Mission Statement
The mission of the Arcadia Physician Assistant Program is to successfully educate compassionate and highly qualified medical professionals who are patient-centered and lifelong learners. We are committed to diversity, global awareness, and invested in preparing our students to excel in professionalism, leadership, and service.
Core Values of the Program
Commitment to RESPECT
Create an environment where everyone feels safe, heard, valued, and welcomed. This is fostered by being kind, active listening, welcoming diverse perspectives appreciating each other’s skills, experiences, and opinions.
Commitment to COMMUNICATION
Achieved by keeping everyone in the loop. This is accomplished by seeking clarity, welcoming discussions, responding in a timely manner, confirming understanding, and disseminating information broadly.
Commitment to INTEGRITY
Strive for honest and ethical actions. This is achieved by doing the right thing – even if it’s hard, being fearless, treating others how they want to be treated, and being consistent with actions and words.
Commitment to UNITY
Accomplished by working together to support each other. This is accomplished by being approachable, providing mentorship, cheering each other on, helping each other, and giving grace to each other.
Commitment to ACCOUNTABILITY
Attained by fulfilling commitments and accepting responsibility. This is successful through commitment to excellence, meeting deadlines, learning from mistakes, and leading by examples.
Program Goals and Outcomes
(A3.12b, A3.12c, A3.12i)
GOAL 1: Recruit and retain (see attrition table) a diverse cohort of students that reflect different race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, and geographic backgrounds.
- Outcome measure: Diversity of our student body to reflect race, ethnicity, age, gender identity, and geographic backgrounds.
- Rationale: The program recognizes the benefit of building a cohort with a diverse background will help to create a learning environment that promotes diversity, inclusion, and cultural sensitivity, not just in the classroom but in the future workplace as healthcare professionals are expected to engage with all populations across the communities they serve.
- Goal 1 Outcome
GOAL 2: Prepare students with the essential medical knowledge and clinical skills to successfully meet the criteria for progression and completion of the program and be competent entry-level PAs in clinical practice
Medical Knowledge:
- Outcome measure: All students will achieve a PANCE pass rate above the national average along with a PAEA End of Curriculum Exam pass rate of 100%.
- Rationale: As an innovative program, we continually assess and improve our curriculum to prepare students with the requisite knowledge to pass the PANCE and for continual changes and demands in healthcare upon entering clinical practice.
Clinical Skills:
- Outcome measure: All graduates meet competency for a summative objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), clinical skills, and clinical year preceptor evaluations.
- Rationale: The program has a summative OSCE, and clinical skills assessments that are graduation requirements. The skills identified are based on common skills and procedures that a general practice PA would be expected to perform as an entry-level PA.
- Goal 2 Outcome
GOAL 3: Enhance students’ domestic and international global experience with diverse cultures and community engagement.
- Outcome measure: All students complete a domestic and/or international global experience enriched with a culturally diverse initiative.
- Rationale: The program offers each student a global experience, amidst the growing demand and need for healthcare professionals in underserved areas with an understanding of cultural sensitivity.
- Goal 3 Outcome
GOAL 4: Promote the importance of professionalism and leadership to the profession.
- Outcome measure: Outcome measure: All students demonstrate effective professionalism as defined by the PAEA Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession. At least 20% of the students engage in leadership opportunities within the program.
- Rationale: As our PA profession continues to develop, it is important to teach students the value of professionalism and support graduates to meet the leadership demands of an expanding profession.
- Goal 4 Outcome
