Mission Statement, Vision, and Objectives
Mission Statement:
Loma Linda University Department of Physician Assistant (PA) Sciences educates primary care physician assistants who will complement the work of physicians by providing health care as active members of a professional health care team, excellence and compassion in health care for the whole person, and quality health care for under-served individuals and communities nationally and globally in accordance with the mission of Loma Linda University and the School of Allied Health Professions.
Vision:
Graduates of the Loma Linda University Master of Physician Assistant program will be recognized for professional excellence, integrity, empathy, team effort, and advocating lifestyle changes to enhance health and prevent disease.
Objectives:
- To provide a curriculum whose required academic content and clinical experience will equip graduates to provide medical care at levels of competence that will enhance the services of the medical profession.
- To graduate PAs who extend the services of their supervising physician as part of the physician-PA team and collaborate with other members of an interdisciplinary healthcare team to provide quality patient care.
- To graduate PAs who will utilize their education and training to make significant contributions to the health of the community.
- To graduate PAs who improve access to medical services by providing whole person care to those living in underserved communities.
- To graduate PAs who are culturally competent and able to care for diverse populations with compassion and excellence.
- To graduate who provide care with the highest ethical standards.
- To gradudate PAs who are lifelong learners and actively engaged in the PA profession.
Success of the Program in Meeting Goals:
Attrition Rates
For the last four cohorts of students, there has been a 5% attrition rate. Our goal is for every student who is selected for the program to graduate from the program with his or her cohort. In the last four years, 95% of students have been able to accomplish this goal.
Graduate Employment
Primary Care Percentage
-Nearly two-thirds of our 2011 graduates (63%) plan on working in primary care.
-In our most recent alumni survey, 39% of alumni were working in primary care fields.
Employment Rates
-For the Class of 2011, 46% already had a job offer by their final day of clinical rotations. While we do not offer a job placement service, we do provide all graduates and alumni with PA job listings that we receive in our department.
-In our most recent alumni survey, 96% of graduates were still working as PAs, with over half working in outpatient clinic settings.
Commitment to the Underserved
Employment in Underserved Areas
-In our most recent alumni survey, 21% of graduates were working in medically underserved areas.
Graduate/Student Highlights
-One of our graduates is currently working as a PA in Baja, Mexico, serving the rural community and a local orphanage by providing the only medical care in the area. www.siloeclinic.org
-One of our graduates is helping establish the PA Profession in New Zealand.
-Two recent grads were selected to receive full scholarships from the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) and are working in medically underserved areas.