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Physician Associate Studies

Our mission is to create an environment that fosters compassionate, dynamic, well-rounded, professional clinicians who have an interest in rural medicine and clinical research to enrich the medical sciences allowing us to be an industry leader in Physician Associate education with our students embodying values of compassion, integrity, and commitment to diversity. The focus of our program will be to educate students on how to deliver interdisciplinary care, and practice evidence-based medicine while utilizing technology to its fullest potential.

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Our Program

Mission:

To create an environment that fosters compassionate, dynamic, well-rounded, professional clinicians who have an interest in rural medicine and clinical research to enrich the medical sciences.


Vision:

To be an industry leader in Physician Associate education with our students embodying values of compassion, integrity, and commitment to diversity. The focus of our program will be to educate students on how to deliver interdisciplinary care, practice evidence-based medicine while utilizing technology to its fullest potential.


Goals: 

Improve

Improve awareness, health, and service to individuals and communities within rural and underserved regions of Ohio and the United States

Spring 2024 Outcomes

Prepare

Prepare graduates for exceptional performance on the National Certification Examination, reflected in high first-time pass rates
Spring 2024 Outcomes

Build

Strong commitment and engagement with professional health organizations
Spring 2024 Outcomes

Innovate

Prepare our graduates to embody excellent interpersonal communication skills and professionalism
Spring 2024 Outcomes

Welcome from Our Director

Photo of Christopher HowellWelcome to the Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate (PA) Studies Program at Miami University.

Offered at the beautiful Oxford campus, our program’s mission serves to build on a rich history. We are honored to be a part of Miami’s strong liberal arts education as one of the original eight “Public Ivy” schools, meaning that we offer only the highest quality educational opportunities -- where only the most ambitious students prepare for a lifetime of success.

We are equally honored to represent a profession with a proud and rich history. Physician associates have done so much to serve their communities by improving and expanding healthcare access as a creative solution to rising physician shortages.

Our mission in Miami’s Physician Associate Studies Program is to continue this legacy. Our graduates will be creating an environment that fosters compassionate, dynamic, well-rounded, and professional clinicians who have an interest in rural medicine, where these needs are most profound, while demonstrating a talent for clinical research. They will be best prepared to enrich the medical sciences and serve our communities.

The program is offered in our state-of-the-art Clinical Health Science and Wellness Center, a vision of interprofessional and interdisciplinary collaborative partnerships. In addition to several lecture halls, the building boasts numerous key work spaces, including two large cadaver and anatomage centers, 18-bed physical skills lab, an open procedural trainer space, 12-bed standardized examination rooms, and a large 20-room simulation unit.

Our 27-month, 114-credit hour PA program is divided into a 15-month didactic experience, which is then followed by 12-months of four-week clinical rotations. The program will explore foundational medicinal concepts and professional growth through research.

The introductory semester ensures understanding of core sciences, before following a modular learning program built around organ systems, and then focused training and certifications within disciplines, including: basic life support, advanced cardiac life support, and pediatric advanced life-support.

Opportunities are presented throughout the program for students to prepare for clinical growth, in response to the developing literature and standards of care. The program nurtures a passion for research through a journal club, a rural public health poster assignment, student health review presentations, and mentor-supported manuscripts.

Clinical rotations ensure exposure to a variety of clinical practice styles, disciplines, patient populations and healthcare delivery systems. Such disciplines include: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Behavioral Health, Pediatrics, General Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Orthopedics, and Four elective rotations 

By exploring several clinical centers and patient populations, students will be better equipped to consider where their clinical talents can better serve their communities.

Miami University’s PA program is designed to build a generalist, family medicine clinician with a service to predominantly rural, underserved communities.

We invite you to explore our university, program, and this rewarding profession!

Love and Honor,
Dr. Christopher M. Howell
Program Director & Associate Clinical Professor

Quick Degree Facts

27

Month Program

11

Clinical Site Rotations in Varying Specialties

36

Students in Each Cohort

Didactic Phase of Study

The physician associate studies program offers an amazing didactic experience, using modular learning concentration built around organ systems, which is offered within our new state-of-the-art clinical health science and wellness building.
Academic wing, lower-level inter-professional collaboration spaces. Innovation lab is at right. Large windows and the open floor plan bring in natural light.

Clinical Phase of Study

Following intensive didactic training, our students have the opportunity to rotate with several area partners over a 12-month clinical schedule. These clinical rotations begin in the summer of the students second year, with a plan for a diverse clinical immersion that allows the student to observe and engage a variety of healthcare systems, patient populations, public & individual health challenges, and several interprofessional & interdisciplinary team methods.
stethoscope on table in the foreground with hospital room in the blurred background

Physician Associate Studies

Miami University’s Physician Associate Studies program is designed to develop generalist, family medicine clinicians who can provide service to predominantly rural, underserved communities. It is housed in the brand-new, state-of-the-art Clinical Health Science and Wellness Center on the Oxford campus.

Contact Us

Clinical Health Sciences and Wellness Building
2101 Leadership Suite
421 S. Campus Avenue

Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-1231
pastudies@MiamiOH.edu

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ARC-PA

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Miami University, Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate Studies Program sponsored by Miami University - Oxford.