Physician Assistant

Overview

Overview

This program is a rigorous course of study, combining didactic and laboratory-based academic instruction with clinical training. The first two didactic years integrate medical, behavioral, and social sciences to develop a comprehensive approach to patient care. The third year of the program is dedicated to clinical training, providing supervised, hands-on training by physicians and physician assistants at leading New York-area hospitals, medical centers, and private medical practices.

Upon completion of the program, graduates are eligible to take the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant (NCCPA)-administered Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) exam.

Graduates will achieve the following:

• Mastery of scientific and medical knowledge, as well as a rigorous clinical experience needed for a career in clinical care.
• Effective problem solving and critical reasoning skills to foster the development of positive attitudes, values, and appropriate behavior.
• Caring and competence needed to provide compassionate, effective health care to patients of all ages and ethnicities.
• Knowledge of diagnosing illnesses and medications needed to treat those conditions. 

Listed by Money Magazine as one of the “top 10 jobs in America,” Physician Assistants (PA’s) are in high demand. These health professionals are licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the PA profession is expected to experience a 37% job growth rate in the next ten years.

The Physician Assistant program within the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences at St. John's University is committed to a student-centered, inclusive pedagogical model that supports student success, personal and professional development. Our graduates are equipped with the tools to become leaders in their respective fields who work effectively in interprofessional collaborative environments.