Competencies
The PA profession defines the specific knowledge, skills, attitudes, and educational experiences requisite for physician assistants to acquire and demonstrate these competencies. The clinical role of PAs includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practice settings. Professional competencies for physician assistants include the effective and appropriate application of medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, patient care, professionalism, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems-based practice. Patient-centered, physician assistant practice reflects several overarching themes. These include an unwavering commitment to patient safety, cultural competence, quality health care, lifelong learning, and professional growth. Furthermore, the profession’s dedication to the physician-physician assistant team benefits patients and the larger community.
Miami University’s Physician Associate Studies program used this professional framework as the foundation of our model. We acknowledge that some competencies will be acquired during formal PA education, while others will be refined and mastered as the clinician progresses through their careers. Successfully meeting the program's standards, will prepare the student not only for clinical practice, but personal and professional growth- in industry.
Students will observe success in meeting the program's standards, by matriculating through the curriculum following successful completion of courses, guided by class learning objectives and course outcomes, defined within the syllabi.
Display command of fundamental medical knowledge by:
- Explain the etiologies, risk factors, underlying pathophysiologic processes, signs and symptoms, differential diagnosis, and management, including emergent, acute, and chronic medical and surgical conditions across all organ systems throughout the lifespan.
- Recognize the principles of social determinants of health and their impact on disease prevention and population health outcomes.
Demonstrate clinical and technical skills by:
- Perform comprehensive and problem-focused history and physical examinations that are age-appropriate and clinically relevant.
- Demonstrate proficiency of entry-level clinical procedures.
- Select and interpret appropriate diagnostic tests, including laboratory panels, EKG tracings, and basic radiographic imaging when given a clinical scenario.
Demonstrate clinical reasoning & problem-solving abilities by:
- Determine and explain the appropriate diagnostic workup for a given disease state, including laboratory testing, imaging, and other modalities.
- Formulate a differential diagnosis for a patient across the life span by integrating patient history and physical exam findings during a case-based assessment.
- Develop a written patient-centered comprehensive care plan that integrates preventative health guidelines and appropriate referrals to resources across different healthcare delivery settings.
Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills by:
- Demonstrate effective interpersonal and communication skills that account for patient concerns and preferences during a case-based assessment.
- Utilize active listening, open‑ended questioning, cultural sensitivity, and empathetic communication to build rapport with patients.
- Communicate effectively with interprofessional healthcare team members and coordinate a shared management plan while maintaining mutual respect, integrity, and trust.
Exhibit professionalism and ethics by:
- Demonstrate respectful and compassionate care to diverse patient populations, acknowledging and addressing personal biases.
- Display integrity and respect for all peers, instructors, and patients, including their identity and social factors.
- Utilize constructive feedback to recognize strengths, improve performance, and support continuous professional growth. (Professionalism rubric, OSCE and SIM debrief; clinical integration labs)
Critically evaluate medical literature by:
- Synthesize and present medical literature as a capstone project that incorporates evidence-based medicine, current clinical guidelines, and public health concepts.
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
Cleveland Clinic Health Sciences and Wellness Building
2101 Leadership Suite
421 S. Campus Avenue
Oxford, OH 45056
513-529-1231
pastudies@MiamiOH.edu
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.