Physician Assistant Studies Department

Physician Assistant Studies Department

Physician assistants provide a variety of services including taking medical histories and performing physical examinations, ordering and interpreting lab tests, prescribing medications, assisting in surgery and counseling patients. Because of their close working relationship with physicians, physician assistants are educated in the medical model designed to complement physician training. Upon graduation, physician assistants take a national certification examination developed by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

The Department of Physician Assistant Studies at A.T. Still University of Health Sciences (ATSU) in Mesa, Ariz. prepares highly competent professionals in the art and science of medicine steeped in the osteopathic tradition of body-mind-spirit care for the whole person and service to underserved populations.

From their first day, ATSU PA students are immersed in engaged scholarship threading the philosophy of whole person healthcare and serving the underserved through classes and activities. Award winning faculty, adjuncts, and instructors provide leadership, guidance, and supervision to PA students in all phases of their education with the time honored medical education traditions of mentored Experience, Example, and Excellence. Every PA student receives certification as a trainer and conducts the national award winning, evidence-based, falls prevention program, Still Standing: A Matter of Balance™, which is delivered in teams in a variety of community based settings throughout the Greater Phoenix area.

ATSU-ASHS’ physician assistant programs are always looking for new, highly qualified, high-quality training sites. If you know of a facility interested in providing rotation or internship positions for physician assistants, please contact the Director of Clinical Education, Kim DeVore, at 480.219.6142.

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Residential Physician Assistant Programs

Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program

The entry-level physician assistant master’s program in Mesa, Arizona is a 26-month course of study preparing students to serve their community as primary care providers. ...

Faculty and staff work closely with students, helping them develop professional attributes and clinical problem-solving skills necessary for efficient and optimal patient care. During the clinical component of the program, students attend clinical rotations in several disciplines of medicine. CLOSE

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Online Physician Assistant Degree Programs

Doctor of Medical Science Program

This leading post-professional PA-specific doctorate degree provides an in-depth understanding of the elements needed to address the challenges in the U.S. healthcare system today. ATSU’s DMS is an online, 36-credit hour course of study that leads to a doctoral degree upon successful completion. ...

The program is designed for PAs who are currently, or have previously been, certified or licensed to practice as a PA. See accreditation. CLOSE

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Physician Assistant Students and Alumni

Tenneh Massaquoi, ASHS Student Testimonial

Physician Assistant Leadership

Michelle DiBaise, Department Chair, Program Director

Doctor of Medical Science Degree (DMSc) Program at ATSU

A.T. Still University | Ann Lee Burch, Dean

Athletic Training Program, ATSU | Dr. Craig Phelps, President

A.T. Still University | Clinton Normore, MBA

The ATSU-ASHS faculty consists of highly accomplished educators with strong backgrounds in both professional and academic pursuits, with over 200 years of collective teaching experience and over 300 years of clinical experience. The Department of Physician Assistant Studies faculty holds leadership positions in both national and state associations and frequently present at national and state conferences such as the

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Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants annual conference and the American Academy of Physician Assistants Annual Conference. They bring clinical expertise from many areas of medicine, including family practice, primary care, remote and rural practice, emergency/trauma, sports medicine, allergy/immunology, gastroenterology, surgery, and otolaryngology to enrich each learner’s experience. This gives students the opportunity to gain knowledge from people who have real hands-on experience and learn the skills to effectively communicate that knowledge.

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Physician Assistant Faculty & Staff

See Physician Assistant Faculty & Staff

Physician Assistants in Action

Curricula are meticulously constructed to address real-world conditions with the most current approaches available. Students grow into their profession in a learner-centered environment through face-to-face instruction, didactic clinical experiences, year-long clinical procedure laboratory, year-long history and physical exam laboratory, and regular Standardized Patient Exams (SPE) and Skills Performance Assessment Testing (SPAT) using standardized patient actors, all before their year of supervised clinical experiences in working clinics and hospitals.

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Other notable didactic training includes the inter-professional activities: Poverty Simulation and Stop the Bleed, a disaster simulation. Through a historic partnership with the National Association of Community Health Centers (CHCs), ATSU-ASHS is training whole-person, community centered practitioners through clinical rotation experiences at a CHC.

Students in the residential program are offered the opportunity to dually enroll during the clinical year in the Doctor of Medical Science Program (DMSc) at a reduced tuition.

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A.T. Still University Physician Assistant Students

Physician Assistant Outreach Showcase

Because at ATSU social determinants are as central as physiology to each patient’s care, PA students are immersed in service-learning as an indispensable part of their whole person healthcare education. The Didactic Clinical Experience (DCE) program is unique among U.S. physician assistant programs and reinforces whole person care and ATSU’s body, mind, spirit philosophy through hands-on clinical mentorship in the first year.

Clinically engaged faculty guide participation in unique office-based and community-based clinical settings including medical examiner offices, primary care practices, surgeries, community clinics for the underinsured, medical triage for the nationally acclaimed Mission of Mercy dental event, the first ever medical university-delivered Special Olympics Healthy Athletes® program, school physical exams at a title I elementary school, Corbin's Legacy, and other community wellness clinics.

