About the Program

LLU PA Mission

The Loma Linda University Department of Physician Assistant Sciences educates primary care physician assistants who will complement the work of physicians by providing:

• Health care as active members of a professional healthcare team
• Excellence and compassion in health care for the whole person
• Quality health care for under-served individuals and communities nationally and globally in accordance with the mission of Loma Linda University and the mission of the School of Allied Health Professions

Program Overview

• Degree: Master of Physician Assistant
• Program Length: 24 months, full-time
• Class Size: 34
• Start Date: September

Coursework Information

• No part-time or off-site distance-learning option.
• No advanced placement is awarded or granted for experiential learning or previous education. Prerequisite courses may not substitute for any course in the program.
• Due to the fast pace and intensity of the program, students may not engage in paid employment while enrolled in the program except with the express written consent of the Department Chair.

Preclinical Phase (12 months, 73 units)

During the preclinical year, students take courses in applied medical and clinical preparatory sciences. With the extensive resources provided by the university, we provide up-to-date, clinically relevant information that students will be able to apply in their clinical rotations and throughout their careers.

               Course listings (PDF)

Clinical Phase (12 months, 52 units)

In the clinical year, we create opportunities for students to interact with persons from diverse populations. From the inner city to the suburbs, students receive hands-on clinical experience in a wide variety of outpatient clinics, hospitals and surgical centers. It is here where the students refine their clinical skills in preparation for service to their communities as physician assistants.

Academic Courses

During the clinical year, students take the PA Professional Issues course as well as complete their Capstone project.

Clinical Rotations:  Eight 6-week clinical rotations in:

• Family Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Pediatrics
• Women’s Health
• Emergency Medicine
• General Surgery
• Behavioral Health/Psychiatry
• Elective in an area of choice (from a list of more than 40 specialties)

Housing

Clinical rotations are within a 60-mile radius of the LLU campus unless students apply for distant sites (see below). Housing is generally the responsibility of the student except for a small number of inpatient rotations for which housing is provided.

Distant Clinical Rotations

Students are able to apply for a maximum of 2 distant clinical sites (>60 miles from the program). Sites for these rotations must be either private outpatient facilities or hospital systems with which we have pre-existing contracts or deemed by the program to be a long-term clinical site. In order to be eligible for distant clinical rotations, students must be in good academic standing with the program. Clinical rotation decisions are ultimately made at the discretion of the faculty.

 International Rotations

International rotations are offered as elective experiences and will be available to students who are in good academic standing with the program.  To date, rotations are available in Honduras and Malawi with more sites in development.  All expenses incurred are the responsibility of the student.