Physician Assistant Program | Miami Dade College

Major Announcement

MDC PA Students Now Graduate with a Master's Degree

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has acknowledged and accepted the MDC PA program’s change in degree to a Master’s degree. The change in degree is now in effect. For more information read below or contact. mdcpaprogram@mdc.edu.

Program Overview

The Miami-Dade Physician Assistant program is a 27-month program offering a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physician Assistant Studies along with a Master of Health Science through its affiliation with Nova Southeastern University.

Physician Assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine in collaboration with all members of the healthcare team. Physician Assistants conduct histories, physical exams, order and interpret tests, diagnose, treat illnesses, provide counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions. In addition, PAs also participate in education, research, and leadership services.

The Miami-Dade Physician Assistant Program is on the cutting edge to address
the workforce needs in Miami Dade County and around the world. The program is preparing students to become highly skilled healthcare professionals, while
improving their quality of life. The PA program continues to meet its mission by graduating physician assistants who return to serve the community. The program participates in a migrant program and other community service projects.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Miami Dade Physician Assistant Program is to educate and train students from a culturally diverse background to become competent primary care physician assistants who will serve the medically underserved patients in urban and rural communities in Florida. The program also promotes academic excellence, high professional standards, and the development of lifelong learners.

Program credits:
Estimated time to complete:

Please review costs associated with this program.

Program Goals

Program Goals Course	Measurement	Benchmark Credit Hours
Recruit, retain and matriculate qualified diverse applicants	Admissions data Graduation rate Attrition table	1. Admit 55 students in each cohort annually. 2. Maintain an attrition rate < than the national average 3. Maintain a graduation rate of 90% and above.
Prepare Physician assistant students to practice in interprofessional healthcare teams.	Clinical rotation surveys Graduate Survey	1. 100 percent of cohort will participate in at least 1 interprofessional team 2. Graduates will successfully integrate into the healthcare team.
Prepare Physician assistant students with the medical knowledge and skills required to enter clinical practice	PANCE performance data	1. Maintain PANCE (Physician Assistant National Certification Exam) first time pass rate at or above the national average 2. Maintain PANCE 5-year performance rate at or above the national average
Prepare Physician assistant students to become servant leaders in the South Florida communities.	#Community service projects Graduate Survey Clinical rotation surveys	1. 100% of cohorts will engage in 1 community service project. 2. 100% of cohorts will participate in an underserved community rotation.
Comply with ARC-PA standards to maintain ongoing accreditation	ARC-Accreditation report Self-study meetings	Maintain programmatic accreditation

Program Learning Outcomes:

PSLO 1
- Apply comprehensive knowledge of biomedical and clinical sciences to provide patient centered medical care across the lifespan.
PSLO 2
- Communicate effectively by demonstrating interpersonal and communication (verbal, nonverbal, written, and electronic) skills that result in effective, patient centered care.
PSLO 3
- Demonstrate the clinical, and technical skills required to provide appropriate assessment, evaluation, and management of patients across the lifespan.
PSLO 4
- Exhibit awareness of empathy, integrity, and ethical behaviors necessary to provide equitable patient care across the lifespan.
PSLO 5
- Analyze and synthesize clinical, psychosocial, diagnostic, and pharmacological information to evaluate and manage patients across the life span.
PSLO 6
- Develop community servant leaders who will provide access to care to patients across the life span.