"PAs are health professionals licensed or, in the case of those employed by the federal government, credentialed to practice medicine in collaboration with physicians. PAs are qualified by graduation from an accredited PA educational program and/or certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Within the physician-PA relationship, PAs provide patient-centered medical care services as a member of a healthcare team. PAs practice with defined levels of autonomy and exercise independent medical decision making within their scope of practice."
- American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) House of Delegates, 2014

Since its inception in 1991, more than 1,500 students have graduated from the Physician Assistant (PA) Program at Rosalind Franklin University. The faculty takes pride in educating students through innovative and interactive classroom activities, team-based learning, quality clinical rotation experiences, and state of the art simulation. The interprofessional focus of the PA Program, and throughout Rosalind Franklin University, prepares our students to practice as members of effective healthcare teams in a wide range of medical specialties and settings. The Physician Assistant Program is proud to be ranked 15th by the U.S. News and World Report.

Program Mission

The mission of the Physician Assistant Program is to educate and prepare competent, compassionate, and ethical physician assistant leaders who, as integral members of the interprofessional healthcare team, will provide quality patient-centered care to a diverse population.

Program Vision

The vision of the Physician Assistant Program is to be recognized nationally as a leader in the Physician Assistant profession through our outstanding graduates, curricular innovations, scholarly activities, and service to the community.

Core Values

• Diversity
• Innovation
• Leadership
• Professionalism
• Service
• Teamwork

Program Goals

Physician Assistant Program Goals:

1. Provide all students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for entry-level PA practice.
2. Support the enrichment of the PA profession by fostering a culture of service and leadership.
3. Prepare PA students to be integral members of an interprofessional healthcare team.
4. Increase the diversity of the PA workforce and effectively instruct students to provide medical care to patients with consideration for the needs of diverse populations.

Achievement of the PA Program’s goals is determined through continuous self-assessment. This includes establishing benchmarks for each goal, and summarizing outcomes to demonstrate progress towards achieving each goal. These goals are reviewed annually, and are guided by our mission and vision. The current Program goals were adopted during the 2021-2022 Academic Year.

Goal 1

Provide all students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for entry-level PA practice.

Benchmark

At the end of the program all students will agree that the program offered a comprehensive didactic year curriculum.

Outcomes

Didactic curriculum was comprehensive:

• 2019: 100%
• 2020: 100%
• 2021: 100%

Response rates:

• 2019: 65/65 (100%)
• 2020: 63/66 (95%)
• 2021: 65/66 (98%)

Benchmark

As a result of didactic year preparation, when students enter each clinical year rotation, clinical preceptors will deem the students well-prepared by the program.

Outcomes

Student was well-prepared:

• 2019: N/A (New Question in 2020)
• 2020: 99%
• 2021: 99%

Benchmark

Faculty will consistently revisit and revise educational curriculum to incorporate evidence-based innovations, supported by faculty attendance at professional conferences.

Outcomes

Curricular innovations (past 3 years):

• Point of care ultrasound (POCUS)
• Team-based learning (TBL)
• High-fidelity simulation
• Remote teaching best practices
• Remote assessment rooted in best practices
• Online medical simulation and case platforms
• Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT) Training

Educational conferences (past 3 years):

• Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Forum*
• National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education (NEXUS) Summit*
• Collaborating Across Borders (CAB) VII*
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference & Exhibition*
• American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM)*
• Academy of Physician Assistants in Obstetrics and Gynecology (APAOG)
• Institute of Breastfeeding and Lactation Education (IABLE)
• Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM)

* Denotes faculty presentation

Benchmark

All graduates will pass the PA national board examination (PANCE) on their first try.

Outcomes

NCCPA Pass Rate Report

Benchmark

All graduates will be employed as PAs within a year.

Outcomes

Graduates employed as PAs:

• 2019: 100%
• 2020: 100%
• 2021: 100%

Response rates:

• 2019: 59/65 (91%)
• 2020: 51/66 (77%)
• 2021: 60/66 (91%)

Goal 2

Prepare PA students to be integral members of an interprofessional healthcare team.

Benchmark

All graduating students will perceive the program prepared them well for interprofessional collaboration.

Outcomes

Students feeling prepared for interprofessional collaborative practice:

• 2019: 100%
• 2020: 98.4%
• 2021: 100%

Response rates:

• 2019: 65/65 (100%) 
• 2020: 63/66 (95%)
• 2021: 65/66 (98%)

Benchmark

On the university graduate satisfaction survey, all students will consider interprofessional experiences at RFUMS as effective in their development as a graduate.

Outcomes

Students reporting positive interprofessional experiences at RFUMS:

• 2019: 95%
• 2020: 100%
• 2021: 96%

Response rates:

• 2019: 39/65 (60%)
• 2020: 50/66 (76%)
• 2021: 38/66 (58%)

Benchmark

Clinical preceptors will assess all students as performing as expected in understanding the role of the PA and demonstrating effective communication.

Outcomes

Expected performance in the communication and roles and responsibilities domains:

• 2019: N/A (New Question in 2020)
• 2020: 100%
• 2021: 100%

Goal 3

Support the enrichment of the PA profession by fostering a culture of service and leadership.

Benchmark

Matriculants to the PA program will demonstrate commitment to service as reported through Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA).

Outcomes

Average volunteer hours reported by applicants:

• Matriculated in 2019: 482
• Matriculated in 2020: 678
• Matriculated in 2021: 560

Benchmark

Program will foster student participation within community, state, and national organizations.

Outcomes

Organizations with student representation (past 3 years):

• Physician Assistant Education Organization (Future Educator Fellowship; Student Health Policy Fellowship)
• Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants (Board of Directors)
• American Academy of PAs (Student Academy BOD - Director of Diversity and Outreach)
• Interprofessional Community Initiative (Executive Board Officers - Multicultural Affairs and Community Outreach & Advocacy)

Benchmark

Program will foster faculty participation within community, state, and national organizations.

Outcomes

Organizations with faculty representation (past 3 years):

• Lake County Opioid Initiative {Affiliate}
• Illinois Academy of Physician Assistants (IAPA) {Board of Directors/Faculty Liaison}
• Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) {Diversity in Healthcare Task Force}
• Accreditation Review Commission for Physician Assistants (ARC-PA) {Site visitor}
• Association of Physician Assistants in Obstetrics & Gynecology (APAOG) {Education Committee}
• National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) {Item Writing Committee}
• Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) {Finance Steering Committee}
• International Research Society of Spinal Disorders (IRSSD) {Scientific Committee for International Meeting}
• International Society on Scoliosis Orthopaedic and Rehabilitation Treatment (SOSORT) {Scientific Chair for International Meeting}

Goal 4

Increase the diversity of the PA workforce and effectively instruct students to provide medical care to patients with consideration for the needs of diverse populations.

Benchmark

The Program will admit greater than 50% of the incoming class from the Program’s Strategic Diversity Groups.

Outcomes

Matriculating students from strategic diversity groups:

• Matriculated in 2019: 60%
• Matriculated in 2020: 58%
• Matriculated in 2021: 75%

Benchmark

All students that matriculate into the program will be retained until graduation.

Outcomes

Student Attrition Rate Table

Benchmark

Students will report that instruction emphasizes the unique needs of diverse populations.

Outcomes

Rate the effectiveness of instruction on providing care for the patient populations based on the following DEI topics on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = poor, 2=fair, 3=good, 4=very good,  5=excellent); program benchmark: 3.5/5

Class of 2021 surveyed at end of Clinical Year:

• 2021: 63/66 (96%)

Class of 2022 surveyed at end of Didactic Year:

• 2022: 57/66 (86%)