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.

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

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.

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

Benchmark: The program expects an average student preparedness score of at least 3.0 on a 5-point Likert scale on the Preceptor Evaluation of Students Survey.

Conclusion for Goal #1: Analysis of data from all sources confirms that program benchmarks are met. The program is successful in meeting its GOAL #1.

Goal #2 Prepare students to serve the community and various patient populations.

The program didactic curriculum includes a course – Medical Management of Various Patient Populations (MMVP). This didactic course addresses the unique healthcare needs and clinical considerations across patient populations with varying levels of access to care, health disparity, and social determinants of health. 

Survey response rate is 100% for all classes.

Benchmark: At least 90% of students respond “yes” on the Medical Management of Various Patient Populations (MMVP) Survey.

Benchmark: The program expects an average MMVP course grade of ≥73%.

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

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

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.

The Community Medicine Clinical rotation builds on the MMVP course and provides students with hands-on training in delivering care to patient populations facing significant barriers to healthcare access and complex social determinants of health.

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.

Conclusion for Goal #2: Analysis of data from all sources confirms that program benchmarks are met. The program is successful in meeting its GOAL #2.