Physician Assistant
Idaho State University accepted its first class of 20 physician assistant (PA) students in the fall of 1995. Specific questions regarding details of the ISU program may be directed to the following office. The director of the program is Mr. John Schroeder, JD, PA-C.
Physician Assistant Program
1021 Red Hill Road
Box 8253
Pocatello, ID 83209-8253
Phone (208) 282-4726
FAX (208) 282-4969
www.isu.edu/paprog
General questions about the physician assistant field may be answered in the following pages.
Admission to the ISU Physician Assistant Program
The Physician Assistant Program at Idaho State University awards an MPAS (Master of Physician Assistant Studies) degree and a PA Certificate upon completion. A new class is enrolled in August each year. The Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA) was initiated a few years ago to help expedite the process of application to PA programs. ISU's Physician Assistant Program has joined the CASPA application process. As a consequence, all applications to the ISU Physician Assistant program must be routed through CASPA and follow CASPA procedures. Early application is advised because CASPA will not forward the student's application to the requested programs until all components, including letters of evaluation, of the application have been received by CASPA.
Details of applying to the ISU PA program and other PA programs through CASPA can be accessed online at https://secure.caspaonline.org (or search for "CASPAAS"). A list of programs that participate in CASPA can be accessed at that site. It will also provide links to home pages of participating programs, where details, such as prerequisite courses, application fees, degrees offered, etc. may be found. Many deadlines are as early as October or November, with some even earlier.
ISU's deadline is December 31. The general Graduate Record Exam (GRE) is required (see www.gre.org or contact ISU's Counseling and Testing Center in Graveley Hall for details of this standardized exam). The following are the academic prerequisites for admission to the ISU PA program. Academic prerequisites ideally should be completed before the spring semester prior to the year of entry, with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Applicants who will be completing prerequisites during that spring semester before fall entry should consult with the ISU Physician Assistant Studies office. Science courses which are ten years old or older are not acceptable as prerequisites course work. These are typical of but not necessarily identical to, prerequiaites of other PA programs.
| Microbiology and Lab (BIOS 221 and 221L or BIOS 235) | 4 credits |
| Anatomy and Physiology (BIOS 301 and 302) | 8 credits |
| Biochemistry (BIOS 432) or Biochemistry I, II (BIOS 445, 447) | 3 or 6 credits |
| Abnormal Psychology (PSYC 301) | 3 Credits |
| Statistics (MATH 253) | 3 Credits |
| Computer literacy and a familiarity with medical terminology |
Because the PA program is now a masters program, an undergraduate degree must now be completed before matriculation into the PA program.
Accreditation
The program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP).
Technical Standards
Candidates for the PA Program must be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner without the use of trained intermediaries. The following provides some clarification of the required technical standards for PA students.
1. Observation:
Candidates must be able to observe demonstrations and experiments in basic and clinical sciences (including computer-assisted instruction), and must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand.
2. Communication:
Candidates must be able to communicate accurately and with clarity, in speech and written forms, with appropriate respect and sensitivity towards faculty, patients, and all members of the health care team.
3. Motor:
Candidates must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers.
4. Senses:
Candidates must have sufficient use of the senses of vision, hearing, touch and smell necessary to directly perform a physical examination.
5. Problem-solving:
Candidates must be able to measure, calculate, analyze, and synthesize data to reach diagnostic and therapeutic judgments.
6. Clinical Skills:
Candidates are expected to be able to learn and perform routine laboratory tests and diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
7. Behavioral Attributes:
Candidates must possess the emotional health necessary for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of sound judgment, the prompt completion of responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with faculty, clinical staff, and patients.
8. Judgment:
Candidates must be able to learn and demonstrate the ability to recognize limitations to their knowledge, skills and abilities, and to seek appropriate assistance with their identified limitations.
9. Stability:
Candidates must be able to learn to respond with precise, efficient, and appropriate action in emergency situations.
Faculty and Administration:
| Linda Hatzenbuehler, PhD Dean, College of Health Professions |
John Schroeder, JD, MHCA, PAC Director, Physician Assistant Program Email- schrjohn@isu.edu |
| David McClusky II, MD Medical Director |
Paula Phelps, MHE, PAC Clinical Coordinator |
| Kent Whitaker, M.Ed., PAC Academic Coordinator |
Dave Hachey, PharmD Theraputics Coordinator |
| John Dickey, Ph.D. Behavioral Medical Coordinator |
Terri Jones, MPAS, PAC Faculty |
| Curt Anderson, Ph.D. Physiology Professor |
Jeanne Lancaster Administrative Assistant |
| Ann Smalley Program Secretary |
Bill Broadnax Program Secretary |
Web Site
www.isu.edu/paprog
Other Information
Visit the following web sites:
American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
http://www.aapa.org
Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA)
http://saaapa.aapa.org
Association of Physician Assistant Programs (APAP)
http://www.apap.org
Contact information for each PA program in the U.S. may be obtained from this site. Access to an online directory of programs is available for a yearly registration fee.
Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)
http://www.caspaonline.org