Graduate Studies in Physician Assistant Studies

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Physician Assistant Studies 

• Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

Quincy Byrdsong, Vice Provost for Health Affairs
Stephen Heffington, Program Director, Graduate Studies in Physician Assistant Studies
Terri Jerkins, Medical Director, Graduate Studies in Physician Assistant Studies

Core Faculty

Elise Eaton, Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies
Linda Elrod, Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies
Stephen Heffington, Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies
Terri Jerkins, Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies
Jenny Robinson, Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies
Kelly Smart, Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies
Matt Steidl, Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies

Lipscomb’s PA program is 27-months in duration and requires full-time, year-round student participation. Within the program, one will engage in seven semesters of study which are broken down into a 15-month didactic phase and a 12-month clinical phase. During the didactic phase, sharpen your mind through basic medical science and clinical medicine courses. And engage in hands-on industry training through eight six-week clinical rotations in Pediatrics, Behavioral and Mental Health, Women’s Health, Emergency Medicine, Surgery, Internal Medicine, Family Medicine as well as a clinical elective of your choice.

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Lipscomb University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Lipscomb University.

Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when 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 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.

Message from the Program Director

Physician Assistants provide hands-on health care and are in demand all across the nation. As medical needs in our country continue to rise, the need for additional medical professionals is greater now than ever before. If you are looking for a career that is rewarding, allows you to serve mankind, and provides you with a great living, becoming a physician assistant can be your answer.

We are creating an environment that helps develop a lifelong learner and well-rounded professional to enter the healthcare team. We start with a foundation of strong academic curriculum, led by an outstanding faculty. We add a clinical experience that is rooted in 128 years of Lipscomb’s presence in Nashville - the healthcare capital of the world. We finish with a faith-based belief that creates a family working to encourage and train each other to reach our potential while serving others.

The educational standards for Physician Assistant Schools are tightly regulated and closely monitored. However, the classroom teaching is only a portion of what makes a successful Physician Assistant. Clinical experience, mentoring, service and volunteerism, professional development, and interprofessional education are all key aspects to the complete training of a healthcare professional.

As an intentionally Christian institution, we incorporate faith in all we do - from teaching in the classroom, ethical problem solving, volunteerism and servanthood, interacting with our students, and mentoring. Our faith drives us not only to succeed, but to excel in all we do and are.

We have successfully achieved provisional accreditation. However, the process of Provisional Accreditation was only the first step in creating a school where students will be well-trained in all aspects of physician assistant studies and professional development. Upon graduation, you will be ready to take the PANCE exam and become a part of the healthcare team.

Excellent faculty that care for students. Strong clinical experiences with preceptors. Family atmosphere that fosters relationships. Faith that drives service. Come join our family.

Sincerely,

Stephen Heffington

Mission

The Lipscomb University School of Physician Assistant Studies is focused on educating students to become physician assistants that will provide service to their community as an integral part of the healthcare team. Our mission is built on a framework of Christian ethics rooted in faith and is committed to producing knowledgeable and compassionate healthcare providers of the highest quality. Our graduates will be servant leaders in medicine that work to improve patients’ health across the lifespan.

Our program mission reflects the mission of Lipscomb University to integrate Christian faith and practice with academic excellence. It is built on five unshakable pillars, as established by the university; faith, community, knowledge, innovation and service.

Admission Requirements (MPAS)

The School does not favor any specific individuals or groups with regard to admission requirements or policies.

GPA

• A minimum GPA of 3.0 is required for both the cumulative GPA and the calculated prerequisite GPA. Additionally, all applicants will be expected to have earned a ‘C’ or above in all prerequisite courses.

Patient Contact Hours

• Lipscomb does require all applicants have patient contact hours. However, there is no set minimum required number of hours. We are more interested in the type of experience and how that experience helps you understand patient care and the healthcare team. We prefer to see quality patient interactions, rather than an arbitrary number of hours. We will ask you about your patient contact experience during the interview process.

