Physician Assistant Studies (PAS)

This course is the first in a three-part series that explores the concepts of professionalism, professional conduct, medical ethics, health humanities, and health systems science. Students will engage in active learning through small and large group discussions and reflective thinking exercises to think critically and apply knowledge to clinical scenarios.

This course is the first of a two-part series that provides students with a framework for understanding the gross anatomical concepts, organization, and function of the human body using a laboratory devoted to dissection of the human body.

This course is the second of a two-part series that provides students with a framework for understanding the gross anatomical concepts, organization, and normal physiology/function of the human body using a laboratory devoted to dissection of the human body.

Course covers statistics, medical literature searches, formulating PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcomes) questions and knowledge application in clinical practice. PAS 719 Evidence-Based Medicine (1) Evidence-based Medicine (PAS719) is a mandatory 14 week course given during the first year of the curriculum consisting of 14 two hour sessions. The course will be held on Fridays from 1-3 pm during the fall semester. Multiple learning environments will be utilized including didactic sessions, TBL, small group learning and standardized patient exercises. Students will be taught relevant statistics, how to utilize the medical literature, formulation of PICO (Population, Intervention, Comparison and Outcomes) questions and, most importantly, application of their knowledge at the point of care for patient care. Course faculty will be multi-disciplinary and include physicians and library staff who have taught such courses in the College of Medicine to medical students for a number of years. This course is intended to instruct the physician assistant student in how to find and interpret the medical literature. As a result of this course, students will be able to frame the clinical question, perform literature searches at the point of care, and be able to guide patients into making informed choices about their care based upon medical evidence. As a result of this course, students will be able to search for information regarding best practice of care and students will gain the ability to sift through what various clinical trials mean for translational medicine. Students will be provided opportunities to perform point of care evidence searches at the point of care during this class so that this skill can be translated to their clinical experiences as both a student in the clinical phase of the PA program and also as practicing physician assistants. Assessment methods will include practical experience in searching the medical literature, exercises with standardized patients with developing the clinical question and applying evidence-based medicine point of care techniques. Students will be detailed on the standards for passing this course on the course syllabi. Grading for this course will be from the instructors and peers taking this course. This course is a required course for physician assistant education, as determined by the national accrediting agency for physician assistants. Learning outcomes for each of the teaching sessions will be provided to the student electronically through the academic management system such as Angel.

This course is intended to introduce the graduate physician assistant to the health care delivery system in the United States with reference to how the physician assistant profession fits into this system for providing accessible, comprehensive, and cost-effective care. This course will also cover the legal aspect involved with medical practice.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Human Sexuality and Reproductive Health course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of reproductive health diseases encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Behavioral Medicine course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of behavioral medicine conditions encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation

Students learn the history and the professional roles of the physician assistant profession plus licensing and requirements of this profession. PAS 725 Physician Assistant Professional Practice (1) Students will learn the history of the PA profession, the roles of the PAs in current practice, and current issues facing the PA profession. In addition, students will become familiar with the professional standing and requirements for PA practice, where and how to locate professionally-relevant material, and the legal requirements related to the PA profession and medical practice, in general.Students will be provided with the basic information regarding licensure, credentialing, and certification requirements. Students will be provided information regarding the uniqueness of this profession among all of the other health professions.Employment opportunities and practice requirements will be discussed as part of this class. The role of the electronic medical record in today's healthcare delivery system will be discussed as well as demonstration of utilization of this electronic resource.Discussion will take place which will involve the emerging changes that are occurring within this profession. Debate will take place regarding the move toward specialty examinations in order to attain certificate of added qualifications. Students will be apprised of the new requirements for maintaining certification, namely the project improvement and self-assessment processes.This is a stand-alone course which is offered during the second semester of the preclinical phase of the PA program. Documentation on the electronic medical record will be discussed and this strategy will coincide with the history and physical examination courses which emphasize the collection of this patient-related data.Evaluation of the student will typically be by written examination. Testing methods will primarily be in the form of multiple choice questions based upon knowledge about this profession that the student will enter upon graduation. Students will be expected to demonstrate an appropriate level of knowledge which will be vital in obtaining licensure and certification following completion of this program. This course will be held in a lecture type of classroom in a large group discussion format. This course will be offered every summer semester for the physician assistant student in the Penn State College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program. Expected enrollment is for 30 students in this class cohort.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Emergency Medicine course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of emergent medical and traumatic conditions encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in emergency medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.

