Physician assistants are health professionals licensed or, in the case of those employed by the Federal Government, credentialed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Physician assistants are qualified by graduation from an accredited physician assistant educational program and/or certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Within the physician/PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision-making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services.

The clinical role of physician assistants includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practice settings in rural and urban areas. Physician assistant practice is centered on patient care and may include educational, research, and administrative activities.

Physician Assistant program applicants must have earned a bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited institution at the time of matriculation into the graduate program. While any undergraduate major is acceptable, biology or chemistry majors will be the best prepared. Applicants from the Coalition of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) are encouraged to apply.

Applicants must successfully complete all of the following program prerequisites, regardless of the undergraduate degree or major. No online courses for the chemistry or biology disciplines will meet the program's prerequisite requirements.

• Human Anatomy & Physiology - 8 semester hours
• General Chemistry - 8 semester hours
• General Psychology - 3 semester hours
• Microbiology - 4 semester hours
• Developmental Psychology - 3 semester hours

Applicants are expected to have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 and a science GPA of 3.25 on all undergraduate coursework. Applicants are required to complete the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) and achieve a minimum score of 300 (combined verbal [150] and quantitative [150]). These scores are believed to indicate sufficient academic ability for successful completion of the program; however, under special circumstances GPAs of less than 3.25 and/or GREs of less than 300 may be considered. With large numbers of applicants, not all students meeting the minimum requirements will receive an interview. Because entering students in the last three years have significantly exceeded the minimum requirements, candidates should endeavor to get the highest GPA and GRE scores possible and, with grades lower than a B, retake courses that would reflect a grasp of the material and a capability of rigorous course work.

While evidence of clinical experience is not required for admission, it is highly recommended because such experience is believed to be an accurate indicator of an individual's desire and commitment to engage in health care service. In the opinion of the program faculty, past medical experience also provides a framework upon which students can build and can facilitate the expansion of the fund of medical knowledge.

Observation (shadowing) of physician assistants in preference to other health care professionals, to the extent of gaining sufficient insight as to the role and duties of practicing physician assistants, is also believed to be an accurate indicator of an individual's desire and commitment to the profession.

The PA Program utilizes the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Students who wish to apply to the Graduate Physician Assistant Program must submit the application and documentation to the Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

The CASPA application must be completed online at www.caspaonline.org.

Applications must be submitted to CASPA no later than November 1st and must include the following documentation:

• Official transcripts from all schools attended. DO NOT send any to the program.

• Official transcript indicating baccalaureate degree. DO NOT send any to the program.

• Applicants must submit three (3) letters of recommendation.

• Official copy of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) score (this is submitted directly from GRE to Trevecca - our institution code is 1809) Under Department Code & Name, when applying for the exam, be sure and check #0634 - Physician Assistant. If this is not checked, it will delay your scores being sent specifically to the PA program within the institution.

Transcripts and test scores issued to applicants will not be accepted. Any applications received from CASPA after December 1st will not be considered; material to complete documentation for applications already received before December 1st will continue your application process. DO NOT send transcripts to the program. If you are offered a position and accept, then official transcripts will be requested of you but not until then. Additionally, a health history, exam, immunizations, and background check will need to be submitted before orientation. Details will be sent to the matriculant at the appropriate time.

No advanced placement is given to any student regardless of academic background, and no transfers of students are considered.

Three (3) different sources for recommendations are acceptable and ranked in descending order of preference as listed below:

1. A physician or physician assistant who is acquainted with the applicant's abilities and potential.
2. A college professor, preferably from the applicant's major, who is acquainted with the applicant's abilities and potential.
3. An employer who is acquainted with the applicant's abilities and potential.

Applicants may communicate with the PA Admissions Office by any of the following methods:

• Calling the PA Admissions Office at 615-248-1225
• Sending an e-mail to admissions_pa@trevecca.edu.
• Visiting the PA Admissions Office in person

For questions concerning the CASPA application process, please contact them directly at 240-497-1985 or e-mail apply@cascaonline.org.

Tuition (Class of 2012-2014)

Fees

Fees subject to change

Technical standards, as distinguished from academic standards, refer to those physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities required for satisfactory completion of all aspects of the PA curriculum and the development of professional attributes required of all students at graduation.  The essential abilities required by the curriculum are in the following areas: motor, sensory, communication, intellectual (conceptual, integrative, and qualitative abilities for problem solving and diagnosis), and the behavioral and social aspects of the performance of a PA.