Shadowing

• We require all applicants to be exposed to the PA profession by shadowing a practicing physician assistant. We do not have a set minimum number of hours. We prefer you seek quality interactions with a practicing PA rather than just accumulating higher quantity hours. We will ask you about your shadowing experience during the interview process.

Prerequisite Info

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or the international equivalent verified by WES, or anticipate earning a bachelor’s degree prior to matriculation into the physician assistant program.  

The following prerequisite list is representative of classes that are generally accepted.  The prerequisite classes must be obtained from a regionally accredited U.S. institution. Any classes that deviate from this list may not be accepted if the class does not meet the same academic and scientific rigor. For science courses, a recent timeframe for completion (within the past seven years) is required.  The only online prerequisite courses considered for acceptance are the psychology and biostatistics courses.

Science Course Expiration Policy

All prerequisite science courses must be taken within 7 years of matriculation. If a one-semester science course was completed greater than 7 years prior to the time of matriculation, then the course must be repeated. If a two-semester science course was completed greater than 7 years prior to the time of matriculation, then at least one-half of the course must be repeated. All prerequisite science courses older than 7 years AND with a grade of “C” or less must be repeated.

Chemistry (8 semester hours)  

• General Chemistry I and II with a Lab
• Organic Chemistry I and II with a Lab
• Chemistry for Health Sciences (including a lab)

Human Anatomy and Physiology (8 semester hours)

• Human Anatomy/Physiology I
• Human Anatomy/Physiology II
• Human Anatomy
• Human Physiology

Biology (8 semester hours, Below is a selection of representative courses that will fulfill the requirement. Students may select 8 hrs of coursework from the courses represented below. Human based biology coursework is preferred. )

• Cell Biology with lab
• Microbiology with lab
• Immunology
• Virology
• Molecular Basis of Human Disease
• Molecular Biology with lab
• Genetics

Psychology (3 semester hours)

• Developmental Psychology
• General Psychology I

Statistics (3 semester hours)

• Statistics:
  • Probability & Statistics
  • Biostatistics

Additional Info

Many other factors are considered in the holistic review of the application, interview, and admissions process. They may include the following: communication skills, letters of recommendation, problem solving skills, professionalism, work experience, degree earned, research, volunteerism, interview performance, attitude, timeliness, and other factors that help differentiate those applicants that possess the highest likelihood of succeeding as part of the healthcare team as a physician assistant. 

Achieving the prerequisite and minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation to interview with or an offer of admission into the physician assistant program. Certain exceptions may be granted on an individual basis concerning admission requirements. No assurances or guarantees are given or implied based on the completion of the prerequisites or achieving a high level of academic performance.

Financial Information (MPAS)

Tuition and Fees for 2021-22

** All amounts shown are estimates and subject to change.

Room and board charges per semester are available in the undergraduate catalog. 

School of Physician Assistant Studies Academic Policies

Transfer Students & Advanced Placement

The School does not currently accept transfer students from other Physician Assistant Studies programs. The School does not grant transfer credits or advanced placement to any matriculating student. Graduate coursework from other institutions which may correspond to courses within the School curriculum will not be considered as substitutions for School curriculum.

Readmission

PA students who part ways with the School for any reason may be considered for readmission upon application through the normal admissions process. Exceptions to this policy will be handled by the Program Director on a case-by-case basis.

International Student Policy

Lipscomb University, the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and the School require international students to be proficient in written and oral English before submitting an application. Applicants whose native language is not English must present the results of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), prior to applying for admission to the college. For more information, visit www.toefl.org. Minimum TOEFL scores are 213 for the computer exam and 550 for the paper exam. The equivalent TOEFL iBT score is 80. Lipscomb’s TOEFL code is 1161. In addition to an acceptable score on the TOEFL, other evidence of proficiency in English may include letters from employers or instructors, credit earned in English language courses and a personal interview.

