Become a Physician Assistant Clinical Preceptor

For Students in the YU/Katz College M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies

Help Shape the Next Generation of Physician Assistants

Clinical education is an essential part of preparing physician assistant students to provide safe, compassionate, and high-quality patient care. Clinical preceptors play an important role in the education and clinical training of our graduate-level PA students during their supervised clinical rotations. At Yeshiva University/Katz College, our students bring the knowledge and skills they develop in the classroom into clinical practice. By becoming a clinical preceptor, you have the opportunity to share your expertise, mentor a future PA, and make a lasting contribution to the next generation of healthcare providers.

Partner with Yeshiva University

Our PA Program has developed a broad network of clinical partners across a variety of healthcare environments. Students have the opportunity to complete clinical experiences in hospital systems, medical centers, private practices, and other healthcare settings throughout New York State, including New York City, Long Island, and Westchester County, as well as in New Jersey and Connecticut. These diverse clinical experiences allow our students to learn from experienced healthcare professionals in a variety of practice settings while developing the clinical skills and judgment needed to become successful physician assistants. Our clinical education team works closely with clinical sites and preceptors throughout the rotation to provide guidance, answer questions, and ensure that everyone involved has the resources and information needed to support student learning.

Clinical Rotation Opportunities

Yeshiva University/Katz College PA students complete five-week clinical rotations across a variety of medical and surgical specialties. We welcome qualified healthcare professionals who are interested in providing students with meaningful, hands-on clinical learning experiences.

Clinical opportunities may include:

• Family Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Emergency Medicine
• Pediatrics
• Women’s Health – with opportunities for exposure to prenatal care and gynecological care
• Behavioral Health/Psychiatry – with opportunities for exposure to behavioral and mental health care
• Surgery – with opportunities for exposure to pre-operative, intraoperative, and post-operative care
• Elective Experiences – opportunities for exposure to specialties such as urgent care, dermatology, endocrinology, orthopedics, cardiology, gastroenterology, and other areas of clinical practice

Our students complete multiple clinical rotations throughout their clinical year, gaining experience across a range of specialties and practice settings. The majority of our students are from New York City and the surrounding areas, allowing them to build strong connections within the local healthcare community and potentially become future physician assistants on your team.

Become a Clinical Preceptor

If you are interested in becoming a clinical preceptor for Yeshiva University/Katz College PA students, we invite you to connect with us to learn more about precepting with our program and the support and resources available to our clinical partners. Yeshiva University alumni are especially encouraged to connect with us and explore opportunities to give back by mentoring and supporting our PA students.

For more information about becoming a clinical affiliate or preceptor with the Yeshiva University PA Program, or to share physician assistant employment opportunities with our graduates, please contact:

Lorraine Perrone, PA-C, MPAS
Director of Clinical Education and Clinical Assistant Professor
M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies
Katz School of College and Health | Yeshiva University
lorraine.perrone@yu.edu
646-592-4746

Frequently Asked Questions

We welcome qualified healthcare professionals who are committed to clinical education and providing students with meaningful learning experiences. Preceptors may include physician assistants, physicians, and other qualified healthcare professionals. This may be done individually or as part of a team. Whether you have been precepting students for years or are considering becoming a preceptor for the first time, we would love to hear from you.

Requested documentation typically includes a CV, a copy of state licensure, and, when applicable, documentation of board certification.

There is no minimum number of students or rotations that you are required to precept. The number and frequency of students you accept is entirely up to you and your practice, based on what works best for your schedule and clinical team. Our clinical education team will reach out in advance to discuss your availability and determine what works best for you and your team.

We use an online system to manage student clinical rotations and evaluations, making the process straightforward for preceptors. For each student, preceptors are asked to complete two evaluations: one during the middle of the rotation and one at the end. The evaluations are completed electronically through a link provided by the program.

Beyond the clinical setting, preceptors may have optional opportunities to participate in PA education, including guest lecturing, teaching, and other educational activities with the Yeshiva University PA Program.

Each clinical rotation has specific learning objectives and expectations outlined in the syllabus. Students receive this information before beginning their rotation and are expected to review the requirements in advance. Preceptors are also provided with this information prior to the rotation, and the rotation syllabi and additional resources can be found on our Student and Preceptor Resource Page. At the start of the rotation, students should meet with their preceptor to review expectations, discuss the clinical experience, and establish a plan for the rotation.

Depending on the rotation and clinical setting, students may:

Learn from and work with a variety of licensed healthcare professionals, including physicians (MD/DO), PAs, NPs, RNs, LCSWs, and other members of the healthcare team.
Work with multiple providers during a rotation, as appropriate for the clinical site.
Follow the schedule established by the preceptor or clinical site, which may include evenings, overnight shifts, weekends, and on-call experiences.
Obtain patient histories and perform physical examinations under appropriate supervision.
Present clinical cases to preceptors and, when appropriate, participate in presentations to consulting providers.
Assist with selecting and interpreting diagnostic studies and developing differential diagnoses and treatment plans.
Provide patient education and counseling
Document patient encounters as a student in the site's electronic medical record, when permitted.
Complete written documentation related to patients they have evaluated.
Complete educational assignments, such as reviewing journal articles or preparing presentations on clinical topics or patient cases.
Participate in clinical procedures under appropriate supervision, based on the opportunities available at the site and the student's level of training. Our students receive instruction and hands-on practice in procedures such as suturing, venipuncture, injections, IV placement, Foley catheterization, splinting, NG tube placement, surgical gowning and gloving, and sterile technique.

Students are not permitted to:

Prescribe medications or independently order prescriptions.
Independently evaluate or discharge patients.
Bill independently for patient care services.
Be used solely for clerical, administrative, or office duties. Students should have meaningful opportunities to participate in patient care and clinical learning.

Lorraine Perrone, PA-C, MPAS
Director of Clinical Education and Clinical Assistant Professor
M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies
Katz College of Science and Health | Yeshiva University
lorraine.perrone@yu.edu
646-592-4746