PAS 732 Emergency Medicine is a mandatory clinical rotation, which involves the evaluation and management of patients who present for care in an emergency medicine setting. Students will gain experience in their ability to stabilize, evaluate, and manage patients with an acute life-threatening event. Students will gain proficiency in identifying patients with clinical presentations that need immediate attention and those conditions which can be treated in a less urgent manner. Students will gain an appreciation of how care is delivered in an emergency medicine setting which has significant differences from the care that is rendered in other health care settings, for example, the immediate availability of clinical interventions such as diagnostic imaging, electrocardiography, laboratory studies, and the availability of consultants such as surgeons and trauma personnel. Students will gain an appreciation of how emergency medicine departments function in the overall delivery of health care services within the US Health care delivery system. Students will be able to apply knowledge and skills from the pre-clinical curriculum to these patients who often have complex and urgent health care needs. Students will also gain exposure to the patient care mix for people who are presenting to an emergency medicine setting and may gain exposure to the typical roles that certified physician assistants play in the delivery of care in this setting.

PAS 734 Family Medicine Rotation I is a foundational course for primary care practice. This course will provide the basis for establishing care of patients throughout their lifespan, from newborn to geriatric care. This rotation involves outpatient management, evaluation, examination of patients and involves students developing differential diagnoses, clinical intervention, the ordering and/or interpretation of diagnostic studies, and development of a treatment plan which is based upon the patient's presenting complaint and current and past problems. Students will make recommendations for treatment involving pharmacology intervention based upon standard of care principles. Students will obtain histories on these patients, perform directed and complete physical examinations, and will present these findings to the clinical preceptors at the site. Students will gain experience with documenting their findings in both written and verbal communication to their preceptors. Students will develop rapport with their patients and develop their skills in patient communication, cultural competency, and patient education.

The core of clinical experiences for this rotation will occur in an ambulatory care setting for patients who present for the evaluation of acute, subacute, and chronic conditions to healthcare providers. Students should be expected to be able to initially evaluate the patient, perform wellness screens for all patient entities, and develop an evaluation and treatment plan based upon the differential diagnosis that is developed. The student will then discuss the patient's complaints and findings with the supervising licensed health care provider and a treatment plan will be developed. The student should become adapt in patient presentation skills, obtaining a pertinent history and physical, and develop a management plan. The student should then communicate to the patient the most likely diagnosis and educate the patient with regard to prevention and treatment modalities.

This course includes a variety of introductory concepts necessary for further study within the PA program; including the history and development of the physician assistant profession, medical terminology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, pharmacogenetics, basics of prescription writing and medical dose calculations, HIPAA, OSHA, informed consent, and PA prescribing privileges. Students will discuss the basics of laboratory medicine; including sensitivity and specificity, precision and accuracy, negative and positive predictive value, screening and confirmatory tests, reference range, therapeutic range, therapeutic index. Students will also assess general vital signs and discuss normal and abnormal growth and development. Through this course, students will develop the skills necessary to build rapport and establish a patient-provider relationship, perform a basic medical history, and learn about general medical documentation requirements.

PAS 737 General Surgery is a mandatory clinical rotation that will provide students with the requisite knowledge and clinical experiences for treating patients in the surgical setting. Prepares physician assistant students to function in all aspects of surgical medicine. Students are introduced to surgical disorders commonly encountered in various settings by the physician assistant. Students gain familiarity with preoperative and postoperative patient care, assisting in the operating room, performing exams and surgical procedures. Students develop medical, technical and interpersonal skills to provide care to surgical patients as well as communicate with patients, family members and other members of the health care team. Requires direct supervision by clinical instructors. Emphasis will be placed on initial assessment, physical examination, and perioperative evaluations). When appropriate, the student follows individual patients whose cases are particularly instructive.