Applicants that are U.S. citizens or permanent residents may apply. Graduates of foreign institutions must have a degree equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree as verified by World Education Services (WES). Contact information for WES can be found at www.wes.org. Transcripts must be provided in the original language and with an English translation. In addition, all prerequisite classes must be completed from a regionally accredited U.S. higher education institution. The Physician Assistant Program requires a course-by-course evaluation including verification of lab components of the courses with the CASPA application. Applications will not be considered for admission until the WES report is received.

Fair Practice

In accordance with the ARC-PA standards, the Program will define, publish and make readily available general program information and admission related information to prospective and enrolled students.

General information includes the Program’s ARC-PA accreditation status, the success of the Program achieving its goals, first time PANCE rates for the five most recent graduating classes, all required curricular components, academic credit offered by the Program, estimates of all costs related to the program, policies and procedures for refunds of tuition and fees and policies about student employment while enrolled in the program.

Admissions related information includes admission and enrollment practices that favor specified individuals or groups, admission requirements regarding prior education or work experience, policies and procedures concerning awarding or granting advanced placement, any required academic standards for enrollment and any required technical standards for enrollment.

Some of this information will be posted on the Program’s website while other information will be included in the student handbook. Both of these references will be updated frequently to keep all information current.

Academic Integrity

As citizens of the Lipscomb community of scholars and learners, students, along with the faculty and staff, share the responsibility of maintaining a climate of integrity. Growing in Christ’s image demands that in every facet of academic work and campus life, the pursuit of truth, knowledge, and excellence is paramount, even when that pursuit demands personal sacrifice. It is the personal responsibility, therefore, of each student to treat his fellow scholars and learners respectfully, fairly, and honestly-to refuse to cheat, lie, defraud, or steal- thus committing to an academic integrity which will serve as the foundation for lifelong integrity.

At the beginning of each academic year, the student body will have an opportunity to reaffirm the Commitment to Integrity

The Lipscomb University Student Commitment to Integrity

I affirm my commitment to uphold the values of the Lipscomb University community:

• I will not lie, cheat, or steal in my academic endeavors, nor will I accept the actions of those who do.
• I will conduct myself responsibly and honorably in all my activities as a Lipscomb University student.

Integrity Code

Lipscomb University students and faculty are responsible for conducting themselves with high integrity, both inside and outside of the academic setting. Having an awareness of what constitutes “academic fraud” is helpful to everyone. Academic fraud includes among other things:

Unauthorized Collaboration is the act of working with others without the specific permission of the instructor on assignments. In different courses, various kinds of collaboration may be authorized (permitted by the instructor), or unauthorized. Please check with your instructor for specific guidance on whether collaboration is allowed. Students may not collaborate on coursework that will be graded unless they have faculty authorization. This rule applies to in-class or take-home tests, papers, labs, or homework assignments.

Cheating is intentionally using, attempting to use, or providing unauthorized materials, information, study aids, or the ideas or work of another in any academic exercise.

Fabrication is the intentional and unauthorized falsification or invention of any information or citation in an academic exercise. Fabrication or alteration of data tends to occur to deliberately mislead. For example, changing data to get better experiment results is academic fraud. Professors in lab classes will often have strict guidelines for the completion of labs and assignments. When in doubt about what might be considered academic fraud, consult the professor.

Multiple Submission is the use of work previously submitted at this or any other institution to fulfill academic requirements in another class. For example, using a paper from a 12th grade English class for an LU 1103 assignment is academic fraud. Slightly altered work that has been resubmitted is also considered to be fraudulent. With prior permission, some professors may allow students to complete one assignment for two classes. In this case, prior permission from both instructors is necessary.

False Citation is falsely citing a source or attributing work to a source from which the referenced material was not obtained. A simple example of this would be footnoting a paragraph and citing a work that was never utilized.

