Master of Physician Assistant Studies
Program Director: Dr. Rick Kilgore (Interim)
MSU-Meridian Riley Campus
2214 5th Street
Meridian, MS 39301
Telephone: 601-696-2320
Fax: 601-696-2350
E-mail: PA@meridian.msstate.edu
Website: https://www.meridian.msstate.edu/academics/physician-assistant/
Mississippi State University-Meridian initiated the development of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program after several years of needs assessment and after community support was determined to be strong. Located on the Meridian Campus, the program has access to several highly esteemed Mississippi medical systems. In 2017 The Board of Trustees of Institutions of Higher Learning designated MSU-Meridian as the home of the first state-supported Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program in Mississippi.
Mission
The Mississippi State University-Meridian Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program will educate highly qualified, competent, healthcare providers who will increase access to care and provide primary care services to the diverse citizens of Mississippi.
Preparation
Students seeking a career as a Physician Assistant (PA) should acquire a sound foundation in the biological sciences and knowledge of the behavioral and social sciences in high school and college. Because of the increasing use of information technology in medicine, students are strongly encouraged to acquire familiarity with computers. They must have a demonstrated aptitude for scientific study, and, in addition, hands-on experience in healthcare. An awareness of the requirements and characteristics of the practice of medicine as a PA is desirable in reaching a mature decision to pursue a career as a PA.
Accreditation
Mississippi State University-Meridian has applied for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). MSU-Meridian anticipates matriculating its first class in January 2020, pending achievement of Accreditation - Provisional status at the September 2019 ARC-PA meeting.
Accreditation - Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program's ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation - Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
The program will not commence in the event Accreditation - Provisional is not granted. For more information on the developing Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program, please see the program website at https://www.meridian.msstate.edu/academics/physician-assistant/ or contact PA@meridian.msstate.edu.
The program anticipates matriculating its first class in January 2020. Applications are accepted through CASPA, the online Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistant programs at https://caspa.liaisoncas.com/applicant-ux/#/login.
The Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program of Study is a prescribed 108 credit-hour program.
| PAS 6016 | Human Anatomy and Physiology for the Physician Assistant | 6 |
| PAS 6013 | Introduction to the Physician Assistant Profession | 3 |
| PAS 6026 | Patient Assessment for the Physician Assistant | 6 |
| PAS 6023 | Clinical Diagnostic Methods for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| PAS 6012 | The Art of Medicine for the Physician Assistant | 2 |
| PAS 6022 | Clinical Genetics for the Physician Assistant | 2 |
| PAS 6107 | Clinical Medicine I for the Physician Assistant | 7 |
| PAS 6102 | Clinical Skills for the Physician Assistant | 2 |
| PAS 6103 | Clinical Decision Making for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| PAS 6113 | Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| PAS 6104 | Pathophysiology for the Physician Assistant | 4 |
| PAS 6112 | Research Methods I for the Physician Assistant | 2 |
| PAS 6208 | Clinical Medicine II for the Physician Assistant | 8 |
| PAS 6204 | Principles of Pharmacology for the Physician Assistant | 4 |
| PAS 6203 | Clinical Practice Issues for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| PAS 6213 | Behavioral Medicine for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| PAS 6223 | Clinical Specialties for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| PAS 6202 | Research Methods II for the Physician Assistant | 2 |
| PAS 8302 | Clinical Transitions for the Physician Assistant | 2 |
| PAS 8308 | Family Medicine Rotation for the Physician Assistant | 8 |
| PAS 8303 | Pediatric Rotation for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| PAS 8313 | Women's Health Rotation for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| PAS 8323 | General Surgery Rotation for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| PAS 8343 | Behavioral Medicine Rotation for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| PAS 8353 | Emergency Medicine for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| PAS 8312 | Summative Experience for the Physician Assistant | 2 |
| PAS 8301 | Seminar I for the Physician Assistant | 1 |
| PAS 8321 | Seminar II for the Physician Assistant | 1 |
| PAS 8322 | Capstone Project for the Physician Assistant | 2 |
| PAS 8332 | Seminar III for the Physician Assistant | 2 |
| PAS 8333 | Internal Medicine Rotation for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| PAS 8363 | Elective Clinical Rotation for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| PAS 8403 | Preceptorship Rotation for the Physician Assistant | 3 |
| Total Hours | 108 | |