Massachusetts has been ranked number one in education in the country. If you live in Massachusetts and are looking to pursue a career as a Physician Assistant, you may be confused about which school to pick because the options are limitless. This article will highlight some of Massachusetts's accredited and most sought-after PA schools.
Bay Path University
The Master's in Physician Assistant Studies from Bay Path University is an intensive degree program that combines on-campus classroom and laboratory work with off-site clinical training. Students taking this program at Bay Path University gain the knowledge and skills needed during evaluations, monitoring, diagnosing, and treating a patient.
Students also acquire skills needed to counsel patients during and after treatment. Studying your degree will prepare you to work in primary care settings, surgery, emergency medicine, and medical and surgical subspecialties. The MS in Physician Assistant Studies is led by a passionate team of faculty who have accumulated decades of clinical and educational experience.
The program ensures that all students come from diverse cultural, ethnic, and educational backgrounds. Additionally, Bay Path University ensures that the classes are small in size, ensuring every student receives individual attention. The PA program at the university also uses a relevant and innovative curriculum.
The program also encourages 8-10 week unique schedules that allow students to reflect and care for themselves. Once students have completed the course work, they undergo clinical placements in the institutions and private practices that are most esteemed in New England. Students pursuing the PA course at Bay Path university always have access to mentoring, tutoring, library resources, academic resources, and career services.
These resources ensure that students are independent and successful. Financial aid is also provided for students pursuing the PA course at Bay Path University.
Boston University
The Boston University PA program confers students with a Master's of Science degree. The program requires students to complete prerequisite coursework in a traditional classroom and laboratory setting. Online courses are also offered but are not considered prerequisite course requirements.
The PA program at Boston University is aimed at providing innovative education to students. This ensures that they can take care of patients from diverse populations, including those from vulnerable communities. The program also prepares students to understand all the ethical principles they must follow when taking care of patients.
Furthermore, the program prepares students to provide patient-centered treatment and work efficiently in an interdisciplinary healthcare team. The program is accredited by the ARC-PA.
MGH Institute of Health Professions
The Master of Physician Assistant Program at MGH Institute of Health Professions prepares graduates to offer compassionate and high-quality medical care for all patients. The program immerses students in the study of medicine through an integrated curriculum. This program is based on a conviction that values professionalism, respect, and the provision of quality team-based and patient-centered care.
The program understands that physician assistants serve an important role in meeting the needs of patients and society and working with medical professionals in different settings. The curriculum for the PA program at MGH Institute of Health Professions prepares the ability to develop the ability to identify what they don't know and need to know and to utilize evidence-based practice when treating patients.
Since the curriculum is designed to meet the needs of learners in didactic and clinical phases, students and faculty are able to share responsibility during learning. The PA program goes on for 25 months and utilizes sequencing and team-based learning. This approach improves the critical thinking and retention of students.
MCPHS University
The MCPHS University offers a three-year PA graduate program. During the program, students study medical and behavioral sciences through interprofessional education. Students also take part in clinical rotations during the program. The PA program at MCPHS University consists of four semesters of didactic courses and laboratory work.
This is then followed by three semesters of supervised clinical rotations. The clinical rotations allow students to explore different areas of interest and gain the experience they can utilize in a variety of specialties like family medicine, emergency medicine, and internal medicine. Additionally, students who complete the program can work in psychiatry, pediatrics, surgery, and more.
When students graduate, they have the knowledge and skills needed to deliver high-quality medical care. The clinical rotations also allow students to apply and reinforce the clinical and patient management skills they have learned. The program has clinical affiliations with different clinical settings in Massachusetts, New England, the US, and international clinical sites.
The learning experiences occur in different settings, including hospitals, private practices, and suburban clinics. Graduates who complete the PA program at MCPHS University demonstrate respect for patient dignity, diversity, and autonomy. This is because they advocate for healthy lifestyles and equitable healthcare delivery for all patients.
Northern University
Northern University offers one of the most experienced PA programs in the nation, considering the university has been training physician assistants since 1971. Northern's PA program has been accredited by the ARC-PA, and it continually conducts self-review to ensure it is compliant with ARC-PA guidelines and principles.
The program offers a traditional program and two dual master's degree programs. The program aims to ensure that graduates can provide culturally informed care to patients from diverse backgrounds. The graduates receive competencies that allow them to recognize, address and end discrimination in healthcare settings.
Graduates are also educated on how to become effective members of an interprofessional healthcare team. The Northern University PA program believes that excellence in healthcare is achieved through compassion, integrity, and the highest ethical standards. Additionally, the program values the use of evidence-based medicine, technology, and research.
Similarly, the program embraces a culture of respect when taking care of patients from different communities. Furthermore, the program promotes community service and engagement in any emerging healthcare issues.
In conclusion, if you are interested in pursuing a career as a physician assistant, you can attend all the universities listed above. They all offer a Master's degree in physician assistant and equip graduates with the competence needed to provide high-quality healthcare. The PA program in these universities also ensures that graduates provide medical care to diverse communities, including the vulnerable ones.