Didactic Course Descriptions
Fall Semester | First Semester
PAS 601 HEALTHCARE POLICY LAW, ETHICS, PROFESSIONALISM, AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT HISTORY
TThis course provides a comprehensive examination of the Physician Assistant profession, including its historical development, professional organizations, certification, and licensure. Students explore the PA’s role within healthcare policy, law, professional ethics, and interprofessional team collaboration. The course addresses ethical decision–making strategies and the application of biomedical ethical principles in clinical practice, engaging students in discussions and case–based activities involving moral, philosophical, and social dilemmas in health care. Topics include healthcare delivery systems, managed care, coding and billing, HIPAA, the Affordable Care Act, electronic medical records, medical malpractice, professional liability, patient safety, palliative care, beginning–of–life and end–of–life issues, and the role of culture, religion, and law in clinical practice. Students also examine the PA’s contribution to preventive medicine, primary care, specialty practice, rural health, and healthcare quality improvement across diverse populations (4 credits).
PAS 602 CLINICAL HUMAN ANATOMY LECTURE
This is an integrated lecture and laboratory course in human gross anatomy, embryology, and radiographic anatomy designed to provide foundational competence in the structural and functional anatomy of the human body essential to the practicing Physician Assistant. Clinical correlates are used to highlight the importance of anatomy as a bridge to the clinical sciences. Using a regional approach, the order of anatomical regions in the course will be presented and learned as follows: Back, Upper Limb, Thorax, Neck and Head, Abdomen, Pelvis and Perineum, and Lower Limb. The laboratory component of the course is a full immersion experience that includes three important facets expanded upon the Anatomage table and NetAnatomy. As in lecture, when appropriate, clinical correlates will be presented to highlight the anatomical basis of clinical practice (5 credits).
PAS 604 HEALTH HISTORY AND PHYSICAL DIAGNOSIS I LECTURE AND LAB
This is the first part of a two-semester course consisting of both lecture and lab. The lecture component introduces the student to the concepts and techniques of medical interviewing, obtaining an accurate history, and performing a complete and thorough physical examination of infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. The course covers the practical terminology utilized to record a medical history and physical examination. The laboratory portion emphasizes the hands-on skills necessary to master the techniques of the physical exam. These sessions are taught in a small group setting by the PA faculty. Emphasis is also placed on developing proficiency in the written history and physical/SOAP note (4 credits).
PAS 605 CLINICAL PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
As an important foundational course for the practice of medicine, this course is designed to provide Physician Assistant students with foundational competence in normal physiology and pathophysiology (pathologic changes that occur during disease states). Unlike the regional approach used in PAS 602 (Clinical Human Anatomy), this course uses a systemic (systems-based) approach to describe the physiology of the different systems of the human body and the interrelatedness of those systems. This course is designed to provide students with in-depth competence in physiology and key pathophysiologic conditions that lead to diseases and how these diseases present themselves clinically. Since disease ultimately originates in cells and tissues, the normal structure and function of such tissues provides insight into the mechanisms of disease across the human lifespan. The order of systems in the course will be presented and learned as follows: cell biology, cell membranes and signaling, ANS, neurophysiology, CNS, sensory systems, endocrine, cardiovascular, respiratory, renal, gastrointestinal, reproduction, and immunity. A very important component of this course is the link between pathophysiology and medical pharmacology. Fundamentals of pharmacology will be covered in this course (5 credits).
Spring Semester | Second Semester
PAS 609 HEALTH HISTORY AND PHYSICAL DIAGNOSIS II LECTURE AND LAB
This is the second part of a two-semester course consisting of both lecture and lab. The lecture component introduces the student to the concepts and techniques of medical interviewing, obtaining an accurate history, and performing complete and focused physical examinations of infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. The course covers the practical terminology utilized to record a medical history and physical examination. The laboratory portion emphasizes the hands-on skills necessary to perform the techniques of the physical examination. These sessions are taught in a small group setting by the PA faculty. Emphasis is also placed on perfecting the written history and physical examination note and SOAP note (4 credits).
