Apply
give
Apply
give

Program Goals & Achievements

Embodying respect for the importance of understanding and responding thoughtfully to the needs of patients and communities.

Professional Goals for Students Graduating from the Physician Assistant Program

Program Learning Outcomes

  • PLO 1
     Integrate behavioral, social, and medical knowledge established from the evolving biomedical and clinical sciences in recognizing, evaluating and managing patient disease states across the lifespan during acute, chronic, preventative, and emergent encounters across broad populations.
  • PLO 2
     Demonstrate the interpersonal and communication skills required to sustain effective, multi-directional information exchange within a diverse population of patients, their caregivers, and members of the healthcare team.
  • PLO 3
     Demonstrate the ability to elicit an accurate patient history, perform an appropriate physical examination, and perform appropriate clinical procedures using essential clinical and technical skills to provide quality patient care.
  • PLO 4
     Collaborate effectively as part of an interdisciplinary healthcare team through clinical reasoning and problem-solving skills to formulate a logical differential diagnosis, select and interpret appropriate diagnostic studies, and synthesize a comprehensive, patient-centered management plan for the promotion of wellness and disease prevention.
  • PLO 5
     Demonstrate the ability to interpret and integrate an evidence-based approach to clinical and professional practice through clinical reasoning, problem-solving, and decision-making processes to improve patient care practices across broad populations.
  • PLO 6
     Demonstrate professionalism through personal behaviors, sensitivity, and accountability essential to patients, society, and the profession.
  • PLO 7
     Promote health and wellness in health workforce shortage communities and with patient populations out of the mainstream of healthcare delivery.

Goals

The CUNY School of Medicine PA Program goals align with the program mission and are supported by the Competencies for the PA Profession delineated, updated, and revised in 2020 by key leadership organizations (AAPA, ARC-PA, PAEA, and NCCPA).

GOAL 1: Graduate qualified and competent Physician Assistants

  • Benchmark
    a) Above 85% of graduates are successful on PANCE first time takers attempt 
  • Outcomes
    <embed link to NCCPA current PANCE report>
  • Benchmark
    b) 100% of graduates meet Program Learning Outcomes as evidenced by Summative Evaluation (written and OSCE)
  • Outcomes
    • Cohort 2021: 100% pass rate
    • Cohort 2022: 100% pass rate
    • Cohort 2023: 100% pass rate
    • Cohort 2024: 100% pass rate
    • Cohort 2025: PENDING

GOAL 2: Provide exposure to vulnerable patient populations within the curriculum

  • Benchmark
    100% of all cohorts are exposed to (a) didactic instruction and (b) supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) that include patient care in healthcare provider shortage areas, as evidenced by Case Log Totals.
  • Outcomes
    • Cohort 2021
      • (a) Didactic phase course grades for Cross-Cultural Competencies in Counseling – PA5023: 100% pass rate
      • (b) 56% of patients were logged in community-based settings with healthcare provider shortages
    • Cohort 2022
      • (a) 100% pass rate
      • (b) 23% patients logged in heath care provider shortage areas
    • Cohort 2023
      • (a) 100% pass rate
      • (b) 50% patients logged in heath care provider shortage areas
    • Cohort 2024
      • (a) 100% pass rate
      • (b) 50% patients logged in heath care provider shortage areas

GOAL 3: Provide leadership opportunities to both students and faculty

  • Benchmark
    • a) 100% of students have leadership opportunities nationally, regionally, locally and within the institution (e.g., AAPA, NYSSPA, CUNY School of Medicine PA Program Society, PA Club leaders, etc.)
    • b) 100% of faculty participate in leadership opportunities nationally, regionally, locally and within the institution (e.g., PAEA, AAPA, NYSSPA, CUNY School of Medicine, and other professional organizations, etc.)
  • Outcomes
    • Student leadership enrollment
      • Cohort 2022: 57% students enrolled in NYSSPA; 51% in AAPA
      • Cohort 2023: 74% in NYSSPA; 60% in AAPA
      • Cohort 2024: 71% in NYSSPA; 68% in AAPA
    • Faculty: 100% of principal faculty met the goals for 2022–2024

GOAL 4: Graduates demonstrate professionalism in interpersonal and communication skills

  • Benchmark
    100% of graduates demonstrate professionalism and interpersonal skills as evidenced by:
    • a) Student Professionalism Behavior Evaluation at the end of each didactic phase course
    • b) Preceptor Evaluation of Student
  • Outcomes
    • Cohort 2022: 100% of enrolled students met benchmarks in all three areas
    • Cohort 2023: 100% met benchmarks in all three areas
    • Cohort 2024: 100% met benchmarks in all three areas

(revised 2023/reviewed annually)

Community

Alumni Working in Primary Care

The PA Program encourages graduates to practice primary care in health workforce shortage communities. It is located within Central Harlem and fosters a strong connection with the surrounding community and healthcare institutions.

Alumni Advancing Quality Care in the Highest-Need Areas

As a mission-driven program, nearly half of alumni respondents from five classes practice in communities where there are healthcare provider shortages. Students and faculty also participate in outreach activities such as:

  • Gifts Drive – Harlem Hospital Center Department of Pediatrics
  • CUNY School of Medicine Health Fair Participation
  • Bone Marrow Donation Drive
  • Project Access (local, state and national participation)
  • CUNY School of Medicine – Mini Medical School – Hypertensive Forum with Screening

Achievements

Research Topic & Award Recipients:

2023

Topic: A Review of the Scholarly Literature on the COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Substance Overdose in the United States

Authors: Lynette Alcaraz, Ramy Massoud, Bertin Moreno Rodriguez, Kyle Peterson

2022

Topic: A Literature Review: The Inflammatory Role of Poor Oral Health in Association with Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Authors: Brooke Avellino, Obed Flores, Morgan Froelich, Rezve Karim, Faradis Lindblom, Rutvik Patel, Mohamed Salama

2021

Topic: Exploration of the Association between Body Mass Index, Physical Activity, and a Sedentary Lifestyle with Female Fertility

Authors: Stefanie Campos, Jasmeet Chawla, Joelle Etienne, Jessica Goez, Lisa Lopez, Lucy Lopez, Christina P…