1. Program Philosophy, Mission, and Goals
Program Philosophy
The Master’s in Physician Assistant Studies program at the MGH Institute of Health Professions will immerse students in the study of medicine through an integrated curriculum that prepares graduates for collaborative practice across a variety of healthcare settings. The program is based on a philosophy that values professionalism, respect for all individuals, and the provision of excellent team-based, patient-centered care. We believe that physician assistants (PAs) serve an important role in meeting the healthcare needs of patients and society, working with medical professionals in a variety of healthcare settings as clinicians, educators, administrators, scholars, advocates and consultants. Professional education should be a dynamic process, preparing graduates to be competent, broadly-skilled, reflective practitioners in primary care and other healthcare settings. As medicine continues to evolve at an increasingly rapid pace, it is imperative that our students develop the ability to identify what they don’t know and need to know, to find reliable, evidence-based answers, and to apply these skills to competent and compassionate patient care. Through a curriculum designed to meet the needs of the adult learner in both the didactic and clinical phases of the program, we will foster intellectual challenge and inquiry in an atmosphere of academic and clinical scholarship within which students and faculty share responsibility for lifelong learning.
Mission Statement
The Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program (MPAS) at MGH Institute of Health Professions will prepare PA graduates to provide compassionate and highly competent medical care for patients across the lifespan.
Vision
The MPAS will strive to:
- Promote evidence-based, collaborative practice among students and faculty in the classroom and clinical settings through the innovative use of a team-based learning approach to teaching.
- Graduate PAs who are prepared to assume leadership in their practice and the PA profession.
- Promote the value of the PA role on interprofessional teams and in health care settings in and around the Boston metropolitan area.
Goals
- Recruit highly qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds.
- Demonstrate greater than a 4 on a 5-point Likert scale on student satisfaction metrics.
- Maintain an attrition rate at or below 5%.
- Obtain a 100% first-time taker pass rate on the PANCE.
- Graduates will be employed within 6 months of passing the PANCE.