Plagiarism is intentionally or knowingly representing the words or ideas of another as one’s own in any academic exercise, i.e., using someone else’s ideas or work without proper or complete acknowledgment. Plagiarism encompasses many things, and is by far the most common example of academic fraud. For example, copying a passage straight from a book into a paper without quoting or explicitly citing the source is plagiarism. In addition, completely reworking someone else’s work or ideas and using it as one’s own is also plagiarism. It is very important that students properly acknowledge all ideas, work, and even distinctive wording that are not their own. However, certain information in any discipline is considered “common knowledge” and may be used without acknowledgment. What is considered to be common knowledge varies among fields; when in doubt consult a professor. Students unsure of how to properly cite a source are encouraged to consult a professor, or a relevant manual of style.
Internet Resources are quickly becoming popular materials used in academic research. Many websites provide reliable information; however, others may not provide well-documented research. If you rely on Internet resources for your research, be sure to verify the correctness of the information and to use proper citation in your work.

Facilitating Academic Dishonesty is intentionally or knowingly helping or attempting to help another to violate any provision of the Lipscomb University Commitment of Integrity.

Suspicions or evidence of academic integrity violations must be reported to the course coordinator. The course coordinator will notify the Academic Progression Committee (APC) in writing about the alleged violation. An investigation will be conducted under the direction of the APC. If the APC concludes that a violation occurred, disciplinary action may include, though not be limited to, reduction in course grades, course failure, or dismissal from the School.  Students wishing to appeal the APC decision should follow the defined appeals process.

Examinations

Examinations may be given via electronic (e.g., ExamSoft, ExamDriver, or Blackboard) or traditional paper format (with or without bubble sheets for Scantron grading) as decided upon by the course coordinator. If an electronic route of delivery is chosen as an assessment method by the course coordinator, students may be required to utilize their personal computer or other suitable device for the assessment. Students bear the responsibility for assuring that their device is properly charged in advance of the assessment session. In addition, as a requirement of electronic test delivery, students may be required to utilize internet browser lockdown programs or other downloaded programs for assessment integrity. No headwear (e.g., hats, hoodies) can be worn during examinations unless worn for religious purposes.  Scratch paper will be provided by the program and will be turned in at the end of the exam session.  All personal belongings including bags, backpacks, etc. will be placed around the perimeter of the classroom so they are not easily accessible during the exam session.

Students are expected to take all examinations on the scheduled date.  The course instructor may allow rescheduling of an examination if circumstances warrant, otherwise there will be no exceptions to this policy.  If a student fails to take a scheduled examination without obtaining permission from the course coordinator, the student will receive a zero on that scheduled examination.

Examinations are generally timed; therefore, all examinations will begin on the scheduled date and at the scheduled time.  Students who arrive at the examination room after the scheduled examination time will not be given additional time to complete the exam. Additionally, students arriving for the exam after peers have completed the exam will not be allowed to take the exam.  Under extenuating circumstances and with timely notification from the student, exceptions to this policy may be considered by the course instructor.

Grading

PA students will be assessed in the course by examinations and/or other graded assignments such as quizzes, homework, lab practicums, simulated/clinical evaluations, and projects/assignments. The course coordinator is responsible for developing an examination and/or assessment strategy that is consistent with the College’s academic policies.

Grading Scale:
A: 90-100
B: 80-89
C: 70-79
F: 69 and below

Examinations will be evaluated by course instructors and the course coordinator to assess the validity of each question prior to and following the examination. Once questions have been evaluated, examination grades will be posted in the grade book within Canvas.

Exam Review

Examinations will not be returned to students.  Students will receive a categorized score report that will inform them of deficiencies.  Individual test items may not be challenged.  Test items will be reviewed by the faculty prior to administration of the exam to ensure correctness and completeness.  Following the exam, a statistical analysis of the test will be performed and reviewed by the faculty.  Test items deemed invalid by the faculty will be removed from consideration and the exam will be rescored.  Faculty may also deem a distractor to be counted as correct after analysis.

Remediation, Progression, & Completion

Academic Progression Committee (APC)

The APC will meet at the end of every semester to recommend students for progression. If a student has not completed the remediation process the APC will decide if progression to the next semester will be allowed. Remediation may be allowed to continue up to 2 weeks into the next semester. The APC will also meet at the end of every block to discuss exam results. This will help identify students earlier who may need additional help to prevent a full remediation at the end of the semester. In addition, depending upon the frequency, nature and extent of the deficiency, a student may be required to repeat a course, decelerate, have a later graduation date or be dismissed from the program.

