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Why UM-Flint

What Sets UM-Flint's Physician Assistant Program Apart?

The Master of Science, Physician Assistant (PA) Program at the University of Michigan-Flint will provide exceptional classroom, laboratory, and clinical training so that graduates of the program will be highly prepared to pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) and apply for licensure in any of the 50 states, District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. Our first cohort class of 40-50 students will be admitted for a June 2020 start-date. Application deadlines will be available soon. Please fill out an inquiry form to stay updated. 

The U-M PA Program

The University of Michigan has a storied history of outstanding health care degrees. From Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor to the Doctor of Physical Therapy in Flint, our programs are among the nation’s best in preparing successful physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and other medical leaders. The PA program on the Flint campus looks to continue that reputation by employing leading faculty, utilizing state-of-the-art laboratory space, and offering high-quality clinical experiences. 

TOP clinical Rotations

Students in this program will look forward to delving into many different types of clinical opportunities. Rotations will take place throughout Michigan Medicine, UM health affiliates, Genesee County hospital systems, and Hamilton Community Health Center among others with options for specialty clinical rotations. Our curriculum is strengthened by collaborations within and across UM partnerships such as the School of Dentistry and PTHeart, our pro-bono health education and physical therapy clinic.

COMFORTABLE COHORT STRUCTURE
UM-Flint’s first cohort of 40-50 students will be admitted for a June 2020 start-date. Over a 27-month period, students will blend campus coursework with clinical experiences. Instruction will be primarily on-campus lecture and laboratory format with online supplementation during year one. Students’ second year will be primarily clinical with some online and on-campus requirements.
Workforce needs
The workplace demand for physician assistants is well-documented. Given our aging population and the projected retirements of our health care workforce, the number of currently uninsured and underinsured individuals, and the projected retirements of our health care workforce, major shortages are projected for the U.S. health care job market in the coming decades. This is especially true for practicing physicians, who are complemented heavily by PAs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment of PAs will increase 37 percent from 2016 to 2026. UM-Flint will help satisfy the demand with an annual admission class of 40-50 students per year.
A Top Career

In addition to the job growth taking place, the physician assistant profession is currently ranked second in Best Health Jobs by U.S. News & World Report and a Top 10 Best Master's Degree by Forbes. 

Statement from ARC-PA

Statement from the from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)

The University of Michigan-Flint (UM-Flint) Master of Science, Physician Assistant (PA) Program has applied for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). UM-Flint anticipates matriculating its first class in June 2020, pending achieving Accreditation - Provisional status at the September 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 appears 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.

Courses

Requirements

Students enroll in the PA program in a cohort format. Degree completion will be 27 months.

Spring/Summer Year One: 14 Credits

  • BIO 510 Human Anatomy and Physiology for Physician Assistants (cadaver) (2 lecture credits, 2 lab credits)
  • PAP 511 Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology Review (2)
  • PAP 520 Hematology and Coagulation Medicine (1,1)
  • PAP 521 Opthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology (1,1)
  • PAP 540 Introduction to Pharmacology (1)
  • PAP 550 Health Care Research Design (2)
  • PAP 560 Physician Assistant Practice (1)

Fall Year One: 18 credits

  • PAP 522 Dermatology (1,1)
  • PAP 523 Cardiovascular Medicine (2,2)
  • PAP 524 Pulmonary Medicine (2,1)
  • PAP 525 Endocrinology (2)
  • PAP 526 Gastroenterology (2,1)
  • PAP 527 Nephrology and Genito‐Urinary Medicine (1,1)
  • PAP 551 Critical Appraisal of Research Literature (1)
  • PAP 561 Physician Assistant Practice II (1)

Winter Year One: 18 credits

  • PAP 528 Orthopedics and Rheumatology (2,1)
  • PAP 529 Neurology (1,1)
  • PAP 530 Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology (1,1)
  • PAP 531 Psychiatry (2,1)
  • PAP 532 Surgery and Emergency Medicine (1,1)
  • PAP 533 Geriatrics (1,1)
  • PHS 552 Epidemiology and Public Health (3)
  • PAP 562 Physician Assistant Practice III (1)

Spring Year Two: 6 credits

  • PAP 534 Pediatrics (2,1)
  • PAP 535 Patient Assessment (1,2)

Summer, Fall, Winter Year Two & Spring Year Three: 44 credits

Clinical courses taken by all MS PA students scheduled in varying order:

  • PAP 620 Clinical Internal Medicine (4)
  • PAP 621 Clinical Surgery (4)
  • PAP 622 Clinical Geriatrics, Long‐Term Care, Palliative Care (4)
  • PAP 623 Clinical Emergency Medicine (4)
  • PAP 624 Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology (4)
  • PAP 625 Clinical Pediatrics (4)
  • PAP 626 Clinical Psychiatry (4)
  • PAP 627 Clinical Family Medicine (4)
  • PAP 640 Clinical Elective I (4)
  • PAP 641 Clinical Elective II (4)

Didactic courses:

  • PAP 653 Ethics in Physician Assistant Practice III (1) ‐ Fall
  • PAP 663 Physician Assistant Practice IV (1) ‐ Fall
  • PAP 670 Inter‐professional Clinical Teamwork I (2) ‐ Winter

Summer Year Three: 3 credits

  • PAP 672 Physician Assistant Practice V (3)

Admission

Eligibility:​

  • Bachelor degree from a regionally accredited college or university completed prior to June start date.
  • GPA minimums:
    • 3.0 GPA or higher in the undergraduate degree
    • All prerequisite courses must be at 2.5 or above
  • Completion of prerequisite courses from an accredited institution with an equivalent grade of ‘C’ or better in each course:
    • General Biology
    • Microbiology with lab
    • Human Anatomy with lab
    • Human Physiology – two courses with one course addressing some aspect of human physiology at the 300 level or higher
    • General chemistry
    • Organic chemistry
    • Biochemistry
    • General statistics or biostatistics
    • Developmental Psychology across the lifespan
  • Prerequisite courses should be completed within 7 years of applying to the program; prerequisite courses taken more than 7 years prior will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
  • Health Care Experience:
    • 500 hours of direct, hands‐on patient‐care experience through volunteer, shadowing, or paid work experience in a health related field is required.
  • GRE scores (general test) sent to UM-Flint Institutional Code #1853

Applying

The University of Michigan-Flint PA program will use the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) to process applications. The first applicant class will begin in June 2020. Application deadlines have not yet been set. Fill out an inquiry form to stay updated. 

Program Contact

Donna Fry, PT, Ph.D

Dean & Professor of School of Health Professions & Studies 

810-237-6645

Email