PAS 610 CLINICAL MEDICINE I
This is the first course of a series of three, semester-long courses focusing on the study of disease. This intensive medicine course covers the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of diseases in the modules of Dermatology, Eyes, Ears, Nose and Throat (EENT), Pulmonology, and Gastroenterology. The course builds on lectures from clinical anatomy and pathophysiology and coincides with the in-depth instruction of treatment modalities in Medical Pharmacology I. Areas of concentration include dermatology, EENT, pulmonary, and gastroenterology conditions affecting patients across all age groups, including pediatric, adolescent, adult, and geriatric populations (5 credits).
PAS 611 CLINICAL CORRELATIONS I
This is the first course of a series of three semester courses that involves interactive practical integration and application of knowledge and skills acquired from Physical Assessment I, Clinical Medicine I, Pathophysiology, and Medical Pharmacology. It is designed to develop critical thinkers and solidify medical concepts through collaborative learning and simulation laboratory experiences. Professionalism and technical competencies are also emphasized. Areas of concentration include the dermatologic, EENT, pulmonary, and gastrointestinal systems affecting patients across all age groups, including infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly (1 credit).
PAS 612 MEDICAL PHARMACOLOGY I
This is the first course in a series of three-semester pharmacology courses, which introduces physician assistant students to the basic principles of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, and their application to clinical medicine. The course explores the influence and mechanisms of action of drugs upon the body. Classes of pharmaceuticals with a focus on mechanisms of drugs, side effects, drug-drug interactions, and interactions of drugs with disease states under treatment are discussed. Clinical case studies and problem-solving sessions are introduced. The classes of pharmaceuticals introduced will parallel the organ systems being studied in Clinical Medicine I. Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of disorders of the autonomic nervous system, dermatological, EENT, pulmonary, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal systems in infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly are covered (2 credits).
PAS 613 LABORATORY MEDICINE, MICROBIOLOGY, and IMMUNOLOGY
This lecture-only course prepares the student to describe the use of the clinical laboratory as an aid to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of disease. This includes instruction focused on the biochemistry of disease processes and related pharmacology, genetics, immunology, and pathogenic categories including bacteria, virology, rickettsia, mycobacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. Normal diagnostic values, risk factors associated with diagnostic studies, procedures, and differential diagnosis formulations are presented along with patient education regarding diagnostic studies. Practical field experiences to clinical diagnostic laboratories will reinforce the course materials with an emphasis on the practical application and utilization of laboratory diagnostic testing (2 credits).
PAS 614 MEDICINE IN MEDICALLY UNDERSERVED AREAS AND THE HEALTHCARE NEEDS OF SPECIAL POPULATIONS
The course is designed to bring into focus the practice of delivering quality, cost-effective, and timely primary healthcare to the culturally diverse and medically underserved populations. These areas of need include, but are not limited to, rural, inner-city, military, Native American, indigent, prison, as well as a growing number of undocumented individuals who are in need of a vibrant healthcare system designed for their specific healthcare population. Further focus will be placed on individuals who are elderly, disabled, victims of domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, children, and adults with special needs including individuals who suffer from problems relating to behavioral health concerns. Students will identify factors that impact the lives of the healthcare-challenged population both socioeconomically and culturally. Students will undertake an active role in planning, defining, delivering, and educating these special-need populations. Firsthand student experiences will be outlined and documented by the student and presented to the class where active problem-based learning will be addressed (2 credits).
PAS 615 RADIOLOGY AND DIAGNOSTIC MODALITIES
This lecture course provides an overview of radiologic and diagnostic procedures utilized in primary care. The student is introduced to diagnostic imaging modalities and their role in clinical medicine. Included are studies of the chest and abdomen, GI series, GU radiology, examination of extremities, and mammography. This course also includes instruction in basic ECG interpretation, plain film radiographs, mammography, CT scan, MRI, ultrasound and FAST, PET and nuclear medicine imaging. Through combined lectures and case discussions, students will identify how to order and interpret a variety of diagnostic radiologic studies as well as basic ECG interpretation (2 credits).
