University of Maryland Eastern Shore 2000-02 Catalog

The School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT DEPARTMENT

Chair:

Brenda J. Jasper, M.Ed., Assistant Professor

Lecturer:

Jacqueline Barnett-Miller, B.S.
Mark Cotter, B.S.

Adjunct Faculty:

Christjon Huddleston, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor

MISSION

The Physician Assistant Department is a baccalaureate degree granting educational program of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. As a component of the 1890 Land Grant University, it is committed to providing equal opportunity, especially to those of disadvantaged backgrounds. The program promotes health and wellness through the provision of quality primary care health education, in a diverse environment that values the discovery of knowledge, the development and dissemination, and practical application of that knowledge through community outreach and service. The department aims to prepare students through instruction, research and service with the professional and technical knowledge, skills and values to serve as compassionate health providers in local, state, national and global environments.

GOALS

The Physician Assistant Department seeks:

To prepare well educated, baccalaureate prepared mid-level health professionals for a challenging career as a Physician Assistant;
To develop culturally and ethnically sensitive health care providers to contribute to the promotion of quality health and well being in diverse environments, emphasis is upon the provision of access for minority and underserved populations to the Physician Assistant profession;
To offer a dynamic curriculum that is adaptive to changes in the health care environment.

OBJECTIVES

The Physician Assistant Department will:

Offer a didactic and clinical curriculum to educate physician assistant students to perform evaluative, diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive and health maintenance services to diverse communities and populations;
Prepare graduates to provide compassionate quality health care with a focus on underserved populations with the direction and responsible supervision of a Doctor of Medicine or Osteopathy;
Provide educational opportunities for an ethnically diverse student population;
Prepare students to analyze and critically interpret information; and formulate appropriate decisions;
Expose students to the breadth and depth of academic knowledge and experiences necessary to achieve the mastery of skills and techniques as a physician assistant;
Develop and support a cadre of competent faculty, staff, students and alumni dedicated to excellence in scholarly productivity, research, and community service that will provide solutions to challenging health care issues impacting local, national and international communities.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The Physician Assistant Department requires that all students maintain a "C" in each course and a 2.5 GPA in the Program Core, Program Electives, General Education and Supportive Course Requirements. Students entering the professional program are required to meet physical, mental and social technical standards necessary to become a competent physician assistant.

Department of Physician Assistant Index