School of Science, Health and Technology
Biology Department
Allied Health Transfer Opportunities
Dr. Margaret A. Carroll / office: C 326C

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PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT

PROGRAM

 

BECOME A PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT AT SUNY/DOWNSTATE

 

       SUNY Downstate College of Health Related Professions offers qualified MEC students preferred admission to an entry-level Bachelor of Science program in Physician Assistant Education. The Downstate program is a fully accredited 27 month program that qualifies students to sit for the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant (NCCPA) Initial Certification Examination and enables them to become licensed and registered to practice medicine as physician assistants in New York State.

Anticipated starting salary range: $52,000 – $57,000 

 

Tell me about the Profession
What  Career Opportunities would I have as a PA?

Tell me more about SUNY/Downstate's B.S. degree PA program.

What are SUNY/Downstate's minimum admission requirements?

What courses should I take at MEC?

Who should I contact at MEC?

 

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The Profession as a Physician Assistant

"The Physician Assistant is a professional member of the health care team who is qualified by academic and clinical education to practice medicine with supervision by a licensed physician. Physician Assistants follow a medical model of patient care and are qualified to perform a wide range of duties traditionally performed only by physicians. Physician Assistants obtain patient histories; perform physical examinations; diagnose illnesses; determine patient treatment plans; order and interpret laboratory, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures; prescribe medication; and provide patient education, counseling and follow-up care". 
(College of Health Related Professions1999-2000 Bulletin, SUNY/NY Health Science Center at Brooklyn, p11). 

For further information about the profession of Physician Assistant, contact the American Academy of Physician Assistants at www.aapa.org

 

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Career Opportunities as a Licensed Physician Assistant

"Employed in all health care settings and in every medical and surgical specialty, physician assistants function to increase access and enhance the quality of patient care while contributing to medical cost containment. Demand for physician assistant services is rapidly increasing with approximately six employment opportunities for every new graduate. The physician assistant’s scope of practice is delegated according to practice setting, level of expertise and health care institutional guidelines". 
(College of Health Related Professions1999-2000 Bulletin, SUNY/NY Health Science Center at Brooklyn, p11.) 

Students looking to learn more about career opportunities as a licensed Physician Assistant and other allied health careers are invited to attend yearly  Allied Health Career Seminars given at MEC by professionals practicing in their field.

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Downstate's B.S. Degree Program in Physician Assistant Education

The SUNY/Downstate Physician Assistant program is designed to provide the academic and clinical foundations for Primary Care Physician Assistants; to foster the development of the attitudes, values and behavior appropriate for professional health care providers; and to prepare students to practice in a team approach to patient care. 

Applicants first complete a minimum of 60 credits of pre-professional (prerequisite) courses before applying to the Physician Assistant Program.
Once admitted, students take 109.5 credits of upper level courses that integrates the basic sciences, social sciences, medical sciences and clinical experiences to provide a comprehensive introduction to the practice of medicine. Emphasis is placed on understanding the role and responsibilities of physician assistants in the provision of quality health service, health promotion and disease prevention, and in the treatment and management of disease states. 

The Downstate program commences in either late May or early June of each year and consists of two years of full-time study. The first year is a four semester, didactic phase consisting of lectures, laboratories, practica, and simulation experiences designed to provide students with the knowledge necessary to address patients in a clinical context. The second year is a clinical phase consisting of ten supervised clerkships (clinical training experiences) at a broad range of clinical affiliates, designed to provide seniors with a valuable opportunity to develop and refine their professional clinical skills. Graduates of the program are qualified to practice medicine as primary care Physician Assistants under the supervision of licensed physicians. 

The program is approved by the NYS Board of Higher Education and Board of Regents, and is accredited by both the NYS Department of Education and the Committee on Allied Health Education. 
taken in part from the 
(College of Health Related Professions1999-2000 Bulletin, SUNY/NY Health Science Center at Brooklyn, p11.) 

