Mission, Goals & Outcomes

Learn how we are continuing to innovate our Physician Assistant Studies program and see PA graduate feedback.

Mission Statement

The mission of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program is to develop competent and compassionate physician assistants by providing students with education and experiences that support professional excellence and engagement with various patient populations and communities.

Goals & Outcomes

Goal #1

Prepare competent healthcare providers for entry level clinical practice.

Benchmark: The program strives to achieve the 1st time pass rate within 5% of the national mean or above.

Benchmark: The program expects at least 60% positive responses (this is equivalent to at least 3.0 on a 1-5 Likert scale) on the Graduate Exit Survey.

Survey response rate: PA 2023 – 55%, PA 2024 – 88%, PA 2025 – 91%

Benchmark: The class mean End of Curriculum (EOC) score is within 5% of the national mean or above.

Goal #2

Prepare students to serve the community and various patient populations.

Benchmark: At least 90% of students respond “yes” on the Medical Management of Vulnerable and Medically Underserved (MMVU) Survey.

The program didactic curriculum includes a course – Medical Management of Vulnerable and Medically Underserved (MMVU). As a result of this course, the program expects at least 95% of students to understand social determinants of health, health disparities, and populations at risk.

Survey response rate is 100% for all classes.

Benchmark: The program ensures 100% student participation in service-learning experiences including Community Medicine and Mobile Health Clinic during the clinical phase.

Community Outreach and Mobile Health Clinic Sites: Catholic Charities, Senior Center, Mexican Consulate, Nevada Homeless Alliance, Volunteers in Medicine of Southern Nevada, Homeless Encampments, The Shade Tree Women’s Shelter, Safe House, Friends of the Desert, Salvadoran Consulate, The Giving Project, The Catholic Worker, Guatemalan Consulate

Benchmark: The Graduate Exit Survey feedback indicates that the class mean Likert score is at least 3.0 on a 1 to 5 Likert scale.

Survey response rate: PA 2023 – 55%, PA 2024 – 88%, PA 2025 – 91%

Benchmark: The Community Medicine Preceptor Evaluation of Students survey feedback indicates that the class mean Likert score is at least 3.0 on a 1 to 5 Likert scale.