Divsion of Physician Assistant Studies

Our Vision
To enhance access to high quality health care throughout South Carolina and beyond.

Our Mission
To educate highly competent physician assistants who are compassionate, culturally aware, and attuned to the primary health care needs of the people of SC and beyond. They will:

• Provide quality, state-of-the-art, patient-centered health care as integral members of physician-led health care teams;
• Contribute to the development of new knowledge to improve physician assistant education and health care;
  
• Advocate for the physician assistant profession; and
  
• Help meet the health needs of the larger community through education and service.
  

Our Values

• Ethical and professional behavior
  
• Advancing medical knowledge
  
• Diversity and inclusion
  
• Virtuous leadership
  
• Confident life-long learners
  
• Quality, safe, and accessible patient-centered healthcare
  
• Responding compassionately and respectfully to the needs of the population served

Student Learning Outcomes*:

At the completion of the program, graduates will be able to:

1. Elicit a detailed and accurate medical history, perform a complete physical examination, and appropriately record all pertinent data
2. Perform and interpret routine diagnostic studies
3. Perform or refer appropriately for therapeutic procedures
4. Provide appropriate patient education and counseling to address health maintenance and disease prevention
5. Provide complete and accurate patient assessment in order to formulate an appropriate management plan in a variety of healthcare settings
6. Facilitate the appropriate referral of patients to address their medical and social welfare needs

*These Student Learning Outcomes are evaluated in part by our student’s success on the national PA certification examination and achieving certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. See our results on the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Approved December 7, 2012