Welcome to Physician Assistant Studies

The Physician Assistant master’s degree program takes pride in developing leaders who inspire, empower and influence positive change. The mission of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies is to prepare physician assistant graduates through educational and clinical experiences to improve the health and well-being of patients while increasing access to primary medical care in eastern North Carolina and the state. We seek to achieve this mission in an educational community where faculty, staff, clinical instructors, students, and other health care providers work together in an atmosphere of mutual respect, cooperation, compassion, and commitment.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies is to prepare physician assistant graduates through educational and clinical experiences to improve the health and well-being of patients while increasing access to primary medical care in eastern North Carolina and the state. We seek to achieve this mission in an educational community where faculty, staff, clinical instructors, students, and other health care providers work together in an atmosphere of mutual respect, cooperation, compassion, and commitment.

Vision Statement

The vision of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies is to offer our students educational and experiential opportunities that will allow them to exceed national standards of medical competence as graduates. Our students will develop the professional discernment and human empathy that will facilitate their ability to merge technology and compassionate care throughout their careers as physician assistants.

Educational Philosophy Statement

We are dedicated to providing the highest quality education and instruction possible by immersing faculty and students in an environment that cultivates a sense of academic, professional, and service excellence. We respond to suggestions for modification and enrichment of the program from all who participate in the educational process because we view learning as a reciprocal and collegial interaction.

Diversity and Inclusion Statement

We promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion as core values of the ECU PA Program. We strive to matriculate students of diverse backgrounds that are representative of the patient populations physician assistants serve. We empower ECU PA students to promote inclusive healthcare literacy, wellness, and reduction in healthcare disparities in patient populations.

Program Goals:

These goals support the mission and vision of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Our goals are to educate future physician assistants who:

#1: Possess the appropriate knowledge and skills to succeed in clinical practice.

Benchmark: 1st time PANCE rate at or above the National average.

Benchmark: Surveyed 6 months after graduation.

Benchmark: 100% of students pass the summative exam (assessment of clinical practice readiness, skills and professionalism).

#2: Are from North Carolina and have a desire to practice in and serve the communities of rural and/or medically underserved North Carolina.

Benchmark: 80% of matriculates will be from North Carolina.

Benchmark: 20% of Alumni reports on survey 6 months after graduation that that they work in a Medically Underserved  and/or Health Professional Shortage area.

Benchmark: All ECU PA students have one or more clinical rotations located in areas designated as rural and/or medically underserved.

#3: Are called to serve in primary care, providing patient-centered comprehensive care to those patient populations.

Benchmark: 25% of Alumni report on survey 6 months after graduation that they work in Primary Care.

#4: Represent the community we serve.

Benchmark: 20% of matriculating cohorts will have students with one or more of the following attributes: 1st generation college, military service, bilingual, low socioeconomic household, and/or from a geographically medically underserved area (MUA).