Mission, Values, and Program Goals
Marshall B. Ketchum University
The School of Physician Assistant Studies Mission
Our mission is to educate individuals to become compassionate Physician Assistants who provide the highest quality health care in a collaborative environment, are dedicated to their communities, and advance the PA profession.
Our Values
Integrity
We value integrity and professionalism by modeling honesty, thoughtfulness, and consistency in our words and actions.
Compassion
We value the dignity of our patients and their families and recognize compassion must be a cornerstone of our professional interactions.
Respect
We value the highest level of respect by advocating the virtue of inclusion while embracing the differences within communities where we serve, work, and teach.
Service
We value service for humanity and are committed to the welfare of others.
Excellence
We value the pursuit of excellence as a standard of quality for the PA profession.
Lifelong Learning
We value lifelong learning as an essential component of personal and professional growth as well as evidence-based medical care.
Our Goals
Based on our mission, the goals of the School of Physician Assistant Studies are to:
- Graduate PAs who become certified by the NCCPA.
We use unique and innovative teaching modalities to ensure students receive the highest quality education, not only to meet their board requirements but also to become exceptional practicing PAs.
Measurement: 100% pass rate on the PANCE
Program Outcome: Currently, over 99% of graduates have passed the PANCE and are NCCPA certified. - Engage all students in active and ongoing community service.
The program recognizes the importance of giving back. Participation in community outreach events is a required element of the program. By collaborating with several local organizations, we are able to serve multiple underserved communities through activities such as health screenings, food banks, and vaccination clinics. During the Master’s Capstone Project, students identify a population healthcare need within our community and develop and implement a project to help mitigate that need. Some projects in the past have included developing an animal-therapy program for individuals living in a family shelter, writing and illustrating a children’s book about asthma triggers, and providing nutrition education to grade-school students.
Measurement: All students have participated in at least three community service events during the program.
Program Outcome: All graduates participated in at least three community-service events during the time they were enrolled as a student, often more. - Provide all students with experience in caring for and interacting with underserved communities to inspire graduates to provide care for underserved communities.
A priority for our clinical team is locating quality training sites and preceptors who are actively engaged in providing care for underserved populations. Additionally, students participate in activities and events that provide recurrent exposure to underserved or disadvantaged populations in order to enhance their understanding of the healthcare disparities facing these populations. These activities may include population health lectures, a poverty simulation, guest speakers, group discussions, and community service events for the underserved.
Measurement: Upon graduation, all students will have completed at least one rotation in a health-provider-shortage or underserved area and will have completed all required program activities and events developed to specifically enhance student understanding of and compassion for underserved communities.
Program Outcome: All students completed at least one rotation in a provider-shortage or underserved area and completed all required program activities and events developed to specifically enhance student understanding of and compassion for underserved communities at the time of graduation. A significant number of students completed multiple rotations in a provider shortage or medically underserved area.