Remediation and Reassessment

Remediation may be recommended at any point in the program to a student who is lacking
knowledge or skills in any particular area. A student may be required to complete a
reassessment action when an exam, project or evaluation is below a 70% or a lab assignment
with a failing grade. Each teacher will decide the details of reassessment items for their course.
Students must earn a GPA of 2.75 or higher each semester or they will be sent to the APC for a
detailed academic probation contract. In addition, a student will also trigger a detailed academic
probation contract from the APC if they fail a course. For the clinical year reassessment will be
required for any preceptor evaluation less than a “C” and for any end of rotation exam that is
below a calculated score of 70%. A student must complete the remediation process and be
recommended for progression by the APC in order to continue in the program. For a course
remediation a student will not earn more than a final course grade of “C.” If a student does not
successfully complete remediation, a deceleration or dismissal may be recommended.

Progression

Requirements for progression in the program are as follows:
DIDACTIC YEAR

•  Follow all policies and procedures published by Lipscomb University and the School of Physician Assistant Studies
•  Achieve a grade of 70% or above in each didactic course
•  Earn a GPA of 2.75 or above each semester
•  Successfully complete all projects within the didactic year
•  Successfully fulfill all health requirements for the clinical year
•  Successfully achieve ACLS certification that is valid through graduation of the program
•  Comply with professional expectations published within the School of Physician Assistant Student Handbook and Lipscomb University Student Handbook
•  Receive recommendation from the Academic Progression Committee

CLINICAL YEAR

•  Follow all policies and procedures published by Lipscomb University and the School of Physician Assistant Studies
• Achieve a grade of 70% or above on each clinical rotation
•  Receive recommendation from the Academic Progression Committee
•  Achieve a passing score on each end of rotation examination
•  Achieve a passing score on a clinical site visit from a faculty member
•  Successfully complete the Clinical Year Passport
•  Successfully complete the Physician Assistant Summative Exam (PASE) given within the School of Physician Assistant Studies
•  Comply with professionalism expectations published within the School of Physician Assistant Studies Handbook and Lipscomb University Student Handbook

Completion

Requirements for completion of the program are as follows:

• Successfully complete all requirements for the Didactic phase of the education
• Successfully complete all requirements for the Clinical Year
• Comply with all professional expectations throughout the program as published within the School of Physician Assistant Studies Handbook
• Receive recommendation by the Academic Progression Committee
• Successfully complete all PANCE preparedness projects, sessions and reviews
• Be in good standing with the Lipscomb University Registrar, Business office and Security office concerning all tuition, fees, fines, or requirements.
• The entire PA program must be completed within 48 months of matriculation.

Deceleration

Deceleration may be recommended at any time to a student who does not meet the requirements for progression in the program.  A student may also decelerate because of an approved leave of absence granted by the Program Director.

Dismissal

Grounds for dismissal in the program include but are not limited to:

• Failure to meet conditions established in the remediation agreement
• Lapses in professionalism
• 3  course failures
• Excessive Absences, Tardiness, or Early Departures
• Academic integrity
• Illegal Activities
• Unpaid University balances

Appeals

Academic Progression Committee Decisions
PA students may appeal any academic action rendered by APC to the Program Director. All internal appeals must be submitted in writing (email is acceptable) within five business days of receipt of notification of action. PA students who desire to appeal the Program Director’s decision should submit their appeal to the Vice Provost for Health Affairs.

Final Grades

A student has the right to file an appeal if there is disagreement with the final grade that has been awarded in a course.  The procedure for bringing an academic appeal is as follows:

1. A formal appeal must be initiated within 10 business days following the date that grades are posted.  
2. The student must initiate the process by presenting the appeal in writing to the course coordinator, who will render a decision in writing.
3. If the appeal is denied by the faculty member, the student may present it in writing to the Program Director, who will render a decision in writing. This must be done within 2 business days of the decision of the course coordinator.
4. If the appeal to the Program Director is not resolved to the student’s satisfaction, the student may present the appeal in writing to the Vice Provost for Health Affairs.  This must be done within 2 business days of the decision of the Program Director.