Summer Semester | Third Semester
PAS 616 CLINICAL MEDICINE-II
This is the second course of a series of three, semester-long courses focusing on the study of disease. This lecture-only course utilizes an organ systems approach to build a knowledge base of the diagnosis and management of clinical conditions seen by primary care providers. The course builds on lectures in Clinical Anatomy, Pathophysiology, Laboratory Medicine/Medical Microbiology/Immunology, ECG, and Clinical Medicine I. The material in this course coincides with the in-depth instruction of treatment modalities presented in Medical Pharmacology II. Emphasis is placed on application of new medical knowledge to clinical situations, on diagnostic problem-solving and differential diagnosis, and on issues of patient education and preventive medicine. Students refine their ability to reason independently in developing treatment and management plans for various patient presentations. Areas of study include cardiology, hematology-oncology, and infectious diseases affecting patients across all age groups, including infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly (5 credits).
PAS 617 CLINICAL CORRELATIONS II
This is the second course of a series of three that involves interactive practical integration and application of knowledge and skills acquired from History and Physical Diagnosis I and II, Clinical Medicine I and II, Pathophysiology, Medical Pharmacology I and II, and Clinical Correlations I. It is designed to develop critical thinkers and solidify medical concepts through collaborative learning and simulation laboratory experiences. Professionalism and technical competencies are also emphasized. Areas of concentration include the cardiology, musculoskeletal and rheumatology, infectious disease, hematology and oncology, surgery, and obstetrics and gynecology systems affecting patients across all age groups, including infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly (1 credit).
PAS 618 MEDICAL PHARMACOLOGY II
This is the second course of a three-semester pharmacology series, which introduces physician assistant students to the study of the general principles of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, dosage forms, and dose-response of medications encountered in the primary care setting. Classes of pharmaceuticals with a focus on mechanisms of drugs, side effects, drug-drug interactions, and interactions of drugs with disease states under treatment are discussed. The classes of pharmaceuticals introduced will parallel the organ systems being studied in Clinical Medicine II. Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of cardiovascular, hematologic-oncologic, and infectious disease disorders are covered (2 credits).
PAS 620 OBSTETRICS/GYNECOLOGY/WOMEN’S HEALTH
Obstetrics/Gynecology and Women’s Health covers aspects of the female reproductive system with an emphasis on normal anatomy and female physiology. The student will develop competency in performing complete and focused gynecological and obstetrical histories and physical examinations. Emphasis is directed on the management of a normal pregnancy, including prenatal care and labor along with the stages of delivery. Clinical manifestations of pregnancy, including associated complications, are examined along with appropriate treatment and follow-up plans. Clinical manifestations and treatment of gynecological conditions such as sexually transmitted infections, menstrual disorders, and neoplasms are addressed. Patient education is stressed as a crucial part of the management plan (2 credits).
PAS 621 SURGERY
This course introduces the student to the general aspects of surgery essential to the practicing Physician Assistant. The course provides the fundamentals of basic surgical science as applied to the practice of clinical surgery, including general surgical care and the management of the surgical patient from the pre-admission stage through the immediate post-operative period. The course details the different aspects of in-patient and outpatient surgical care, providing students with core competence in mechanisms of wound healing and surgical techniques. Topics include illnesses that require surgical intervention, their signs and symptoms, diagnostic modalities, and outcomes. Students study critical care management and how to function as members of a critical care team. Pediatric surgical conditions, including congenital heart disease, are addressed in dedicated modules. An essential focus of the course is the development of skills in clinical reasoning, self-directed learning, teamwork, and communication. Emphasis is placed on the application of medical and surgical knowledge to clinical situations (3 credits).
PAS 622 MUSCULOSKELETAL/RHEUMATOLOGY
Musculoskeletal and Rheumatology is an intensive medicine course that covers the etiology, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of musculoskeletal and rheumatologic diseases and disorders. This lecture-only course utilizes a clinical approach to build a knowledge base of the diagnosis and management of clinical conditions seen by primary care providers for musculoskeletal and rheumatologic diseases and disorders. Emphasis is placed on the process and application of acquiring new medical knowledge in regard to clinical situations which may be encountered. Students will refine their ability to reason independently while developing treatment and management plans for various patient presentations. The course builds on lectures in Clinical Anatomy. Areas of study include the musculoskeletal and rheumatological areas of clinical medicine (2 credits).
