Pathology program physician assistant

Rather, students may choose a pre-med track such as biology, chemistry, microbiology, or even forensic science. Ideally, students will choose to earn a bachelor of science degree to maximize their chances of acceptance to an accredited PA program. As of , there are 14 programs in the world that have earned accredited status. In one of these programs, students will learn the skills and background knowledge they need to be effective assistants.

Courses that students can expect include forensic pathology, human structure, surgical pathology, and autopsy pathology. Assistants who have their degrees might also want to join the AAPA mentioned earlier. The organization is the largest for assistants in this field.

It is even possible to join as a student, as long as one is currently enrolled in an accredited program. The organization offers a fellow level of membership as well, but it is only possible to attain this after passing the certification exam. Some skills valuable to those in the field are professionalism and attention to detail. The ability to communicate well verbally as well as through the written word is important.

Ultimately, a well-trained PA can perform all the tasks of a pathologist apart from diagnosis. Most PAs work in community or academic hospitals although some may assist with autopsies in morgues or medical examiner offices.

PAs can expect to apply their skills to some common tasks such as:. Most often, this is done by completing 45 continuing education credits over the course of those three years. Content will additionally include preventive treatments, patient education, and referrals when necessary. Serves as the foundational journey into the medical interview, physical exam, and subsequent patient encounter documentation.

With a focus on developing interpersonal communication skills and professionalism, students will learn the art of taking medical history while simultaneously learning to document findings, prepare oral presentations, and effectively exchange information with the patients and other members of the healthcare team.

Content will be reinforced through practical application. Opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in other classes to the assessment and care of patients across the lifespan. A team-based learning approach will allow the student to organically develop the critical thinking skills necessary to evaluate patients and provide quality patient care effectively.

Diagnosis and management decisions related to disorders and diseases of hematologic, dermatologic, and HEENT systems are explored. This course series also offers opportunities to participate and learn collaboratively in interprofessional teams. Building upon the foundational knowledge from PA , the student will continue to amass a foundational understanding of physiologic and pathophysiologic principles relating to the cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and male genitourinary systems.

Emphasis is placed upon the relationships of the major systems involving the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis. Building upon the medical knowledge gained in PA , this course shifts focus toward the study of radiology as a diagnostic and therapeutic modality of modern medicine.

Emphasis will be placed on methodology, indications, and interpretation of various types of imaging studies. Case-based integrated learning in lab will continue to help students apply these principles to practice.

For the future physician assistant, it is critical to understand the historical perspectives of the profession, as well as the legal and ethical implications of practice. After surveying the history of the profession, students will begin the transition into contemporary medical practice intricacies.

Students will study risk management strategies, quality improvement initiatives, patient safety, and prevention of medical errors in addition to a vast array of medico-legal ramifications of contemporary practice.

Explores moral concepts related to practical medical decision-making and problem solving to allow students to form a strong foundation for ethical medical practice. Building on the principles learned in PA , students will continue to enhance their knowledge regarding the pharmacology of autonomic drugs and various classes of medications used in treating cardiovascular, renal, and gastrointestinal disease. Students will be additionally exposed to other classes of medications affecting smooth muscle.

Further emphasis will be placed on additional special topics in pharmacotherapy. Moving into a comprehensive survey of cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, and urology, Clinical Medicine II will continue the exploration of the epidemiology, precipitating factors, etiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, clinical presentation and manifestations, red flags, diagnostics, clinical intervention, management of diseases and disorders, clinical pearls, and differential diagnoses of the applicable systems.

In addition to acute and chronic care plans, the prevention of illness will additionally be highlighted. Discussions regarding patient education and referral will also be considered as parts of the treatment plan.

Continues a pragmatic approach to the examination of the thorax, abdomen, and pelvis. The intricacies of cardiovascular, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary portions of the physical exam will thoroughly be discussed, demonstrated, and practiced. Continues to horizontally integrate the materials in other classes into a comprehensive team-based approach to learning.

The principles of working collaboratively in effective healthcare teams will be integrated and practiced in these the learning modules. The human immune system will also be highlighted regarding its protagonist function in defense of infectious disease and its antagonistic role in inflammatory and autoimmune disorders.