PAS 738 is an elective rotation in the clinical curriculum of the Penn State Physician Assistant Program. This rotation will provide students with the requisite knowledge and clinical experiences for preparing the student to care for patients with a surgical complaint or a patient who is treated in the surgical setting. Students will assist in the operating room and will perform history and physical examinations and surgical consults for patients with a potential surgical complaint. Students will be part of the preoperative planning for a patient about to undergo surgery which includes the identification of indications and contraindications for a patient about to undergo surgery. Students will also play a role in the postoperative management of patients who have undergone surgery. These exposures that the students have during this rotation will prepare them for their clinical role in taking care of patients throughout their lifespan in various types of clinical settings which includes the care of surgical patients and operative interventions.

PAS 739 Inpatient Internal Medicine is mandatory inpatient clinical rotation, which provides clinical education for students taking care of the adult population. The ultimate goal for students at the end of the clinical educational training is to have students capable of caring for patients throughout their lifespan and this rotational experience provides the student with educational experiences for the adult population which includes the geriatric population. During this rotation each student will also receive a site visit from the Clinical Coordinator.

PAS 741 Behavioral Health Rotation is a mandatory clinical rotation in the clinical curriculum. This course and rotation provides clinical experiences for students in inpatient and outpatient settings where the student will encounter patients with a mental health or psychological complaint.

PAS 742 Mental Health Rotation II is an elective course in the clinical curriculum. This course and rotation provides clinical experiences for students in inpatient and outpatient settings where the student will encounter patients with a mental health or psychological complaint. Students will become acquainted with manifestations of various forms of psychopathology. The emphasis of this course is the performance of a complete psychiatric examination which includes the performance of a mental state examination. Students will develop the ability to classify patients with a psychiatric complaint according to the Axis classification. Students will develop the ability to manage psychosocial problems that the patients face along with the ability to navigate the health care system and get these patients much-needed support in the community. This clinical experience integrates previous learning and actual clinical practice, while working on hospital wards and outpatient clinics. It emphasizes the behavioral and psychosocial aspects of mental illness. Students will be able to apply what was learned in the preclinical educational curriculum during the behavioral medicine course with the actual practice which deals with caring for patients with a mental health or psychosocial complaint. Students will be given patient navigation experience from both a specialty and primary care perspective and will gain an appreciation as to how emotional stress and mental illness can impact the entire patient and not just the brain of the patient. Students will educate patients and their families on the psychosocial elements and physiologic processes that occur in the setting of psychiatric disease. This course meets the overall program goal of addressing psychosocial needs of our patients in various settings and with various complaints throughout the lifespan.

PAS 743 Pediatrics is a mandatory clinical rotation that will cover the basic principles of preventive care ranging from neonate to adolescent and treat common pediatric complaints. At the end of this rotation PA student should be able to identify normal and abnormal development patterns in all of these age groups. Students will gain the ability to provide anticipatory guidance in order to care for neonates to adolescents. Care delivery will include nutrition, safety and immunizations. Students will be trained to detect signs of possible child abuse. Students will be able to identify and demonstrate an understanding of community resources available to the caregiver.

PAS 745 Women's Health Rotation is a mandatory clinical rotation that will prepare students to provide high quality care while treating the female population from the teenage patient through the geriatric female. Students will develop the ability to evaluate, manage, treat, and educate the female patient, including the areas of contraception, pregnancy, prenatal and postpartum care, and menopause. The student will utilize critical thinking, history taking and physical exam skills, and use diagnostic tests, as appropriate, in order to effectively create a plan of care for the female patient. The student will perform or assist in procedures utilized in women's health. Students will communicate with women in a respectful and sensitive manner. Requires direct supervision by clinical instructors.

