DIRECTOR, PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM
Jeff Midgley, M.S., PA-C,
(845) 575-3592
Jeffrey.midgley@marist.edu

Mission and Objectives

Marist’s Physician Assistant Program is committed to graduating entry-level, competent healthcare providers trained to practice ethically and culturally sensitive medicine in a team environment, and who will be life-long learners with a commitment to community service and the overall success of the profession. The program goals are to:

• Graduate entry-level, competent healthcare providers
• Teach students to effectively interact with patients of different backgrounds • Promote ethically & culturally sensitive PAs
• Develop healthcare providers capable of functioning successfully within interprofessional teams
• Ensure that all students engage in community service
• Meet or exceed the national first-time pass rate for the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE)

At the successful completion of the program, students will demonstrate competency in the following areas:

• Knowledge and application of medical terminology, human structure and systems, clinical elements, pharmacology, pathology, infectious diseases, epidemiology, and biostatistics;
• Evaluation and assessment skills to understand and conceptualize patients’ medical issues resulting in accurate diagnoses;
• Personal and professional growth in sound interpersonal skills and selfawareness (intrapersonal) skills within their interactions with patients, colleagues, and supervisors, as well as conflict resolution;
• A practitioner-scientist approach through the application of research methods and critical thinking skills relevant to the practice of medicine, such as in-needs assessment and human evaluation;
• Ethical and professional conduct within the standards of the profession, in their relationships with patients, colleagues, supervisors, and faculty; and
• Engagement in career advancement and professional identity development through activities such as membership and participation in professional organizations such as the American Academy of Physician Assistants and New York State Society of Physician Assistants.

The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies is a 24-month, 90-credit, fulltime program designed to prepare students for clinical practice. The program consists of one 12-month didactic phases and one 12-month clinical phase. Students learn how to care for patients in a variety of settings such as in-patient, out-patient, and in the operating room and emergency room. Students learn to treat patients across the lifespan, from newborn to the elderly. Students learn technical skills such as suturing and counseling skills. Global health is also emphasized. The program offers seven required core rotations in the clinical year, as well as one elective.

The program is located in the Marist College Allied Health Building which has a state-of-the-art gross anatomy laboratory, standardized patient care suites, a trauma simulation room, and a skills laboratory. In total, the program occupies over 18,000 square feet of dedicated space within the 58,000 square feet building. The program shares resources with other programs in the School of Science on campus, especially the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program. The opportunity to develop interprofessional skills will increase as new clinical programs are added to the School of Science.

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Marist College Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Marist College. AccreditationContinued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.

Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2030. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.

Admissions Requirements

Admissions requirements for the M.S. in Physician Assistant Studies are:

• completion of undergraduate courses
• general biology I and II (with labs)
• microbiology (with lab)
• general chemistry I & II (with labs)
• organic chemistry I (with labs)
• biochemistry (preferably with lab Organic chemistry II (preferably with lab), may be substituted);
• anatomy & physiology I & II (with labs)
• statistics;
• earn a 3.0 cumulative undergraduate grade-point average (GPA) based on a system in which 4.0 is equivalent to an A grade
• earn a 3.0 GPA for the science courses listed above;
• earn a 3.0 GPA for Biology, Chemistry, and Physics (BCP)

The following courses must be completed within seven (7) years of matriculation:

• Organic chemistry I (with lab), biochemistry [preferably with lab; organic chemistry II (preferably with lab), may be substituted], anatomy & physiology I & II (with labs).
• an earned baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university, prior to matriculation in the program;
• submission of TOEFL score (if high school graduate of non-English speaking country);
• minimum of 500 hours of hands-on healthcare experience;
• completed application through Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA);
• an on-campus interview; and
• completed background check prior to matriculation.

All pre-requisites must be completed by the program’s December 1st application close date in CASPA.

Degree Requirements

To qualify for the master’s degree in PA studies, a candidate must complete:

• all didactic phase courses and assignments
• all clinical year rotations, courses, and assignments.
• all summative clinical competency examinations (history-taking/physical examination and history-taking/patient counseling or education) within the four (4) months prior to graduation.
• all program equipment, books, and miscellaneous materials have been returned.
• all checkout procedures verifying that all PA program, institutional, library, or educational supplies have been returned, and that expenses and fees have been paid prior to awarding any degree, verification of attendance, or release of official transcripts.

Advisement

The principal faculty serve as the advisors for all matriculated students. Students will have regular meetings with their faculty advisor for purposes of discussing academic progress and planning. The advisement process is overseen by the Program Director.