Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Physician Assistant Studies Program

Brittany Booth, DMSc, PA-C
Head of the Department

LOCATION: 411 S. Prieur Street
PHONE: (504) 556-3420
FAX: (504) 556-3421   
WEB: http://alliedhealth.lsuhsc.edu/pa/

The Department of Physician Assistant Studies offers a Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program, which is accredited by Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), 3325 Paddocks Pkwy Suite 345, Suwanee, GA 30024, phone # (770) 476-1224, www.arc-pa.org.  Graduates of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program are eligible to become certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) by passing the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).  Once certified, each Physician Assistant (PA) must successfully complete100 hours of continuing medical education every two years, and pass a recertification examination every ten years.

Physician Assistants are highly qualified healthcare providers who are prepared through a rigorous academic and clinical curriculum to provide healthcare services under physician supervision.  PAs can be found practicing in primary health care and many medical and surgical subspecialties, such as oncology, endocrinology, rheumatology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, dermatology, interventional radiology and radiotherapy.  As part of their wide-ranging responsibilities, PAs conduct interviews and physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel patients on preventative health care, and assist in surgery.  Physician Assistants also may be employed in higher education and clinical research.

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program is a 29-month, full time, professional degree program.  The program does not offer part-time option.  The program spans a total of seven semesters.  The curriculum includes108 credit hours of didactic, laboratory, and clinical courses.  The didactic and laboratory portion of the curriculum includes foundational courses in the basic and clinical sciences, which are designed to introduce students to evidence-based medical practice and foster the development of critical thinking skills.  The clinical curriculum involves educational experiences in a variety of health care settings that prepare graduates to work as part of a physician-led team committed to providing comprehensive healthcare.

Mission

The Mission of the LSUHSC-New Orleans Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program is to recruit and educate individuals of the highest quality from diverse backgrounds to provide evidence-based, patient-centered health care with compassion to the people of Louisiana.