SUNY Downstate Transitions Physician Assistant Program to the Master of Science Curriculum
Aug 23, 2017
Expanded Opportunities Available in One of the Fastest Growing Professions
Brooklyn, NY– State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn - Downstate Medical Center’s School of Health Professions has welcomed the first class of its new Physician Assistant Master of Science (MSPA) program. This inaugural MSPA class of 45 students represent the graduating Class of 2019.
Allen Lewis, PhD, CRC, professor and dean of the School of Health Professions, said, “SUNY Downstate has graduated hundreds of highly-skilled physician assistants since our first class in 1992. Transitioning the program from the bachelor’s to a master’s level is an important step and will provide these much-in-demand healthcare professionals greater opportunities to serve patients.”
Felix Nwamaghinna, MSB, PA-C, chair and director of Downstate’s Physician Assistant Program, notes that demand for physician assistant services is steady with approximately two to three employment opportunities for every new graduate. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs for physician assistants is expected to increase 30 percent between 2014 and 2024, much faster than the seven percentage points for all occupations.
The physician assistant is a professional member of the healthcare team who is qualified by academic and clinical education to practice medicine in a physician-led team. Physician assistants perform a wide range of duties that were historically only performed by physicians.
The 27-month, full-time master’s program at Downstate is designed to provide the academic and clinical foundations for primary-care physician assistants; to foster the development of the attitudes, values, and behavior appropriate for professional healthcare providers; and to prepare students to participate in a team approach to patient care. Emphasis is placed on student understanding of the role and responsibilities of physician assistants in the provision of quality health service, in the treatment and management of disease states, meeting the health care needs of a richly diverse patient population, and fostering health promotion and disease prevention.
Physician assistants obtain patient histories, perform physical examinations, diagnose illness, determine treatment plans, order and interpret laboratory procedures, prescribe medication, and perform other duties aimed at providing patient care. They also provide patient education, counseling, and follow-up care. Employed in all healthcare settings and in every medical and surgical specialty, physician assistants function to increase access and enhance the quality of patient care while contributing to medical cost containment. The profession of physician assistants was created in the mid-1960s in the United States.
Information about Downstate Physician Assistant program admission requirements may be obtained at the link below:
Physician Assistant Program Requirements
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About SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn is one of four academic health centers (AMCs) in The State University of New York (SUNY) 64-campus system and the only SUNY AMC in New York City dedicated to health education, research, and patient care for the borough’s 2.7 million residents. Its flagship hospital, University Hospital at Downstate (UHD), is a teaching hospital and benefits from the expertise of Downstate’s exceptional medical school and world-class academic center research facilities. With a staff of over 800 physicians representing 53 specialties and subspecialties, Downstate offers comprehensive healthcare services to the community.
UHD provides high-risk neonatal and infant services, pediatric nephrology, and dialysis for kidney diseases and is the only kidney transplantation program in Brooklyn. Beyond its clinical expertise, Downstate houses a range of esteemed educational institutions, including its College of Medicine, College of Nursing, School of Health Professions, School of Graduate Studies, and School of Public Health. Downstate fosters innovation through its multifaceted biotechnology initiative, the Biotechnology Incubator and BioBAT, which support early-stage and more mature biotech companies.