The student will be required to master relevant content in basic science and clinical courses at a level deemed appropriate by the faculty.  These skills may be described as the ability to comprehend, memorize, analyze, and synthesize material.  The student will be required to discern and comprehend dimensional and spatial relationships of structures and demonstrate reasoning and decision-making skills appropriate to the practice of medicine.

The student will be required to take medical histories, perform physical exams, and assess the health status of organ systems (for example, liver and spleen). The student will also be required to assess accurately laboratory and diagnostic studies (EKGs, x-rays, ultrasounds, etc.).

The student will be required to communicate effectively with patients, families, physicians, and other members of the health care team. Students will need to assess all information, including verbal and non-verbal responses, and to allow for appropriate, well-focused follow-up inquiry. This task includes responding with empathetic listening in order to establish rapport with patients in a way that promotes openness on issues of concern and sensitivity to potential cultural differences.

The student will be required to process accurately and communicate information on the patient’s status and in a timely manner to the physician and other members of the health care team. The student will be required to present this information in a succinct yet comprehensive manner and in settings in which time available is limited. Written or dictated patient assessments, prescriptions, etc., must be complete and accurate. Appropriate communication may also rely on the student’s making a correct judgment in seeking consultation in a timely manner.

The student will be required to understand the basis and content of medical ethics. The student will be required to possess attributes that include compassion, empathy, altruism, integrity, responsibility, and tolerance. The student will be required to have emotional stability to function effectively under stress and to adapt to an environment which may change rapidly without warning and/or in unpredictable ways.

These technical standards of medical education identify the Trevecca University PA Program requirements for admission and retention of applicants and students, respectively.

*Clinical rotations are six weeks in duration with a minimum of forty hours per week.
**Elective rotations are six weeks in duration and are available in a variety of medical and surgical disciplines.

• 

  Robin Jewett

  Director, Physician Assistant Program

  615-248-1504

  rjewett@trevecca.edu

• 

  Tasha Adams

  Instructor, Physician Assistant Program

  615-248-1628

  tadams1@trevecca.edu

• 

  Karen Frye

  Associate Professor, Graduate Physician Assistant Program

  615-248-1225

  kfrye@trevecca.edu

• 

  Larry Gerdom

  Interim Director, Physician Assistant Program

  615-248-1781

  lgerdom@trevecca.edu

• 

  Joseph Gigante

  Adjunct Instructor, Graduate Physician Assistant Program

  615-248-1225

• 

  Katrina Gill

  Instructor, Graduate Physician Assistant Program

  615-248-1225

  kgill@trevecca.edu

• 

  Donna Lynch

  Adjunct Instructor, Graduate Physician Assistant Program

  615-248-1225

• 

  Mega Purino

  Instructor, Graduate Physician Assistant Program

  615-248-1225

  mvandenburgpurino@trevecca.edu

• 

  Joy Twillie

  Associate Professor, Physician Assistant Program

  615-248-1334

  JTwillie@trevecca.edu

• 

  Wayne Wells

  Medical Director, Graduate Physicial Assistant Program

  615-248-1225

  wwells@trevecca.edu

Trevecca welcomes students from other countries. Applicants whose native language is not English are required to take an examination of their English language ability before official acceptance will be granted. The test required is the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOFEL), and a minimum score of 550 is required on the paper based test and 213 on the computer based test.

All regular admission requirements must be completed. 15 semester hours must be completed in a United States accredited institution. Nine (9) of the 15 hours must be prerequisite courses.   Trevecca's Certification of Financial Support must be on file at the time an I-20 is issued. International students will have the same financial policy applied to them as any other student does. Only international students with a valid immigration student status of F-1 will be permitted to register.

Program Lapel Pins

Trevecca PA Program lapel pins are available to any alumni in return for any donation amount to the Program's scholarship fund.  These are a 1 inch diameter pin with the Program's logo in color on a brass base.  Send your donations to the program office at Trevecca, your pin will be sent, and your tax deductible contribution will be credited to you.  Thank you for your help.

National Board Pass Rate

We at the program are very pleased to report the Class of 2012 pass rate of 98%!!  This is evidence of very hard and persistent work on the part of the students.  We celebrate with them in this achievement.