PA Program Now Formally a Master’s Program

After nearly two years of hard work, careful planning, and curricular redesign, the University of Wisconsin Physician Assistant (PA) Program is now formally a master's degree program.

On May 8, 2009, the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents granted approval for the program to offer a Masters of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree. Prospective students are applying now for enrollment in the first master's class, which begins in May 2010.

Fine-Tuning an Advanced Curriculum

Right now, PA Program faculty and staff are working diligently to get the program's new curriculum ready for implementation in May. They are enhancing existing courses, adding new courses and learning experiences—and obtaining faculty and institutional approval throughout the process.

"We had a strong curriculum prepared for our transition proposal," said Program Director Virginia Snyder, PhD, PA-C. "Now we're just fine-tuning all the components and integrating the whole curriculum."

Dr. Snyder extends her appreciation to the entire Program faculty and staff, as every member of the team has played an integral role in moving this initiative forward.

She specifically notes the significant role of David Payne, MPAS, PA-C, the program's new academic director, played in overseeing this effort. "Since his arrival to campus in mid-March, David has been integral to the implementation process," she said. "He provides so much forward movement, and is the driving force taking us through all the levels of approval."

Highlights of the new MPAS curriculum include:

• Higher-level learning objectives for all courses;
• More case-based studies to improve critical thinking and application skills;
• New coursework on population and public health, consistent with School of Medicine and Public Health (SMPH) goals;
• Increased emphasis on genetics, primary care, family medicine, and rural health;
• A professional seminar series covering topics such as ethics, cultural competency, evidence-based medicine, medical informatics, and clinical research methods; and
• A required capstone experience tailored to individual students' interests.

A Reflection of Rigor

According to Dr. Snyder, the MPAS degree better reflects the academic rigor of the PA program and the clinical responsibility of its graduates. "Much of the current baccalaureate curriculum was taught at the graduate level, but we weren't satisfied with moving to a master's degree in name only," she said.

That, combined with the fact that approximately 85% of PA programs nationwide offer a master's degree, prompted Dr. Snyder to start the lengthy transition process. "The master's degree is becoming the entrance and terminal degree for physician assistants," she added. "It's what our students deserve."

Opening Up New Initiatives

Not only does the MPAS approval strengthen the existing PA program, it also makes program expansion more viable. For example, the program is now developing a rural track with support from a training grant from the US Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).

This track will offer elective coursework, clinical preceptorships, and collaborative experiences with the Wisconsin Academy for Rural Medicine (WARM) to better prepare students for practice in a rural environment.

Similar collaborative, interprofessional experiences are also being established in underserved and urban communities. One example is the Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health (TRIUMPH) program in urban Milwaukee.

"In the future, we may be able to develop more tracks to serve additional specific interests, like teaching or research," Dr. Snyder said. "Our primary focus will always be on preparing students for generalist training, but having a master's program opens up new prospects we wouldn't otherwise have."

Benefits for Wisconsin

And although Dr. Snyder is justifiably excited about the MPAS approval and the opportunities that accompany it, she emphasized that the program's ultimate goal—to help meet the health care needs of the state—remains steadfast.

"We are very conscientious in our strong efforts and emphasis to support primary care practice in Wisconsin, especially in rural and underserved communities," she said. "The MPAS approval allows us to provide even better trained clinicians to serve that end."