This third internal medicine clinical rotation provides clinical education for students taking care of the adult population. This course is a natural extension of the first two internal medicine courses, PAS 739 and PAS 740. This course is available for the students to take as an elective course. This elective course is directed at students who wish to pursue career training in the primary care sector. The ultimate goal for students at the end of the clinical educational training is to have students capable of caring for patients throughout their lifespan and this rotational experience provides the student with educational experiences for the adult population which includes the geriatric population. Goals for this rotation include having the student identify, describe and perform the appropriate clinical evaluation including performance of a physical examination, the development of differential diagnosis, the selection of appropriate diagnostic studies, the development of treatment plans including proper referrals, and performing patient education. Students will gain proficiency in performing oral case presentations and documenting history and physical examination findings. Students will also gain experience with writing admission and hospital orders and discharge summaries, as appropriate according to the setting. The student will gain experience identifying normal and abnormal laboratory values as well as the appropriate use of radiologic and other diagnostic modalities as part of the diagnostic evaluation of the patient.

Family Medicine Rotations (PAS 748) is an elective rotation which will consist of outpatient evaluation of patients of all ages from newborn to geriatric. These patients will present with acute, subacute, and chronic conditions to the primary care provider. The student will gain experience in seeing patients from different demographics who will have a wide range of presentations and complaints. The majority of the clinical experiences will occur in an ambulatory setting, either outpatient or urgent care. Students are expected to be able to initially evaluate the patient, perform wellness screens for all patient entities, and develop an evaluation and treatment plan based upon the differential diagnosis that is developed. The student will then discuss the patient's complaints and findings with the supervising licensed health care provider and a treatment plan will be developed. The student should become adept in patient presentation skills, obtaining a pertinent history and physical, and develop a management plan. The student should then communicate to the patient the patient's most likely diagnosis and educate the patient with regard to prevention and treatment modalities. The family medicine rotation should provide experiences in ordering laboratory tests, imaging, and electrocardiograms with the interpretation of these findings also being an expected competency for this rotation.

This course is a capstone course that will provide the final comprehensive assessment for students prior to graduation.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Immunology, Hematology, and Oncology course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of immunologic, hematologic, and oncologic diseases encountered in patients across the lifespan. The immunology portion of the course includes education on the various immune system cell types and their important functions in innate and adaptive immunity. Congenital and acquired immunodeficiency syndromes will be taught in contrast to normal immune system function. Additionally, hypersensitivity reactions and common allergic conditions will be discussed. The hematology section of the course covers the basic principles of hematology; including the structure and function of the cells and organs related to the hematologic system, while exploring the features of hematological diseases. The oncology section of the course covers the general principles of oncology; including the origin, development, staging, and treatment of tumors. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.

PAS 767 Urgent Care II is as an elective rotation which involves the evaluation and management of patients who present for care in an Urgent Care setting. Students will gain experience in their ability to stabilize, evaluate, and manage patients in a Urgent Care setting. Students will gain proficiency in identifying patients with clinical presentations that need immediate attention and those conditions which can be treated in a less urgent manner. Students will gain an appreciation of how care is delivered in an Urgent Care setting which has significant differences from the care that is rendered in other health care settings, for example, the immediate availability of clinical interventions such as diagnostic imaging, electrocardiography, laboratory studies, and the availability of consultants such as surgeons and trauma personnel. Students will gain an appreciation of how Urgent Care departments function in the overall delivery of health care services within the US Health care delivery system. Students will be able to apply knowledge and skills from the pre-clinical curriculum to these patients who often have complex and urgent health care needs. Students will also gain exposure to the patient care mix for people who are presenting to an Urgent Care setting and may gain exposure to the typical roles that certified physician assistants play in the delivery of care in this setting.

The goal of this elective rotation is to give the student additional medical training during the clinical year in a specialty related to their area of interest. During this rotation, the student will develop a fundamental knowledge base in major disease processes in the assigned medical specialty. The will improve upon their clinical decision-making skills and the ability to acquire, interpret, synthesize, and record clinical information required to define, understand, and manage patient problems in the assigned medical specialty. They will improve the skills necessary to present patients to faculty, residents and peers in a clinical setting. In addition, student will continue to work on their interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, patients' families, and professional associates. This elective will allow for student exposure to different areas of medicine they may wish to pursue following graduation, and help each student determine their own areas of interest, strengths and weaknesses.

