M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies Accreditation and Outcomes

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to Yeshiva University’s Physician Assistant Program.

Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when 1) 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 2) 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. 

Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website.

Program Mission

Yeshiva University’s PA program will prepare diverse, culturally competent physician assistants to lead lives of kindness, generosity and integrity as they provide excellent patient-centered health care for patients from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. The PA program’s mission will be accomplished through the provision of a nurturing learning environment, excellence in teaching and learning, service to the community and the delivery of evidence-based medical education throughout the lifespan. 

Program Goals

• Clinical Excellence – Graduates will demonstrate a knowledgeable, analytical approach to clinical situations and provide patient care that is effective, high quality, and evidence based throughout the lifespan.  
• Professionalism – Graduates will provide health care with integrity, respect, accountability, ethics and compassion and will demonstrate a commitment to excellence, lifelong learning and professional development. 
• Cultural Competence – Graduates will effectively and sensitively provide culturally competent, equitable health care to an increasingly diverse patient population. 
• Leadership – Graduates will contribute to and enrich the PA profession throughout their careers as mentors, educators, clinicians and members of state and national professional organizations. Graduates will contribute to the advancement of medicine and health care at their work sites and in the U.S. health care systems. 
• Scholarship – Graduates will commit to lifelong learning, inquiry, study, evidence-based practice and continuous professional development. 

Program Values

• Kindness – Care delivered with kindness, compassion and empathy facilitates healing and leads to better outcomes for patients and clinicians. Communication skills that foster the development of kindness and compassion will be honed through coursework and supervised patient-care experiences. 
• Generosity – Recognition that the life of another is as valuable as one’s own is fundamental in the practice of medicine and the service of patients. Altruistic behaviors and selflessness will be developed through active community service.   
• Integrity – Integrity is the bedrock of trust development between the patient and clinician. Adherence to the highest standards of professionalism and ethics in the classroom and during supervised clinical practice experiences is mandatory. 
• Diversity – Diversity of students and staff leads to a rich experience in the classroom and clinic and fosters the development of cultural competence.  
• Collaboration – Collaboration on interprofessional health care teams promotes patient-centered care and improves patient outcomes. 

PANCE Performance Data - 2024.

The PA program publishes PANCE performance data of its graduates by publishing the NCCPA PANCE Pass Rate Summary Report, as provided by the NCCPA through its program portal, of the most recent five-year first-time graduate performance.

The PA program will publish the student attrition rates annually on the chart below following the graduation of the inaugural class.

Student Attrition Table

Outcomes will be reported annually, beginning in spring 2024, after the graduation of the Inaugural class.

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE – Graduates will demonstrate a knowledgeable, analytical approach to clinical situations and provide patient care that is effective, high quality, and evidence based through the lifespan.

Measurements and benchmarks:

• Preceptor evaluations of students: 85% of students will earn B grades or higher, noting that they competently apply medical knowledge to patient care during supervised clinical practice experiences.
• Summative evaluation: 85% of students will earn B grades or higher on the summative evaluations.
• PANCE scores: Graduates will meet or exceed the national first-time taker PANCE pass rate.
• Graduate surveys: 85% of graduates will report that the PA program successfully prepared them to enter clinical practice.

PROFESSIONALISM – Graduates will provide health care with integrity, respect, accountability, ethics, and compassion and demonstrate a commitment to excellence, lifelong learning and professional development.

Measurements and benchmarks:

• Professionalism evaluations: 90% of students will be assessed as successfully demonstrating professional behaviors by Supervised Clinical Practice Experience preceptors.
• Graduate surveys: 90% of graduates will report that the PA program supported their professional development.
• Employer surveys: 90% of employers will indicate that graduates exhibit professional behaviors at all times

CULTURAL COMPETENCE – Graduates will effectively and sensitively provide culturally competent, equitable health care to an increasingly diverse patient population.

Measurements and benchmarks:

• Preceptor evaluation: 100% of students will be assessed by SCPE preceptors as communicating well with patients from diverse backgrounds.
• Graduate surveys: 100% of graduates will report that they feel comfortable working with patients and colleagues of diverse backgrounds.
• Graduate surveys: 20% of graduates will work in a medically underserved community (as designated by the Department of Health and Human Services) within the first 5 years of graduation.
• Employer surveys: 100% of employers will indicate that graduates work well with patients and colleagues from diverse backgrounds.

LEADERSHIP – Graduates will contribute to and enrich the PA profession throughout their careers as mentors, educators, clinicians and members of state and national professional organizations. Graduates will contribute to the advancement of medicine and health care at their work sites and in the US healthcare systems.

Measurements and benchmarks:

• Engagement in community activities: 75% of each cohort of students will participate in community service.
• Membership in professional organizations: 90% of each cohort of students will join the AAPA and NYSSPA.
• Graduate surveys: 75% of graduates survey will continue their memberships in state and national professional organizations.
• Employer surveys: Employers/Supervisors will indicate that 20% of graduates hold leadership positions such as precepting students, managing departmental schedules, educating colleagues in rounds/simulation events, etc.

SCHOLARSHIP – Graduates will commit to lifelong learning, inquiry, study, evidence-based practice and continuous professional development.

Measurements and benchmarks:

• Academic performance measures: 90% of students will graduate with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Capstone: 100% of students will successfully complete the CAPSTONE project in the PAS 6015 Capstone course with a B grade or higher.
• Graduate surveys: 10% of graduates will report pursuing advanced degrees, research, or teaching opportunities within 5 years of graduation.

PA program policies are available for review here.

The Office of Student Finance maintains current tuition and fees and refund policies and procedures for all graduate programs.   All applicants are automatically considered for scholarships. You do not need to submit any additional information. Awards are determined during the application review process.

The graduate health science programs at the Katz School of Science and Health prioritize individual dignity and promote a culture of diversity, inclusivity, and equity in a supportive patient care, learning, and research environment. We are committed to creating a community that recognizes and embraces diverse backgrounds and identities.

Every student, faculty member, patient and their family will be treated with respect, dignity, and professionalism. We do not tolerate or condone discrimination.

We are committed to delivering health care and education in a manner that respects diversity and inclusivity with the full intent of achieving better health, happiness, quality of life, and communication outcomes for all.