Become a Skilled and Caring Physician Assistant with Expert Guidance in the PA Program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore
When you join the graduate Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant studies (MMS-PAS) program at UMES, you’ll join a program that is invested in promoting diversity and providing equal opportunity—especially to students from multicultural backgrounds. You’ll become a member of a thriving community of faculty, peers, and alumni as dedicated to compassionate healthcare as you are.
UMES is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. The UMES PA program has been granted Accreditation-Provisional status by the ARC-PA.
Curriculum
The UMES PA Program is a 28-month, full-time graduate professional medical sciences program designed to be taken over nine consecutive semesters with a curriculum emphasis on primary care medicine and clinical methods. The program operates within The School of Pharmacy and Health Professions and trains learners to become ethical, compassionate and professional health care providers while preparing them for certification and licensing as graduate PAs. A Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MMS-PAS) degree is awarded upon successful program completion.
It is important to note that all courses must be taken at UMES while enrolled in the Physician Assistant Program to count toward a student’s MMS-PAS degree. At this time, the UMES PA Program does not award or grant advanced placement. Under no circumstances will graduate level courses taken during a student’s undergraduate education, or at any time prior to beginning the Physician Assistant Program, count towards the MMS-PAS degree. For example, if a student takes the required Applied Anatomy prior to his/her first semester in the PA Program, the course will not count towards his/her MMS-PAS degree and the student will be required to retake the course as part of his/her PA education. Furthermore, transfer credits will not be accepted.
PA Program Curriculum:
Didactic Year
The didactic year is sixteen (16) months and provides students with a firm background in basic medical science, stressing the importance of patient interaction and teamwork in medicine through courses such as clinical medicine, history and physical examination, pharmacology, scientific basis of medicine, and diagnostic tests. Didactic instruction is primarily delivered by Physician Assistants. Physicians and Nurse Practitioners may also lecture based upon skill set. Other medical professionals may be used for lectures or support depending on skill and course; however, Resident Physicians are not used for instruction.
Clinical Year
The clinical year is twelve (12) months and consists of eight (8) five (5) week Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs). SCPEs occur with physicians who are specialty board certified in their area of instruction, NCCPA certified PAs, and other licensed health care providers qualified in their area of instruction. Students will participate in callback activities on the Thursday and Friday of the fifth week of each rotation.
Required SCPEs
- Family Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- Surgery
- Pediatrics
- Women’s Health including prenatal and gynecologic care
- Behavioral and Mental Health Care
- Elective
SCPE Rotation Settings
- Emergency Department
- Inpatient
- Outpatient
- Operating Room
Student Life in the Physician Assistant Department at UMES
As a student in the PA program at UMES, you will have access to all of the wonderful student resources and events available on campus and in the surrounding communities. As you start your clinical rotations, we will connect you with the many prestigious clinics, hospitals, and other healthcare facilities in the area to receive experience working in diverse settings throughout the Maryland area. The University of Maryland Eastern Shore is located in a quiet community that is ideal for learning and studying, all while being only three hours by car from the rich cultural and recreational activities of Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Virginia Beach.
Student Housing at UMES
For more information on student housing at the UMES, please contact the Office of Residence Life at (410) 651-6144 or e-mail her here.
Available Careers as a Physician Assistant
Our curriculum will prepare you to become a well-rounded PA with expertise in many fields and duties. After all, what is a physician assistant without the training and compassion needed to serve their patients? As a physician assistant, you will work interdependently with physicians to provide a wide variety of diagnostic and therapeutic patient care.
One of the best parts of graduating from the PA program at UMES is the freedom to work in diverse settings—including private physician offices, hospitals, nursing homes, community health centers, schools, correctional institutions, and federal government agencies. When you join the Physician Assistant program at UMES, you won’t just be preparing for a career doing what you love and helping patients recover and remain healthy. You’ll also be entering one of the fastest-growing career fields in the country. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment for physician assistants is predicted to grow by 28 percent by 2031—more than quadruple the average growth for all other occupations.
AAPA Job Central- https://www.aapa.org/career-central/pa-jobsource/
Physician Assistant Leadership Learning Academy (PALLA)- https://www.graduate.umaryland.edu/palla/
Take the Next Step
Soar above and beyond in the ever-changing world of medicine and healthcare with a degree from the PA program at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
