Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Assistant Professor Reamer L. Bushardt, Pharm.D, PA-C, program director; Assistant Professor Wanda C. Gonsalves, M.D., medical director; Assistant Professor Kevin J. Harmon, MSPAS, PA-C, academic coordinator; Assistant Professor Arnie E, Metz, Jr., M.A., PA-C, admissions coordinator; Assistant Professor Mary L. Hewett, M.S., PA-C, clinical coordinator for evaluation and testing; Instructor Martha R. Green, PA-C, clinical coordinator for operations; Assistant Professor Paul F. Jacques, Ed.M., DHSc, PA-C, associate department chair for research, D. Glen Askins, Jr., M.D., department chair and senior medical advisor; Assistant Professor Shaun A. Nguyen, M.A., M.D., director of translational research.

Introduction
The Physician Assistant (PA) Program established in 1996 is the only PA program in South Carolina. The University instituted the program to help meet the diverse health care needs of South Carolina. The program admits a group of students beginning May of each year into its two-year (27 months) curriculum. The students are awarded a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) degree upon completion of the program’s academic requirements. Fifteen months of didactic coursework and one year of clinical education are closely supervised by full- and part-time faculty.

PA Program Mission
Physician Assistants are formally educated to provide diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative health care services with the direction of a physician. The physician assistant profession was developed to increase access to healthcare in areas that are medically underserved, such as rural and inner city areas. They are cost-effective, productive members of the healthcare team.

The mission of the Physician Assistant Program at the Medical University of South Carolina is to prepare compassionate, diverse graduates to collaborate with physicians to provide high quality health care to all patients. The program uses current medical and information technology to provide training with an emphasis in primary care and evidence-based medicine. Graduates become life-long learners who seek opportunities to advance their profession.

The Program supports the growth of the profession in underserved and culturally diverse areas. The Program strives to establish a diverse student body and faculty. It continually seeks to improve the program by making curricular changes and increasing student awareness of unique healthcare challenges and special needs, and prepare its graduates to provide the highest quality care.

PA Program Vision
To be recognized nationally for PA education, research, and service.

Purpose and Objectives
Objectives

1. The specific objectives of the program are to
2. Educate the student to function as a competent, compassionate, and dedicated physician assistant.
3. Graduate the student with the requisite medical knowledge to pass the national certification examination.
4. Sensitize the student to the diversity of health care needs and the impact of socioeconomic factors on health care needs and availability.
5. Recruit minority and underprivileged students with the intent of having them return to their community and provide the needed health care services.
6. Foster in each student a desire to pursue medical education as a continuous and lifelong process.

The Physician Assistant is generally responsible for the following duties:

1. Eliciting a detailed and accurate medical history, performing a complete physical examination and recording all pertinent data.
2. Performing and/or interpreting routine diagnostic studies, including routine laboratory procedures, common radiological studies, electrocardiograph tracings, and Pap smears.
3. Performing therapeutic procedures, including injections, immunizations, wound care, suturing, incision and drainage of superficial infections, insertion of nasogastric and bladder catheters, cast application and follow‑up of simple fractures.
4. Counseling patients regarding physical and mental health, including diet, disease prevention, normal growth and development, and family planning.
5. Assisting the physician in inpatient settings by performing patient rounds, recording patient’s progress notes, and determining and implementing therapeutic plans.
6. Assisting in the delivery of services to patients requiring continuing care, i.e., at home, skilled nursing homes, and extended care facilities.
7. Facilitating the appropriate referral of patients and maintaining awareness of existing health delivery systems and social welfare resources.

Accreditation
The MUSC Physician Assistant Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant Education (ARC-PA).  The ARC-PA is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Academy of Physician Assistants, American College of Physicians, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, and Physician Assistant Education Association all cooperate with the ARC-PA as collaborating organizations to establish, maintain, and promote appropriate standards of quality for entry level education of physician assistants (PAs) and to provide recognition for educational programs that meet the minimum requirements outlined in these standards

A complete listing of accredited programs is available online at http://arc-pa.org by selecting the link for Accredited Programs. The ARC-PA is located at 12000 Findley Road, Suite 240, Duluth, GA 30097 and can be contacted by mail, telephone (770-476-1224), or fax (770-476-1738).