For more specific information about the PA program of study at SUNY/Downstate go to 
www.downstate.edu/CHRP/programlist 

Interested MEC students are also invited 
to go to the SUNY/CHRP campus to attend a 
Downstate PA open house 

In the Fall semester before the January application deadline go to the Downstate website to check out the SUNY/Downstate PA application procedures

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General Biology with lab 8 credits Pre-calculus 3 credits      Anatomy & Physiology with lab 8 credits English (composition and literature) 6 credits General Chemistry with lab 8 credits General Psychology   3 credits Abnormal or Life Span Psychology 3 credits Microbiology with lab 3-4 credits Humanities elective  3 credits Western Civilization elective  3 credits Other World History elective  3 credits Foreign Language  3 credits    Other recommended courses: Organic Chemistry with lab 8 credits  Biochemistry 3 credits College Physics with lab 8 credits  Computer Science course 3 credits Statistics 3 credits   Click here for a Suggested Program of Study for MEC students who want to meet the Admissions requirement of the Physician Assistant Program at SUNY/Downstate Other requirements Students should have a minimum Grade point average of 3.2 A grade of "B" is expected in all science courses 50 hours (minimum) of direct patient care experience (community service is encouraged) 3 letters of recommendation at the time of application

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OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE
 at SUNY DOWNSTATE for the PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM

The Physician Assistant Program hosts a monthly Open House from July through December each year. The Open House is led by the Chairperson, Professor Dawn Morton-Rias, who provides information concerning the career as a Physician Assistant, the Physician Assistant Program at Downstate, and admission requirements for the program. Students may also bring copies of their college transcripts for individual counseling following the formal presentation. 

The Fall 2002 schedule for the Open House program is listed below. 
All meetings are on Wednesdays from 4-6 PM in Room 8 F/G of the Health Science Education Building
395 Lenox Road 
Brooklyn, NY

September 
October 
November 
December 

If you would like to attend one of the Open House programs, please register by calling the Physician Assistant Department at 718-270-2324, and give your name, address, phone number, and the date on which you would like to attend.

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Students increase their chances for acceptance by participating in this program offered specifically for MEC students through the articulation agreement.

 

Dr. Margaret A. Carroll is the Biology Department’s Allied Health advisor and SUNY/CHRP Articulation Agreement Coordinator. 

 

Students should be Biology Majors seeking an A.S. in Science or B.S. in Biology degree and are required to meet with Dr. Carroll before applying for admission to SUNY/CHRP.

Dr. Carroll is located in room C-326C and can be by email    Students can also leave a written message in her mailbox in room C-326A.

 

For more information about SUNY/Downstate College of Health Related Professions visit their web site at
www.downstate.edu/CHRP/default.html

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Suggested Program of Study for MEC Students

 who want to meet the admissions requirement of the Physician Assistant program at SUNY/Downstate

 

Third Semester                              15 Credits			Fourth Semester                        16 Credits
BIO   202	General Biology II	4	ENGL 211	Introduction to Literature	3
BIO   152	Anat. & Phys. II	4	PSYC 101	Introduction to Psychology	3
CHM  201	General Chemistry I	4	HIST  200	Growth & Development Of the USA	3
HIST  101	World Civilization I	3	CHM  202	General Chem. II	4
					3

 

Fifth Semester                               16 Credits			Sixth Semester                          16 Credits
HIST  102	World Civilization II	3	PHY  114	Basic Physics	3
MTH   151	Pre-Calculus I	4	CHM  303	Organic Chemistry I	4
PSYC 301	Abnormal Psychology	3	SSC  101	Cultural, Society & Social Change	3
BIO    261	Microbiology	4	CS    100	Internet & Web Technologies	3
MUS  100	Introduction to Music	2	PSYC 229	Human Development across the Life Span	3

 

Seventh Semester                         16 Credits			Eighth Semester                        15 Credits
MTH   202	Calculus I	4	MTH    203	Calculus II	4
PHY   205	General Physics I	4	PHY    206	General Physics II	4
CHM  304	Organic Chemistry II	4	CHM   341	Biochemistry	4
MTH 209	Elementary Statistics	4	PSYC  213	Social Psychology	3

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Notes

Medgar Evers students interested in a career as a Physician Assistant are invited to join the
Collegiate Science & Technology Entry Program (CSTEP).  

This program is funded through a grant from the NYS Education Department and is designed to increase the number of historically underrepresented and economically disadvantaged undergraduate students who successfully complete pre-professional education programs of study that lead to careers in Biology, Applied Biology, Medical and Paramedical fields.

CSTEP provides students with special courses, enrichment activities, tutoring services and opportunities for travel and paid research internships.

Students interested should contact Dr. Edward J. Catapane, CSTEP Program Director.

 

Students should apply to the Department of Biology for an A.S. Degree in Science upon successful completion of the courses listed in the first four semesters. Students who successfully complete the courses listed in the 

first 5 semesters, with a GPA of at least 3.2,

will have met all the prerequisite requirements, enabling them to apply for admission into the

SUNY/Downstate Physician Assistant B.S. Degree Program.

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