University of Utah Physician Assistant Program Karen Mulitalo, MPAS, PA-C Program Director

Physician Assistants in the US

Physician Assistants PA’s work in many areas in medicine PA’s work in many settings – hospitals, community clinics and other settings After graduation –can do post graduate training NCCPA certification examination every 10 years

University of Utah PA Program Bachelor's degree (much the same prerequisites as medical school) Patient care experience ( hours) Community Service 27 month program 1 year classroom work 1 year clinical rotations Masters of Physician Assistant Studies

Mission-Based Influence Increasing involvement with external partners through Office for the Promotion of Global Healthcare Equity in international policy Faculty working in PA education outside the US Leadership in the profession and national policy o PAEA President o Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow o IAPAE President

Graduate Information 43% of UPAP graduates in 2015 have entered Primary Care 32% with medically underserved populations o >50% in Community Health Centers 80% of graduates had jobs within 4 weeks of graduation 98% of graduates are satisfied with their first job as a PA Graduates feel that UPAP prepared them for work in primary care

Future Directions Involvement in development of global health workforce o Divisional activity with WHO, THEnet, UNESCO through the Office for the Promotion of Global Healthcare Equity for data collection

Future Directions Social Accountability in curriculum o Working in partnership with the University of Amrita and THEnet to be the first PA programs involved in the THEnet learning community o Expansion into Southern Utah (Dixie State University) as an opportunity to pilot expanded curriculum Community emersion Coordinate with other divisions/departments within the university

Future Directions Continuing Curricular Development o Competency based education o Adult learning concepts o Mission-based Masters tracks o Expanding clinical rotations and curriculum in behavioral health Research o Collaborative research regarding: Service learning and social determinants of health PA student attributes and practice patterns State and national PA workforce International health workforce