The goal of this elective rotation is to give the student additional medical training during the clinical year in a surgical specialty related to their area of interest. During this rotation, the student will develop a fundamental knowledge base in major disease processes in the assigned surgical specialty. The student will improve upon their clinical decision-making skills and the ability to acquire, interpret, synthesize, and record clinical information required to define, understand, and manage patient problems in the assigned surgical specialty. They will improve the skills necessary to present patients to faculty, residents and peers in a clinical setting. In addition, student will continue to work on their interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, patients' families, and professional associates. This elective will allow for student exposure to different areas of medicine they may wish to pursue following graduation, and help each student determine their own areas of interest, strengths and weaknesses.

This rotation will provide students with an opportunity to evaluate, exam, manage, and educate patients who have a complaint related to their musculoskeletal system. Students may assist in the operating room and will perform history and physical examinations and medical consultations for patients with a musculoskeletal complaint. Students may be part of the preoperative planning for a patient about to undergo surgery which includes the identification of indications and contraindications for a patient about to undergo surgery. Students may also play a role in the postoperative management of patients who have undergone surgery. These exposures that the students have during this rotation will prepare them for their clinical role in taking care of patients throughout their lifespan in various types of clinical settings which includes the care of the patient with a musculoskeletal complaint or complication.

This course provides students with a framework for recognizing unconscious biases and addressing individual and organizational practices that impact the delivery of fair and effective medical practices for our population. Students will discuss research and science related to unconscious bias. The course will be delivered in lecture, small group, and via case-based instruction on cross-cultural health care using a patient and family centered approach to providing humanistic care to all patients through the development of inclusive treatment plans and provision of patient education.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Dermatology course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of dermatologic diseases encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Infectious Disease course will introduce students to the basic underlying principles of infectious disease epidemiology and an overview of major infectious diseases. This course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of infectious diseases encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology course will introduce students to the basic underlying principles of diseases affecting the eyes, ears, nose, and throat. This course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ophthalmic and otolaryngologic diseases encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Endocrinology course will introduce students to the basic underlying principles of disease. This course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of endocrinology conditions encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Nephrology and Genitourinary Disease course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of renal and genitourinary diseases encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Pulmonology course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of pulmonary diseases encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Cardiology course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cardiovascular diseases encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Gastrointestinal Disease course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of gastrointestinal diseases encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Neurology course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of neurologic diseases encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Rheumatology and Orthopaedics course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of rheumatologic and musculoskeletal diseases encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.

This module is part of the series of modules that comprises the PA program didactic curriculum. The Principles of Surgery course provides a disease oriented, problem focused, and patient centered approach to understanding the etiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of surgical complications encountered in patients across the lifespan. Content areas in this module include: normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology, pathophysiology, genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease, pharmacology, pharmacotherapeutics, evidence-based medical research and advancements in clinical/surgical medicine, patient assessment, performance of applicable clinical and technical skills, interpretation of diagnostic and laboratory studies, using clinical reasoning to develop a treatment plan that includes indications for referral and standards for follow-up care, providing patient education, using service learning, and developing techniques for medical record documentation.

PAS 795 Rheumatology is an elective rotation offered in the clinical curriculum of the Penn State Physician Assistant Program. This rotation will provide students a five-week elective in Rheumatology. The Rheumatology rotation will provide the student with exposure to common conditions, such as osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, crystalline diseases, and rheumatoid disease as well as rare and diagnostically elusive conditions, such as vasculitis, spondyloarthropathies, and inflammatory muscle disease.

The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advocacy Elective is an elective rotation offered as part of the clinical year curriculum at the Penn State Physician Assistant Program. This rotation will provide students with a five-week explorative elective caring for patients from diverse practice specialties or populations while providing opportunities for students to think critically about how bias impacts patients, communities, and clinical practices. Students will have the opportunity to participate in patient care across three to five specialty areas; including but not limited to gender-affirming care, prison medicine, addiction medicine, crisis intervention services, underserved areas through AHEC sites, street medicine, autism clinic, genetics, developmental pediatrics, complex care clinic, and/or care for individuals from plain communities. Students may also elect to spend a week of time with the DEB leaders of local organizations to enhance their understanding of the pervasiveness of systemic racism and bias in medicine leading to an increased morbidity and mortality for minoritized populations.