; Matthew Thomas, CRNP; Sunny Thomas, M.D.; Adam Turinsky, PA-C; Tim Valko, M.D.; Denise Viola, D.O.; Meghan Weltman, PA-C; Kenneth Williams, M.D.; Kevin Wong, M.D.; Alicia Wurm, PA-C; David Wyszomierski, M.D.


The Physician Assistant is a nationally certified and state-licensed medical professional.  Physician assistants practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians and other providers.  Physician assistants can obtain medical histories, conduct physical examinations, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, write prescriptions, perform medical procedures, counsel patients on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and make rounds in nursing homes and hospitals, among many other medical services.

Admission to the Physician Assistant Program is a competitive process. A student (graduate) that will have a completed baccalaureate degree before enrollment applies through the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants at www.caspaonline.org. Graduate applicants are further evaluated by the Department of Physician Assistant Sciences and required to participate in the Physician Assistant program’s admission process. Meeting the minimum standards of admission does not guarantee acceptance. All students enrolled in the program must be able to meet the department’s student technical standards. For complete information on Physician Assistant program admission, contact the Department of Physician Assistant Sciences.

The accredited portion of the Physician Assistant program consists of a year of didactic study, followed by a year of clinical experiences.

The MPAS program didactic year (year 01) is designed on the medical model to prepare students to become primary care clinicians. The three-semester curriculum is built around medicine modules that employ a comprehensive and integrated approach to exploring disease processes covering all organ systems. Components of each medicine module will include instruction on scientific concepts, such as pertinent anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology and genetic implications as well as health maintenance. Students will develop history taking and physical examination skills, learn to order and interpret laboratory and diagnostic studies, learn to formulate a differential diagnosis and determine the most likely diagnosis. Clinical therapeutics (pharmacology) and clinical interventions (non-pharmacological) are also taught. A strong emphasis is placed on critical thinking and problem solving, as well as patient education. Gross anatomy utilizing cadavers complements lecture presentations in the medicine modules. Other areas of study include clinical skills, well child, public health, evidence-based medicine, and an introduction to U.S. health care.

During the clinical year, all students are required to complete the following rotations: eight credits of family practice or four credits of family practice and four credits of primary care, with approval by the department, and four credits each of internal medicine, emergency medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, surgery, behavioral medicine, and a four-credit elective that will allow further investigation of an area of medicine that personally interests or assists the student in furthering his/her educational goals. Any site/specialty choices for elective rotations must be approved by the department faculty. All clinical clerkships must be approved by the clinical coordinator prior to registration. Also during the clinical year, each student will complete the Transition to Clinical Practice course. This course is designed to provide a bridge experience for the student who is completing clinical rotations by addressing issues germane to everyday PA practice. Included within this course is a capstone experience and summative evaluation which must be completed at a satisfactory level.

Students are required to provide their own transportation to clinical sites and general clerkships during the didactic and clinical years of the program. Please realize that clinical year rotations may require travel outside of Pennsylvania. Housing during clinical year is the student’s responsibility. All students are covered by malpractice insurance. Students are required to pass drug and criminal background checks to progress in or graduate from the program.

Progression within Master of Physician Assistant Science Major

Progression and continuance in the Physician Assistant program are based upon scholastic achievement, health maintenance and adherence to Saint Francis University and departmental policies. The progression and technical standards for the Master of Physician Assistant Science major can be obtained from the Department of Physician Assistant Sciences.

In addition to the academic progression standards and the degree requirements as listed below, Physician Assistant majors must adhere to the Physician Assistant program policies as stated in the current Department Policy Manual. Policy manuals may be reviewed on the department website. Please note that the program reserves the right to change, modify or amend progression standards and program policies prior to matriculation in the major as a freshman or didactic year student.

Due Process

Any student who wishes to appeal a dismissal may request in writing to the Department of Physician Assistant Sciences Chair to appear before the Physician Assistant Performance Review Committee. Appeals must be received in the department office within ten days after the student receives notification from the department regarding action as discussed above.

Advanced Placement

The program does not grant any type of advanced placement for didactic or clinical courses.

Degree requirements for Saint Francis University students who earned a B.S. in Health Science degree as Physician Assistant majors:


Successful completion of summative evaluation and a Master’s capstone.

Successful completion of the following PA courses:

Degree requirements for graduate students entering Saint Francis University solely for the M.P.A.S. degree:


Successful completion of a summative evaluation and a Master’s capstone.

Successful completion of the required prerequisite collateral courses:

Successful completion of the following PA courses:


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