PAS 626 EPIDEMILOGY, BIOSTATISTICS, AND EVIDENCE-BASED MEDICINE
The use of data in making clinical decisions is a core skill for the practicing healthcare professional. This course will introduce the physician assistant student to clinical problem solving assisted by the application of high-quality data from the peer-reviewed medical literature. Identifying, evaluating, and applying medical evidence is essential for the professional development of a physician assistant. This course will also explore health issues from a population-based perspective and examine the role that epidemiology has on the care provided to individuals and populations. Students will apply the evidence-based medicine (EBM) principles learned in the core part of the course to clinical problems as they apply at an epidemiologic level. This course is intended for students to acquire and develop both the knowledge and skills for EBM. During this course, students will use concepts obtained in previous courses as they are applied to help solve clinical problems. The course will provide students with the basic concepts in biostatistics, such as measures of disease frequency, measures of effect, and statistical significance. Students will become familiar with standard techniques of data collection and analysis, and the content of vital statistics and mass data in the health field (3 credits).
PAS 628 INTRODUCTION TO INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION
This course is designed for healthcare profession students from the University of Mount Saint Vincent. Students will explore the principles and practices of interprofessional collaboration. Delivered in a formative format and supported by online resources, with facilitated group discussions as its main focus, the students will be introduced to a variety of healthcare professions that they will encounter during their future clinical practices. Content will include the importance of team building, effective interprofessional communication, collaboration, and decision-making that will allow these future clinicians to enhance the delivery of quality, cost-effective patient care for infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. Within the context of Interprofessional Education, the students will have the opportunity to partake in a real-life Interprofessional Workshop scenario to enhance their competence in interprofessional collaboration. Students will be divided into groups of 10-15 and will be partnered with other healthcare professionals (Nursing, Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapists, Social Workers, etc.) in simulated patient encounters. Students will work as members of the healthcare team to develop a treatment plan that encompasses the different medical disciplines in designing a valid and workable medical treatment plan for the simulated patient (1 credit).
Fall Semester | Fourth Semester
PAS 619 EMERGENCY MEDICINE
This course is designed to prepare students to evaluate and treat patients in an emergency department setting. Students will describe the pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, evaluation, and management of urgent and emergent medical problems encountered in emergency departments. Students will explain the fundamental workings of an emergency department. Students will be introduced to the prerequisite skill set needed to function as a member of the interprofessional healthcare team within an emergency department setting (3 credits).
PAS 623 CLINICAL MEDICINE III
This is the third course in a series of three courses focusing on the study of disease. This lecture-only course utilizes an organ-systems approach to build a knowledge base of the diagnosis and management of clinical conditions seen by primary care providers for specific organ systems. The course builds on lectures in Clinical Anatomy and Physiology, Clinical Medicine I, and Clinical Medicine II, and coincides with the in-depth instruction of treatment modalities presented in Medical Pharmacology III. Areas of concentration include the genitourinary, endocrine, and neurological systems in infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly (5 credits).
PAS 624 CLINICAL CORRELATIONS III
This is the third course of a series of three that involves interactive practical integration and application of knowledge and skills acquired from History and Physical Diagnosis I and II, Clinical Medicine I, II, and III, Pathophysiology, Medical Pharmacology I, II, and III, and Clinical Correlations I and II. It is designed to develop critical thinkers and solidify medical concepts through collaborative learning and simulation laboratory experiences. Professionalism and technical competencies are also emphasized. Areas of concentration include the genitourinary, neurological, and endocrine systems as well as psychiatry and behavioral health in infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly (1 credit).
PAS 625 MEDICAL PHARMACOLOGY III
This is the third course of a series of three-semester courses that introduces physician assistant students to the study of the general principles of pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, dosage forms, and dose-response of medications encountered in the primary care setting. Classes of pharmaceuticals with a focus on mechanisms of drugs, side effects, drug-drug interactions, and interactions of drugs with disease states under treatment are discussed. The classes of pharmaceuticals introduced will parallel the organ systems being studied in Clinical Medicine III. Pharmaceuticals for the treatment of disorders of the genitourinary, neurological, and endocrine systems in infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly are covered (2 credits).