In the last of the three-part series on diagnostic testing, the student will learn to perform and interpret a lead EKG to evaluate cardiac symptoms and disease. The course also surveys noncardiac conditions that will produce various EKG changes.

Students will gain foundational knowledge that is reinforced through practical application of skill. Advancing understanding of pharmacotherapeutics, students will move on to become increasingly proficient at the pharmacologic treatment of disease. This installment will focus on pharmacology and pharmacotherapeutics related to orthopaedics, rheumatology, neurology, and endocrinology.

Also involves a broad survey of toxicology and a systematic approach to the poisoned patient. Additional emphasis will be on the intricacies of prescribing medication to specialized populations. In the last of the Clinical Medicine series, students will continue to expand the breadth of medical knowledge required to practice medicine through a problem-oriented approach.

An in-depth examination of orthopaedics, rheumatology, neurology, endocrinology, and infectious disease will promote further understanding of the epidemiology, precipitating factors, etiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, pathophysiology, clinical presentation and manifestations, red flags, diagnostics, clinical intervention, management of diseases and disorders, clinical pearls, and differential diagnoses relevant to these specialties.

Continues to focus on relevant history and physical examination skills needed to assess the musculoskeletal and neurologic systems. Additionally, students will have a comprehensive survey regarding clinical assessment nuances for special patient populations, including pediatric infants, children, and adolescents and geriatric age groups. Allows students to coalesce regional and population-specific history and physical exam techniques into a comprehensive history and physical required for preventive, well-person encounters.

Underlying emphasis will also be placed on the development of non-cognitive interpersonal and professionalism skills. Continues to hone the student's critical thinking skills to support a successful transition to a healthcare provider. Using similar pedagogies and principles as PA and PA , the course explores clinical manifestations commonly encountered in orthopaedics, rheumatology, neurology, endocrinology, and infectious disease. Additionally, the course supports collaborative interprofessional team-based practice through classroom study and clinical application.

Principles of pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative care, providing in-depth instruction across the continuum of surgical care. The core curriculum will survey pre-operative assessment of surgical risk and planning, surgical techniques for first assistants, operative treatment of disease, and common principles relating to post-operative care.

Aspiring healthcare providers must develop a solid understanding of the principles of disease prevention, surveillance, reporting, and intervention. Thus, students will be introduced to core public health concepts to inform clinical practice and benefit both community and society as a whole.

The core focus will be on the frameworks underpinning public health systems, patient advocacy, and population health maintenance.

Explores the interrelated facets of social and behavioral sciences to understand the social determinants of health more fully. Provides students with the fundamental concepts and skills required to perform common clinical procedures based on current practice standards.

Students will receive knowledge of key indications, contraindications, risks, and benefits of procedural skills often performed in various practice settings. A basic review of the appropriate anatomy and physiology will be included. The laboratory environment will provide students an opportunity to perform and practice these procedures.

Leads students to investigate the current trends and issues facing contemporary PA practice. Professional development topics, such as interprofessional team-based approaches to healthcare; palliative and end-of-life care; patient education and counseling; and the business aspects of healthcare are foundational issues in practice and will be considered accordingly.

Students will also delve into various elements of personal and professional wellness, including impairment and burnout.

Lastly, the knowledge to provide medical care to a diverse patient population will be secondarily underpinned by understanding patient backgrounds, disabilities, and other social determinants of health. Course content will culminate with the retrospective analysis of previous non-cognitive skill development over the didactic year through previous service-based learning opportunities.

Students will learn to seamlessly coalesce the most up-to-date scientific literature with clinician experience and patient values to provide true evidence-based medical care. Emphasis on formulating research questions, interpreting biostatistical methods, and distinguishing types of sampling methods.

Uses various medical databases and recognizes medical research limits through critical appraisal. Aids students in preparing to apply evidence-based medicine to their clinical practices. Prerequisite: Admission to Physician Assistant Students program.

Introduces psychiatry and behavioral health as encountered in various medical settings through an integrative approach.

Recognition of mental illness will be taught through history and physical exam. In contrast, treatment will be primarily explored through a problem-based approach, emphasizing health promotion and counseling. Explores the female patient's reproductive and gynecological health. Gender-specific history and physical exam techniques are presented as foundational principles of women's health.

