1. Life of a pa student at touro university california
Ada lien, Pa-s
Presentation prepared for sjsu pre-pa society
December 15, 2016

2. introductions
Name
Year
Major
What made you consider PA as a career?

3. What is a pa? Medical professionals
Nationally certified and state-licensed to practice medicine
Many different specialties and settings
What we can do:
Take histories, conduct physical exams
Diagnose
Treat patients/prescribe
Make referrals
Order and interpret labs/diagnostic tests
Counsel on preventative care
Procedures
Assist in surgery
Hospitalist service

4. what is Public health? Definition 5 Core Disciplines of Public Health
“Public health is the science of protecting and improving the health of families and communities through promotion of healthy lifestyles, research for disease and injury prevention and detection and control of infectious diseases.”
-CDC, 2016
Biostatistics
Behavioral/Social Aspects of Public Health
Environmental Health
Epidemiology
Health Policy and Management

5. Touro university california
Vallejo, CA
Dual degree
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Master of Public Health
ARC-PA accredited program
next accreditation 9/2018
3 year/33 months
8 semesters
Mission
Through the integration of the Physician Assistant and Public Health disciplines, the mission of the Joint MSPAS/MPH Program is to:
train quality PAs to work with underserved populations,
recruit applicants from these communities or individuals with a demonstrated interest in serving these communities, and
increase access to care for underserved populations.

6. Why touro CA? Dual degree Amazing faculty and staff Small class size
Scholarships available
Being very prepared for rotations and for PANCE
100% pass rate
Consistently higher than national first-time PANCE pass rates
In the Bay Area!
Well-established program
Many more…

7. Pre-requisites for touro ca
B.S. or B.A degree
Cumulative and Science GPAs ≥ 2.75
500 hours of direct patient care experience required (paid or volunteer hours)
Prereqs must be completed with a C or better
8 semester/12 quarter units (including labs) in each of the following:
Biological Sciences (general biology, genetics, immunology, etc.)
Chemistry (general, organic chemistry, biochemistry)
4 semester/5 quarter units (including labs) of each of the following:
Microbiology
Human Anatomy
Human Physiology
Anatomy and physiology may be a combined course
Must be completed within 5 years of the expected year of matriculation
3 semester/5 quarter units of statistics

8. Applying to PA schools RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH!
Read each program’s statement and mission
Check the pre-reqs for EACH individual program you want to apply to
Don’t apply to EVERY school that you qualify to apply for
$$$$
Many supplementals for schools that you aren’t even considering attending
Make sure you are a well-rounded individual
Do something you are passionate about
Volunteer, play in a band, perform in theater…anything that makes you stand out!

9. Applying to touro Ca Application submitted through CASPA
This year’s deadline was Nov 1 for the entering class of 2020
ALL required materials must be submitted and verified by CASPA’s deadline
Pre-req coursework, clinical hours, and B.S./B.A. must be completed at the time of the CAPSA application submission
Supplemental Application Invitation
Due 30 days from when invited to submit
Touro CA operates on a rolling admissions cycle

10. Touro CA curriculum
Didactic and clinical experiences in both medical and public health disciplines
First 4 semesters
Didactic
Pre-clinical and public health
Clinical phase
60 weeks total
7 clinical rotations and 1 public health rotation
Summative course
~6 weeks

11. Touro ca curriculum PA Didactic Courses
Principles of Basic Science
Anatomy with Lab
Laboratory Medicine
Clinical Medicine I, II, III
Pharmacology I, II, III
Ethics for Health Professionals
Clinical Applications I, II, III, IV
Geriatrics
Pediatrics I, II, III
Orientation to the Clinical Year
Behavioral Medicine
Emergency Medicine
Surgical and Clinical Skills with Lab
MSPAS Summative Course
Public Health Courses – Community or Global Health Track
Biostatistics
Behavioral and Social Aspects of Public Health
Environmental Health
Epidemiology
Health Policy and Management
Research Methods
Track courses
Public Health Field Experience
MPH Capstone Course

12. clinical rotations Each rotation is 6 weeks long
1 week of callbacks after every 2 rotations/12 weeks
Required Rotations:
Primary Care I and II: Family Practice
Primary Care III: Internal Medicine
Primary Care IV: Maternal/Child Health
Emergency Medicine
Surgery
Elective I, II

13. Public health field study
6 weeks long, usually after your clinical rotations
Work with organizations that focus on public health
CDPH
Alameda County DPH
SFDPH
Napa County
San Mateo County
Planned Parenthood
UCSF
Kaiser Permanete
Many more …

14. Certified public health
Public health board exam by the National Board of Public Health Examiners (NBPHE)
Certified in Public Health (CPH)
CPH Content Areas:
Core Areas
Biostatistics
Environmental Health Sciences
Epidemiology
Health Policy and Management
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Cross-cutting Areas
Communication and Informatics
Diversity and Culture
Leadership
Public Health Biology
Professionalism
Programs Planning
Systems Thinking

15. LIFE AS A TOURO CA PA STUDENT
Stressed out, lots of work, but lots of fun!
Interprofessional encounters
Hands-on experience
Great staff and faculty
Amazing classmates/colleagues
Lifelong friends
Mentor/Mentee system
Great rotation sites
Public Health Field Study
Prepared for the “real world”

16. Last bits of advice
Apply when you feel confident as a competitive candidate
Don’t rush the application and admission process
Set small goals
Give yourself PLENTY of time to:
Enter all of your clinical hours
Write, reread, and reread your personal statement
Get letters of recommendations
Submit supplementals
Prepare for interviews
Submit your application after you’ve already double-checked it 2-3 times– don’t wait any longer!
Enjoy the process of getting to have the #1 career in the U.S.!

17. QUESTIONS?

18. Thank you!
Contact: