Master of Physician Assistant Medicine

The University of Tampa's Physician Assistant program awards a Master of Physician Assistant Medicine (MPAM) degree. Students will engage in full time study for seven semesters (27 months). The program will follow the traditional medical model of training to include a didactic phase followed by clinical rotations.

Accreditation Information:

• The University of Tampa has applied for Accreditation – Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
• The University of Tampa anticipates matriculating its first class in August 2019, pending achieving Accreditation – Provisional status at the March 2019 ARC-PA meeting.
• Accreditation – Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA standards or when a program holding Accreditation – Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
• If The University of Tampa fails to achieve ARC-PA accreditation status, a cohort will not matriculate in August of 2019 and all acceptance fees will be refunded to the student.

General information:

• The admission process is highly competitive. Applications are reviewed relative to their undergraduate intensity of studies, cumulative and prerequisite GPA, patient care experience, personal narrative, letters of reference and life experiences that indicate maturity and leadership.
• Personal interviews are offered to the most qualified individuals and are required for admission.

Application/Timeline:

• Apply through CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) between May and October 2018.
• Interview and notification of acceptance between November and December 2018.

Minimum GPA/Academic Standards:

• Minimum undergraduate GPA: 3.0
• Minimum pre-requisite GPA: 3.2

Degree Requirements:

• A completed baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution, or an equivalent institution as determined by The University of Tampa, is required before matriculation into the program.

Prerequisites:

• Students must earn a “C” or better in prerequisite coursework.
• Required prerequisite science courses (must include labs):
  1. Two General Biology with lab
  2. One Microbiology with lab
  3. Two Human Anatomy and Physiology with lab (can be one semester Anatomy and one semester Physiology or combined A&P courses)
  4. Two General Chemistry with lab
  5. One Statistics (not a lab science)
• Recommended additional courses (prefer lab courses when applicable)
  1. Medical Terminology
  2. Biochemistry
  3. Genetics
  4. Organic Chemistry
  5. Statistics (can be met by completion of educational/psychology or biostatistics)

Direct Patient Care Experience:

• Direct patient care is not required; however, competitive applicants will have a minimum of 500 hours of hands-on patient care experience.
• Preference will be given to applicants having experience that require a period of training and results in direct (hands-on) patient care.

PA Observation/Shadowing:

• PA observation/shadowing is required. Though there are no minimum observation hours required, a competitive applicant will have observed a PA for as many hours as necessary to demonstrate that they are knowledgeable of the role of the PA.

Transfer or Advanced Standing:

• Matriculates may not transfer credits or courses from another PA program or school.
• There is no mechanism for entering the program with advanced standing.
• All students MUST complete all components of the program as full‐time students.

Technical Standards:

PA students must demonstrate the following with or without reasonable accommodation:

• The ability to perform appropriate, effective and complete physical examinations and interventions including the safe and efficient use of equipment and materials; this includes, but is not limited to the ability to convey and set-up equipment for clinical use, to reach in a timely fashion patients in the emergency or operating room setting, to assess their condition, to perform appropriate emergency and standard office procedures, to perform appropriate therapeutic and prophylactic procedures.
• The ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients and colleagues, including individuals from different cultural and social backgrounds and in stressful and emergency situations; this includes, but is not limited to, the ability to establish rapport with patients and communicate judgments and treatment information effectively. Students must be able to understand and speak the English language at a level consistent with competent professional practice.
• The ability to record physical examination results and an treatment plan clearly and accurately.
• The ability to assimilate, analyze, synthesize, integrate concepts and problem solve to formulate diagnoses, make therapeutic judgments and to distinguish deviations from the norm.
• The ability to maintain composure and continue to function well during periods of high stress.
• The ability to develop the perseverance, diligence and commitment to complete the PA program as outlined and sequenced.
• The ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situations.
• The ability to develop and demonstrate foundational professional behaviors, ethics and appropriate demeanor and rapport that are essential for professional education and quality patient care.

For complete admissions information, visit http://www.ut.edu/physicianassistant/admissions/.