PAS 627 ESSENTIAL DIAGNOSTIC MODALITIES AND CLINICAL PROCEDURES AND ULTRASOUND
This course enables the student to develop and refine clinical skills required on clinical rotations. The course enhances clinical experiences, clinical procedures, and further expands upon the student’s knowledge base. Students receive a lecture and skills demonstration introducing each skill, followed by a practice session. Students are subsequently tested on the technical skills utilizing laboratory models and aids. During the technical skills and diagnostic procedure module, students will apply the principles of sterile technique and apply universal precaution protocol. Practical sessions address phlebotomy, IV infusion, and injection (IM, Sub-Q, intradermal) techniques, as well as proper technique for urinary catheter and nasogastric tube insertion. Students perform procedures including hand washing, sterile technique, intravenous and arterial access, injection techniques, suturing, wound care, nasogastric tube placement, Foley catheter insertion, casting and splinting, surgical scrub, gloving and gowning, minor surgical procedures, chest tube placement, and endotracheal intubation. The Clinical Education Simulation Labs offer additional opportunities for students to improve and refine their procedural skills. The labs have a full complement of supplementary simulation models to increase student proficiency in this area. The course includes training in point-of-care ultrasound, covering cardiac, abdominal, pulmonary, vascular, musculoskeletal, obstetrical, and procedural ultrasound applications. Students complete SonoSim virtual ultrasound training modules and demonstrate competency in ultrasound-guided procedures. Included within this course is training in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS), and Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS). Modules on New York State mandated Infection Control and Child Abuse Recognition, required by clinical facilities prior to clinical affiliations, are also included (3 credits).
PAS 629 PEDIATRICS
This course focuses on the study of disease within the pediatric population. Students examine the fundamentals of the pediatric population as they pertain to neurological development from infancy through adolescence into adulthood. Students will acquire the skills necessary to complete a well-baby examination, routine follow-up, and focused pediatric history and physical. Topics covered include neonatology, infant and adolescent medicine, nutritional requirements, preventive immunization schedules, well-baby development, and growth milestones. Students will also be introduced to child abuse and childhood injuries. Pediatric documentation and charting will be covered. Childhood illnesses will be covered utilizing a systems approach with emphasis on signs and symptoms, treatment, and family and patient education. Developmental and congenital abnormalities will be introduced (2 credits).
PAS 630 PRE-CLINICAL COMPREHENSIVE ASSESSMENT
The Pre-Clinical Comprehensive Assessment course is designed to review and evaluate mastery of course content from the didactic phase of the curriculum. A written summative examination (EODY), a practical Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)/Objective Structured Long Examination Record (OSLER) examination, and a Professional Development Assessment Tool (P-DAT) will be administered to ensure the student has integrated the course content and demonstrates readiness for entry into the clinical phase of the program (1 credit).
PAS 631 BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, HUMAN SEXUALITY AND COUNSELING
This lecture course is an overview of the principles of behavioral medicine and counseling, including the normal and abnormal psychological development and pathologies of infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. It provides an introductory approach to the interviewing, treatment, and counseling of patients with behavioral and psychiatric problems across all age groups. The role of psychotherapy will be explained, the concept of personality development and disorders, as well as disorders of childhood and adolescence will be discussed and identified. Gender identity will also be discussed across cultures and society. Death and dying will be covered including personal beliefs, values for patients of all ages, and legal and ethical topics will also be discussed and identified. This course also introduces the students to the principles of prevention and healthy behavior, the importance of nutrition (including obesity), physical activity, smoking cessation, and public health issues for infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly. This lecture will address a specific module to enhance the communication skills needed for health promotion, disease prevention, end-of-life and palliative care. The module will develop a student’s skill in motivational interviewing as well as preparing the student to discuss the importance of health promotion and disease prevention with the patient, the patient’s family, and guardian. The student will discuss within a community setting the importance of health promotion, disease prevention, end-of-life and palliative care. End-of-life care is discussed taking into consideration cultural, spiritual, and ethical issues. Palliative care is discussed and reviewed across special patient populations such as children and the elderly. Additionally, the Health Promotion and Disease Prevention module of this course develops counseling skills through strategies that the clinician can employ to help address health behavior issues in a patient-centered, culturally sensitive way to provide ongoing support of patients’ behavioral changes. Students develop techniques to improve the effectiveness of patient education and counseling, including smoking cessation, exercise, and nutritional counseling (2 credits).