Joanna F. Shulman, M.D., Professor and Medical Director Elizabeth A.J. Salzer, PA-C, M.A., Associate Professor and Division Director Sharon Verity, PA-C, MPAS, Assistant Professor, Assistant Division Director, and Director of Didactic Education Marion F. Masterson, PA-C, MPAS, Assistant Professor and Director of Clinical Education Maria E. Compte, M.D., MPH & TM, Assistant Professor and Preclinical Coordinator Camille Kiefer, RN, PA-C, Clinical Instructor and Preprofessional Coordinator Adjunct Faculty: 50 Telephone: 718 488-1505 Electronic mail: pastudies@brooklyn.liu.edu The Physician Assistant Program is an intense, four-year professional program which prepares health practitioners to work in a wide variety of clinical settings. Physician Assistants take medical histories and perform physical examinations, select and interpret diagnostic tests, and manage the health problems of the patient under supervision of a physician. The Long Island University Physician Assistant Program was the first such program to be approved by the New York State Education Department and is accredited by the Committee on Accreditation of health Education Programs. The Program enjoys membership in the Association of Physician Assistant Programs. After meeting all University and Program requirements, the degree of Bachelor of Science is conferred upon a candidate by Long Island University . The graduate is eligible to register as a Physician Assistant and to sit for the National Certifying Examination administered by the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants. The highest ethical and professional standards are absolute demands throughout the period of P.A. education. This is a challenging program where dedication, courtesy, professional demeanor and appearance are as vital as intelligence, skill and medical knowledge. Academic Standards(top) The courses in the P.A. Program must be taken in the required sequence. The pre-professional student must maintain a 3.00 cumulative index and a 3.00 index in the prerequisite courses. A student in the professional phase of the program must maintain a grade of C or better in each and every course.   Technical Standards (top) Observation. The ability to observe is required for demonstrations, visual presentations in lectures and laboratories, laboratory evidence and microbiological cultures, microscopic studies of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathological states. A candidate must be able to observe patients accurately and completely, both closely and from a distance. Observation requires functional vision and somatic sensation and is enhanced by a sense of smell. Communication. A candidate should be able to speak, hear, and observe patients in order to elicit information, perceive non-verbal communications, and describe changes in mood, activity and posture. The candidate must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients including not only through speech but also through reading and writing. Communication in oral and written form with the health care team must be effective and efficient. Motor.  A candidate should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation and percussion, as well as carry out diagnostic maneuvers. A candidate should have motor function sufficient to execute movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients. Such skills require coordination of gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and sensation. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative and Quantitative Abilities. Problem solving is a critical skill demanded of physician assistants; thi skill requires all these abilities. The candidate must also be able to comprehend three dimensional relationships as well as the spatial relationship of structures. Behavioral and Social Attributes. A candidate must have sufficient emotional health to fully use his or her intellectual ability, to exercise good judgment, complete all responsibilities, and attend to the diagnosis and care of patients. A candidate must be able to develop mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients and colleagues. A candidate must be able to tolerate physical and emotional stress and continue to function effectively. A candidate must possess qualities of adaptability, flexibility and be able to function in the face of uncertainty. He/She must have a high level of compassion for others, motivation to serve, integrity, and a consciousness of social values. A candidate must possess sufficient interpersonal skills to interact positively with people from all levels of society, all ethnic backgrounds, and all belief systems. The administration of the Physician Assistant Program recognizes its responsibility to present candidates for the PA certificate who have the knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient care. The responsibility for these technical standards is primarily placed on the PA Program admissions committee to select entering PA students who will be the candidates for the PA certificate . Application Process (top) Students are admitted to the Pre-Physician Assistant major or the Physician Assistant major on the basis of their high school graduation and previous college experience. Qualified applicants who have not completed all pre-professional course work must apply as Pre-Physician Assistant majors. All prerequisite science courses must be no more than 10 years old. The Division of Physician Assistant Studies of Long Island University does not grant advanced placement or accept transfer of credit for Medical Science (MS) or Health Science (HS) courses. Previous experience with direct patient care is required for admission, but no academic credit is granted for such prior experience. To review the Undergraduate Bulletin please visit www.brooklyn.liu.edu/course/under_bulletin0709.pdf. Application as a Pre-Professional Physician Assistant Major Freshman applicants must have: a high school average of at least 85% a combined SAT score of at