The event medical services team provides supervised emergency care for events like the USA Karate Olympic Qualifier and Special Olympics’ regional and state games.

Through our partnership with the National Association of Community Health Centers and the Hometown Scholars program, our aim is to train exceptional, competent and caring physician assistants and return them to work, live, and serve their community, shifting the distribution of providers to better reflect the needs of communities. PAHx associate seal

Awards:

Annette Bettridge: NIDA Mentor Outreach Award Recipient, PA foundation and National Institute of Drug Abuse. (2019).
Randy Danielsen: AAPA Eugene A. Stead Jr. Award of Achievement (2015); Honorary Membership, Arizona School of Health Sciences Alumni Board. (May 1, 2017)
Kim DeVore: 2020 Clinical Education Award, Physician Assistant Education Association. (2020).
Michelle DiBaise: Smiles for Life Research Award, NccPA Health Foundation. (2016); Crossroads Helping Hands Award, Crossroads, Inc. (June 2016); Student Health Outreach for Wellness: Outstanding Leadership Award, Student Health Outreach for Wellness. (June 2016); AAPA PA Educator of the Year (2001).
Ray Pavlick: Osmosis Raise the Line Faculty Award (Dec, 2020).
Albert F. Simon: Recognition of Leadership, NACHC. (2019); PA of the Year, ASAPA. (March 2019)

Publications:

Vaping: Are Its “Benefits” a Lot of Hot Air?
Are E-Cigarettes a safe alternative to smoking?
10 Reasons to See a Physician Assistant
AACOM Patriot Day, Day of National Service
Asthma Control Rescue
I Am Psyched; Are You? Mental health has been segregated from primary care for decades. But as calls for integration increase, opportunity looms for PAs and NPs.
Howell, S. E., Jafferbhoy, H., Trombly, C. R., Thompson, J. D., Knutson, L. J. (in press). Dental Anesthesia for Medical Providers: A Novel Interprofessional Course. Journal of Physician Assistant Education.
MacConnell, L. S. (2019). ENT Made Easy (pp. 1-163). Banbury, Oxfordshire: Scion Publishing Ltd.
Ross, W. G., Danielsen, R. D. (2018). What's the Buzz? Treatment Strategies in Chronic Subjective Tinnitus. Clinician Reviews, 27(10), 34-41.
Simon, A.F. (2016). In A. F. Simon (Ed.), Lange Question and Answer Physician Assistant Examination. (7th ed.). New York, New York: McGraw Hill. https://www.amazon.com/Physician-Assistant-Examination-Seventh-Allied/dp/0071845054
Walsh, S. E., Tibben, T. M. Endocrinology. Appleton & Lange's Review for the Physician Assistant (8th ed.). McGraw Hill.
Weber, L. L. (2020). Advance care planning and goals of care discussion. Physician Assistant in Hospice and Palliative medicine (5:3 ed., vol. in press, pp. 309-320). Amersterdam: Elsevier.

Citations:

Dr. Danielsen’s national PA award

Grants:

DiBaise, M. O. (Principal), DeVore, K. A. (Deputy Director), Bettridge, A. (Co-Investigator), Tibben, T. (Co-Investigator), Wing, A. (Co-Investigator), Mikhail, A. (Co-Investigator), Coon, T. (Co-Investigator), "Primary Care Physician Assistants as Change Leaders: Improving Access to Quality Behavioral and Mental Health Care for the Nation's Rural and Underserved, Year 1," Sponsored by HRSA, Federal, Award: $1,496,722 over 5 years

DiBaise, M. O. (Principal), Bettridge, A. (Co-Investigator), Normore, C. (Co-Investigator), Hunsaker, D. S. (Co-Investigator), DeVore, K. A. (Co-Investigator), Wing, A. (Co-Investigator), Mikhail, A. (Co-Investigator), Coon, T. (Co-Investigator), "Recruiting, Retaining, and Placing Disadvantaged Students as Primary Care Physician Assistants in Underserved Communities, Year 1," Sponsored by HRSA, Federal, $3,000,000.00 over 5 years

Bettridge, A. (Principal), "Stamp Out Stigma: De-stigmatizing Substance Use Disorders and Co-morbid Mental Illness Through Innovative Curricular Strategies," Sponsored by PA Foundation (NIDA Mentored Outreach Award), Private, $10,000.00. (January 1, 2020 - December 31, 2020).

Bettridge, A. (Principal), "Meeting at Crossroads to Improve Smoking Abstinence," Sponsored by nccPA Health Fdn, Private, $900.48. (January 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019).

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Physician Assistant Continuing Education

UPCOMING CE COURSES
CONDUCTED BY INDUSTRY LEADERS

Explore the following courses that keep you compliant and connected.

A.T. Still University’s Continuing Education department provides support for the University’s schools, graduates and the professional community to fulfill their potential throughout their careers and ultimately impact patient care and well-being. The Continuing Education department serves to improve professional knowledge and skills; fosters a positive impact on patient outcomes; exposes clinicians to new information; and develops an interdisciplinary, healthcare team approach to treating patients and improving community/population health through the development and implementation of cost-effective, evidence-based education programs.

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