Encompasses the patient education and counseling unique to women's health. Approaches the care of infants, children, and adolescents through a population-based module focusing on pediatric issues. Addresses the etiology, epidemiology, genetics considerations, clinical signs and symptoms, physical exam findings, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis for significant pediatric population problems. Emphasis will also be upon the evaluation of human growth and development through the recognition of milestones.

Anticipatory guidance, preventive care, and vaccinations will be thoroughly discussed as integral components of pediatric healthcare. Clinical reasoning and problem solving will be reinforced through case-based study. Emphasis is on the priority of stabilizing patients with life-threatening trauma or illness and selecting appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic measures.

Unique challenges in treating patients in this setting will also be discussed. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Studies program; completion of the didactic phase of the PA program and admission to the clinical phase.

Capstone I project will be based on a developed research proposal that is selected from a menu of potential approaches, such as a traditional quasi-experimental study, an evidence-based medicine question, a case report, and a comprehensive literature review. The student will formally present the findings to the University community during the Capstone II course.

This course takes place during the clinical phase and involves students meeting with the course coordinator and advisor periodically throughout the phase. This is the first in a series in which preparation occurs for successful completion of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination PANCE , necessary for entering medical practice.

Strategies for successful study and successful completion of board-style examinations, as well as an intense overview of medical knowledge to help prepare for the PANCE.

Covers the cardiovascular system; dermatologic system; endocrine system; eyes; ears, nose, and throat systems. A review of history taking and physical examination while incorporating diagnostic and laboratory studies to formulate the most likely diagnosis will also occur.

Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Studies program; completion of the didactic phase of the PA program and admission to the clinical phase; passing mark in PA This is the second in the series in which preparation occurs for successful completion of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination PANCE , necessary for entering medical practice.

It will also further review the management of patients, health maintenance, patient education, and preventative measures. Prerequisites: Admission to the Physician Assistant Studies program; completion of the didactic phase of the PA program and admission to the clinical phase; PA Each student will present the results of individual projects submitted in Capstone I to demonstrate an understanding of the program and profession's principles in mastering evidence-based medicine and medical research abilities.

This capstone project will need to be clearly presented, organized, and succinctly defended. This is the conclusion of the series in which preparation occurs for successful completion of the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination PANCE , necessary for entering medical practice. It will further review clinical intervention, pharmaceutical therapies, and the application of basic scientific concepts while in clinical practice.

Jason Huddleston Assistant Professor. Our adjunct faculty bring outstanding professional experience to our programs. Many are industry leaders with decorated careers and honors. Importantly, they are innovative educators who offer hands-on learning to our students to prepare them to enter and thrive in a dynamic, and oftentimes emerging, industry and professional world.

They inspire, instruct, and challenge our students toward academic and professional success. The following information applies to the admissions cycle. Professional healthcare clinicians are challenged in environments that demand certain abilities, behaviors, and skills. Loma Linda University affirms the values below as central to its view of education. Among the most memorable depictions of compassion in Scripture is the story of the Good Samaritan, which Loma Linda University has taken as a central symbol of our work.

Integrity encompasses honesty, authenticity, and trustworthiness. God has called us not to slavery but to freedom. The God of the Bible is One who calls people continually to justice. According to the prophets, religious faith could be genuine only when it led the believers to "seek justice, rescue the oppressed, defend the orphans, [and] plead for the widow.

The first training program was Duke University in Durham, NC, founded in response to a need for qualified assistants in the pathology laboratory fueled by a continuing shortage of pathology residents. The first year is didactic, with some exposure to the gross room and autopsy suite procedures, and frozen section training.

The second year consists of clinical rotations and a comprehensive review course which prepares the student for the national certification examination. Outcome 1: Students will be able to demonstrate and perform the appropriate anatomic pathology techniques for the preparation, gross description and dissection of human surgical tissue specimens, to include:.

Outcome 2: Students will be able to demonstrate and perform the appropriate autopsy pathology techniques for the recovery, preparation, gross description and dissection of human organs and tissue specimens, to include:. Outcome 3: Students will demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate verbally and in writing.

At the completion of this degree program, the students will:. By the end of this degree program, the student will:. Outcome 5: Students will have a basic understanding of teaching pedagogy and an ability to clinically train other health professionals.