least 1000 Pre-Physician Assistant majors may attend the Brooklyn Campus on a part-time or full-time basis while completing their prerequisite courses. During the pre-professional phase the student is expected to: complete 500 hours of patient care demonstrate acceptable academic performance obtain three recommendations, two of which must be from health professionals successfully complete a personal interview and complete all prerequisite coursework. Near the end of the pre-professional phase a student must apply for admission into the professional phase of the P.A. Program. The student's record is evaluated on the following criteria Cumulative grade-point average Cumulative grade-point average in the prerequisite courses A handwritten personal statement as to why the applicant wishes to become a Physician Assistant Patient-care experience Satisfactory performance at a personal interview based on assessment of qualities such as interpersonal relations, concern for others, integrity, ability to communicate effectively and maturity Satisfactory recommendation Course work and above criteria must be completed within a specified time limit. Applicants meeting all of the criteria above may be considered for an interview. Applicants with fewer than 48 college credits may be accepted as Pre-Professional Physician Assistant majors if they have a 3.0 cumulative index and a 3.0 index in the prerequisite courses. After acceptance, pre-professional majors must meet the criteria outlined above for acceptance into the professional phase of the P.A. Program.. (Top) Admission to the Professional Phase (top) All transfer applicants seeking acceptance as Physician Assistant majors must submit: a cumulative grade-point average of preferably 3.00 or higher on a scale of 4.00 a grade-point average of preferably 3.00 or higher in the prerequisite science and mathematics courses three recommendations, two of which must be from health professionals a handwritten personal statement describing why the student wishes to become a Physician Assistant a recommendation for acceptance from the Physician Assistant Admission Committee, based on a personal interview as described above documented evidence of completion of 500 hours or more of patient-care experience. Initial application may be made either through the Long Island University Office of Admissions or through CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) available by visiting www.caspaonline.org . CASPA will collect and summarize all of the applicant's data (application form, transcripts, recommendations ) which will be forwarded to the PA Program. When all materials have been collected and reviewed, selected applicants will be invited for personal interview. If the candidate is accepted to the Program, a deposit of $500 is required to hold a seat in the incoming class. . Specific Program Requirements (top) Physician Assistant and Pre-Physician Assistant majors are required to conform to the specific policies and procedures which are detailed in the program's "Physician Assistant Guidelines and Policies Brochure." It is incumbent upon the student to obtain a copy of such brochure from the P.A. Program faculty. Requirements for Graduation (top) Students must obtain a minimum grade of C in each and every medical science course and meet all clinical and professional requirements to qualify for graduation from the Physician Assistant Program. Students must fulfill the University requirements for graduation. (top) Program Model Credits Proficiency Courses and Core Curriculum - Must include Biology 3, 4, Mathematics 15   Ancillary Requirements Chemistry 3, 4 or 3x, 4x, Biology 101, 131, 132, Mathematics 100 21 Medical Science and Other Professional Phase Courses 68 Course of Studies (top) (A student's program of study may be lengthened to the extent that the student is placed in proficiency mathematics courses and the English Department Writing Program. See p. 25.) Pre-Professional Phase (top)   First Year: First Semester Credits Biology 3 4 Chemistry 3x 4 English 16 3 Philosophy 61 3 Orientation Seminar 1 1 Computer Science 1   16   First Year: Second Semester Credits Biology 4 4 Chemistry 4x 4 Core Seminar 50 3 Philosophy 62 3 Mathematics 15 4   18   Second Year: First Semester Credits History 1 3 English 61-64 3 Social Science 3 Biology 101 Microbiology 3 Biology 131 Human Anatomy 4   16 Second Year: Second Semester Credits History 2 3 Mathematics 100 3 Speech 3 3 Social Science 3 English 61-64 3 Biology 132 Human Physiology 3   18 Placement in English and Mathematics is determined by the Brooklyn Campus placement examinations in composition and mathematics. (Top) Professional Phase* (top) The professional phase consists of the third and fourth years of the Physician Assistant Program course of study. During the third year, courses in clinical medicine are augmented with weekly clinical experiences. During the fourth year students are assigned to clinical clerkships for one year on a full-time basis, returning to the Physician Assistant Program once every five weeks.   Third Year: First Semester Credits MS 20 Introduction to Clinical Science 3 MS 110 Clinical Pathology 3 MS 111 Medical Instrumentation 2 MS 112.1 Physical Diagnosis I 3 MS 114.1 Internal Medicine I 3 MS 122 Introduction to Psychosocial Aspects of Medicine 3   17 Third Year: Second Semester Credits MS 112.2 Physical Diagnosis II 3 MS 114.2 Internal Medicine II 3 MS 115 Surgery 4 MS 119 Obstetrics and Gynecology 2 HS 434 Clinical Pharmacology 3 HS 436 Clinical Laboratory 2   17 Summer Session Credits MS 116 Emergency Medicine 3 MS 117 Pediatrics 3 MS 118 Psychiatry 3   9 Fourth Year: First Semester Credits MS 138 Medicine and Geriatrics 3 MS 141 Pediatrics 3 MS 144 Surgery 3 MS 152 Emergency Medicine 3   12   Fourth Year: Second Semester Credits MS 151 Clinical Elective 3 MS 153 Family Medicine 3 MS 154 Obstetrics and Gynecology 3 MS 155 Psychiatry 3   12 *The professional phase of the program begins only in August of each year. (Top)