Gregory Falabella, Ph.D., Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Pre-Physician Assistant Curriculum

Mission

The mission of the two-year Pre-Physician Assistant Curriculum is to prepare professional academic clinicians, committed to healthcare and to providing quality care to all individuals.

Program Goal

The two-year Pre-Physician Assistant Curriculum includes biological and physical science courses that are prerequisites for the Physician Assistant Program, as well as courses that collectively meet the requirements of the General Education Program.

General Overview

The Physician Assistant major consists of the two-year, preprofessional curricular component referred to as the Pre-Physician Assistant Curriculum and the comprehensive professional three-year Physician Assistant Program.

Program Overview and Student Learning Goals

The Pre-Physician Assistant Curriculum encompasses the biological and physical sciences as well as several general education requirements.  The biological and physical sciences comprise the essential preparation for the Physician Assistant Program.  The general education courses are needed to fulfill graduation requirements.

Wagner is a small residential college strongly committed to providing an education in which all professional and liberal arts majors receive the foundation of a broad-based core of knowledge.  Such an education fosters abilities in inquiry,critical analysis, and individual expression essential for achievement in a changing society.

The academic program provides knowledge of historical and sociocultural influences that forms a framework for the integration of experiences as well as an awareness and appreciation of one's own and other cultures.  Reasoning skills are refined through the study of scientific methodology and quantitative analysis.  Sensitivity to human expression and creativity is stimulated through the study of the fine arts.  The college also considers important the moral, ethical, and spiritual guidelines in which students make significant choices and form meaningful values.

NCCPA Pass Rates for Wagner College Physician Assistant Program

Comparison of Wagner College to the National Pass Rate

Program Admissions

The two-Year Pre-Physician Assistant Curriculum is designed to accommodate 20 students per cohort.  Students are interviewed in depth by representatives of the Physician Assistant Program as part of the college admission process and are approved as Physician Assistant majors at that time.  If openings arise in the freshman or sophomore class, well-qualified students may be allowed to enter the Pre-Physician Assistant Curriculum only after interviews and approvals.  While enrolled in the Pre-Physician Assistant Curriculum, students are under the direction of the Coordinator of the Pre-Physician Assistant Curriculum.  Upon commencement of studies in the Physician Assistant Program, students are under the direction of the Director of the Physician Assistant Program.

After two full academic years, during which the student must complete all the prerequisite course requirements for the Physician Assistant Program, as well as the designated portion of the general education requirements, the student generally enters the Physician Assistant Program, where s/he must successfully complete three years of professional course work:  one year of didactic instruction; one year of clinical experience; and one year of graduate-level didactic, clinical, and research work.

The student finishing the Pre-Physician Assistant Curriculum applies for continuation into the professional Physician Assistant Program during the sophomore year.  Students entering as PA majors must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0 or higher to continue as PA majors.  Those who have achieved a cumulative index of 3.0 or higher as well as an index of 3.0 or higher in the biological and physical sciences will be interviewed for continuation into the three-year Physician Assistant Program.  Students confirmed for admission to the Physician Assistant Program must maintain these indices to commence Physician Assistant Program studies.

Requirements for the Pre-Physician Assistant Program

Eight (8) units in biological and physical sciences including Biology 209 (Human Anatomy and Physiology I), 210 (Human Anatomy and Physiology II), 221 (Biostatistics and Experimental Design); Chemistry 111 (General Chemistry I), 112 (General Chemistry II), 211 (Organic Chemistry I); Microbiology 200 (Microbiology), 216 (General Pathology).  A laboratory section must be taken as part of any course for which a laboratory section is offered.  Lecture and laboratory must be taken concurrently.

Two (2) units in required cognate courses:  Philosophy 202 (Medical Ethics); Psychology 101 (Introduction to Psychology).