Mission
The Canisius University Physician Assistant Department is built upon the central mission of eliminating healthcare disparity and improving the health and wellbeing of underserved populations by developing competent, compassionate clinicians who discern a purpose of service, mindfulness, and leadership in both their community and profession.
Vision
The Canisius University Physician Assistant Program will be a leader in the development of competent, compassionate clinicians and leaders for our profession, with a strong foundation in Jesuit values.
Program Goals
The goal of the Canisius University Physician Assistant Program is to foster a culture of team-based learning by utilizing innovative educational strategies, creating a supportive learning environment, and developing a curriculum centered in primary care with a special interest in the underserved. Students will be presented with learning objectives that emphasize the need to work as a team to solve a problem, with the understanding that the answers to each problem are not always clearly defined. Graduates of our program will be confident and proficient in a wide variety of skills in multiple areas of medicine including primary care, emergency medicine, surgical service, women’s health, pediatrics, and more. This includes the ability to retrieve all pertinent information, assess and examine patients using appropriate tools, and develop a satisfactory plan for care. In addition, students will be educated in multiple areas of professional development with a broad focus on social justice and community education.
The program will strive for the following:
1. Develop greater cultural acuity among our graduating PAs: The program is committed to inspiring graduates who understand the impact of cultural awareness on patient care.
2. Deliver a curriculum that provides adequate foundation of knowledge and skills required for entry-level practice as a PA.
3. Prepare students to successfully pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) on first attempt
4. Create and maintain exceptional interprofessional education (IPE) and collaboration opportunities that will prepare our students to be effective on an interdisciplinary team after graduation.
5. Maintain low attrition rates for students in the program by providing professional and academic support.
Graduate Competencies
Competencies are knowledge, skills, and behaviors expected of the PA student at the end of the program and before entrance into PA practice. Graduates of the Canisius University Physician Assistant Program will be able to:
1. Medical content knowledge
a. Understand the basic sciences of anatomy, physiology and pathology and apply knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.
b. Recognize the etiology, risk factors, and epidemiology of various medical conditions when developing a differential diagnosis
c. Understand the principles of pharmacotherapeutics to apply in the treatment of patients.
d. Understand the principles of public health and incorporate health promotion and disease prevention into patient care practice.
2. Clinical and technical skills
a. Elicit a detailed history and perform a thorough physical exam to accurately diagnose and treat patients.
b. Perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
c. Implement patient management plans, including appropriate referrals to other healthcare professionals, to provide ongoing quality care.
d. Manage acute and chronic patient conditions across the lifespan by providing appropriate therapeutic, preventive, and personalized care to meet patient needs.
3. Clinical reasoning and problem solving
a. Formulate an appropriate differential diagnosis to accurately diagnosis and manage a patient utilizing the history and physical exam findings.
b. Interpret data collected from diagnostic studies and procedures to accurately diagnose acute, chronic, and emergent health conditions.
c. Formulate health management strategies, including pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies, in the prevention and treatment of acute, chronic, and emergent conditions.
4. Professional practice
a. Use effective communication skills to illicit and provide information with patients and with other health professionals.
b. Understand medical and social issues of patients of various backgrounds, particularly of the underserved, and provide compassionate and competent care without bias.
c. Demonstrate personal and professional adaptability in treating patients from various social, economic, and religious backgrounds and adjust treatment plans accordingly.
d. Appraise medical literature and scientific research in a manner that promotes the practice of evidence-based medicine