Chair: Donna L. Yeisley, M.Ed., PA-C
Medical Directors: Mitch Joseph, D.O., Lawrence Stem, M.D.
Adjunct Faculty in Physician Assistant Science: Donna Balewick, M.D.; Peter Bartolomucci, RN; Donald Beckstead, M.D.; Carrie Beebout, PA-C; Thomas Burk, M.D.; Elliot Bilofsky, D.O.; Joel Bunn, Ph.D., PA-C; Miriam Chesky, PA-C; Penne Edgell, M.D.; Kelly Fama, PA-C; Heather Gides, PA-C; Lawrence Glad, M.D.; Dan Goncher, PA-C; Melissa Hall, PA-C; Philip Hall, M.D.; Dana Harris, PA-C; Haley Hawk, D.M.D.; Tanya Holsopple, D.O.; Mitchell Joseph, D.O.; Peter Kreckel, RPh; Patrick Lenz, M.D.; Alicia Lombardo, O.D.; Carrie Madison, PA-C; Jane Maslonik, RD; Kimberly Muffie, PA-C; Christine Pascual, D.O.; Michael Pedone, D.O.; Joshua Port, M.D.; Chad Rappaport, D.P.M.; Timothy Reitz, NREMT-P; Dawn Repko, M.D.; Ryan Richards, PA-C; Gary Risko, PA-C; Justine Roberts, PA-C; Steve Ruddeck, PA-C; Robert Singer, D.O.; Marissa Smay, PA-C; Lawrence Stem, M.D.; Beth Woods, PA-C; Stephen Yanoshak, D.O.; Stephanie Young, D.O.
Clinical Preceptors: Ali Alboosi, M.D.; Mary Alias, PA-C; Johnnie Barto, M.D.; Donald Beckstead, M.D.; John Benner, M.D.; Mark Beuger, M.D.; Kenneth Bill, D.O.; Elliot Bilofsky, D.O.; Howard Black, M.D.; Anthony Bollino, M.D.; Kathryn Burroughs, PA-C; Joseph Castel, M.D.; George Castellano, M.D.; Paul Cervone, M.D.; Dan Church, M.D.; Steve Cohen, PA-C; Jason Corbeill, PA-C; William Cseh, M.D.; George Cummings, III, D.O.; Daniel Delp, M.D.; Ivana Diamond, M.D.; Michael Discavage, PA-C; Tony Drummond, PA-C; Nathan Duer, M.D.; Penne Edgell, M.D.; Bettina Ellsworth, M.D., William Fink, M.D.; Bruce Foster, D.O.; Zane Gates, M.D.; Chris George, PA-C; James Gides, PA-C; Lawrence Glad, M.D.; Robin Golden, PA-C; Jerry Gray, M.D.; Patrick Gray, M.D.; James Gregory, M.D.; Phill Hall, M.D.; Tara Hall, PA-C; Michael Halter, D.O.; Tamara Hoffman, D.O.; Damian Horner, D.O.; Patricia Hoyne, M.D.; Ameena Jabir, M.D.; Rizwan Jabir, M.D.; Shaun Jester, D.O.; Mitch Joseph, D.O.; Joseph Jurand, M.D.; Guillermo Katigbak, M.D.; Evan Kennedy, PA-C; Justin Kirk, PA-C; James Krepps, PA-C; Frank Kush, M.D.; Beth Lambert, M.D.; Patricia Lambiotte, M.D.; Kathleen LaVorgna, M.D.; Billie Lewis, PA-C; Stephen Lewis, D.O.; Elizabeth Madia, PA-C; James Mansberger, D.O.; David McConnell, Jr., M.D.; Mark McConnell, PA-C; E. William McGrath, M.D.; Fiona McLellan, M.D.; Rudolfo Medina, M.D.; Stacy Merrow, PA-C; Kevin Messner, M.D.; Camille Miller, PA-C; Arthur Morrow, D.O.; Michael Namey, D.O.; Kathleen Nishida, CNM; Bryan Norton, M.D.; Thomas O’Brien, M.D.; John Onderko, PA-C; Kisher Patel, M.D.; Tejas Patel, M.D.; Paige Patterson, M.D.; Harry Pote, M.D.; Robert Potter, Jr., M.D.; Laurie Powel, CNM; Jesse Pratt, PA-C; John Quinn, M.D.; Pat Rice, M.D.; Bryan Ronan, PA-C; Virginia Roth, PA-C; Travis Rudge, PA-C; Kevin Sanders, PA-C; Stephen Schmidt, M.D.; Russell Sharpless, PA-C; Caryl Shumacher, PA-C; Burton Singerman, M.D.; Douglas Stern, D.O.; James Stewart, M.D.; Robert Sussman, M.D.; James Tatum, M.D.; Jeff Trimbath, PA-C; Daniel Wehner, M.D.; Ann Wetzel, M.D.; Kenneth Williams, M.D.
The Physician Assistant is trained to carry out many routine responsibilities traditionally performed only by physicians. These may include diagnostic, therapeutic, administrative and counseling functions. Under the supervision of a physician, the Physician Assistant may elicit medical histories, perform physical examinations, order and interpret laboratory and other diagnostic procedures, prepare case summaries, formulate treatment plans, provide patient education, and carry out other duties incidental to the particular clinic, hospital, or specialty practice involved.
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 Web site 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 professional phase 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 core courses in clinical medicine (CM), anatomy and physiology (A&P), history-taking/physical exam (H&P) and pharmacology. Other areas of study include infectious disease, behavioral medicine, emergency medicine, clinical skills, surgery, well child, public health and research methods. As part of applied anatomy and physiology, gross anatomy utilizes cadavers to complement lecture presentation.
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 professional phase. Please realize that clinical year rotations may require travel outside of Pennsylvania. Housing during clinical year is the student’s responsibility. All students must also be covered by malpractice insurance while in the professional phase. 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 Web Site.
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.
Non-physician assistant majors who wish to register for any Introduction to Medicine course must have the permission of the Department of Physician Assistant Sciences Chair. Only current Physician Assistant majors are eligible to register for PHYA400/500- and MPAS500- level courses.
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