Withdrawal & Refund Policy

An enrolled physician assistant student requesting withdrawal should notify the Director of Student Affairs and the Program Director. Withdrawal may be granted for medical or other extenuating circumstances and are subject to financial obligations per the catalog. The College will follow University guidelines for transcript and grade reporting. Acceptance of a position in a class of the LUPA program is viewed as a long-term commitment and different from registering for classes in an undergraduate program. The curriculum of the LUPA program is offered in fulfillment of a professional degree where the focus of education is narrow and the intensity of effort is more profound. It is the operational policy of the LUPA program that no potential physician assistant student will be asked to join any class after the official fifth day of classes, unless there is agreement between the Dean and the Provost that it will be in the best interests of the physician assistant student and the College to permit a later start.

Therefore, the College’s policy on voluntary withdrawal and refund of tuition and fees for the LUPA program is as follows.

1. Upon acceptance by an applicant of a position in a class of the LUPA program, the student pays an initial deposit to hold the position. This deposit is non-refundable. The full deposit amount is lost if the physician assistant student then chooses to forfeit their position in the class.
2. Fees, including textbooks, assessed as a part of the registration process are non- refundable if a physician assistant student chooses to voluntarily withdraw from the LUPA program after the first day of classes
3. A Physician Assistant student must complete all steps of the registration process, including final arrangements for payment for all student charges through one of the options offered by the University.
4. If a Physician Assistant student chooses to voluntarily withdraw from the School after registration, then an official withdrawal process must take place. To withdraw from the School of Physician Assistant studies, a student should meet first with the Director of Student Affairs and the Program Director. Following this meeting, all parties should meet with the Dean of the College and complete the School of Physician Assistant Studies withdrawal form and pay a withdrawal fee of $$195.
5. Refund of the tuition shall be according to the following schedule:
   • For the first semester of the inaugural year, from official registration completion to one week before the first official day of orientation 100%
   • From one week before the first official day of orientation through the official first day of class 50%
   • After the official first day of class 0%
   • For the second or any subsequent semester of the program 0% after the first day of classes.  A full refund is available prior to that point.
6. By completing registration in the School of Physician Assistant Studies, each student has agreed to meet all financial obligations to the Lipscomb University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Failure to meet these obligations may result in a variety of activities being pursued toward collection of the outstanding obligations, including legal and collection fees.

Academic Success Center

PA students have equal access to the Academic Success Center. The center provides students and faculty with a “one-stop shop” for all the university’s academic support resources. Throughout the school year it sponsors workshops, coaching opportunities, peer tutoring and mentoring, and more. It also oversees the Math Lab and Writing Studio and is located on the main level of Beaman Library.

Website: https://www.lipscomb.edu/academicsuccess

ADA and Accommodations Policy

The College is committed to assisting PA students with documented disabilities
who are otherwise qualified for admission to the School, in compliance with Section 504 of the 1973 Federal Rehabilitation Act and Title III of the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). PA students requesting accommodations must submit appropriate written documentation to the Office of Student Affairs.

Disability information provided to the College is shared only with College personnel who
work together in a cooperative effort to provide reasonable accommodations to students
with documented disabilities. Final determination for providing reasonable accommodations rests with the College based on the relevant documentation/diagnosis information submitted by the PA student. Appeals of decisions made with respect to requests for reasonable accommodations must be submitted in writing to the Office of Student Affairs.

Additional information about the College’s policy and procedures for compliance
with Section 504 of the 1973 Federal Rehabilitation Act and Title III of the 1990 Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) can be obtained from the Office of Student Affairs. Lipscomb University Academic Success Center assists students seeking disability services. Policy information explaining documentation requirements is available in the Academic Success Center. This office also coordinates testing services for learning disabilities and ADHD.

Program of Study Requirements

• Physician Assistant Studies, MPAS

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