PA Core Competencies

Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:

Medical Knowledge and Skills

Demonstrate the medical, behavioral, and social science knowledge and skills necessary to promote health, and effectively apply the principles of evidence-based medicine to recognize, assess, diagnose, and treat patients across the lifespan in the clinical practice of medicine.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Demonstrate and apply effective oral and written communication skills to accurately obtain, interpret, and utilize information to implement a patient-centered management plan in a culturally responsive manner.

Professionalism

Commit to continued professional growth and development, including the creation and maintenance of relationships that display respect, compassion, integrity, dependability, and accountability to patients and members of the healthcare team.

Patient Care

Provide compassionate, competent, and equitable patient-centered care while performing physical exams, ordering and/or interpreting diagnostic tests, and making informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient preferences, current evidence, and clinical judgment.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

Engage in critical analysis of their practice experience and the medical literature for the purposes of practice- and self-improvement.

Systems-Based Practice

Examine their roles and responsibilities pertaining to systems-based practice, especially with regard to cost-containment, patient safety, medical error and quality, and risk management.