Physician Assistant
Master of Science in Physician Assistant
The South University Richmond Master of Science in Physician Assistant program offers fundamental medical concepts and theories, provides students with the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to function with physician supervision, as medical professionals who will serve as valued members of the health care team. Physician assistants perform medical functions that include, but are not limited to, evaluation, monitoring, diagnostics, therapeutics, counseling, and referral. The scope of the practice varies according to state laws, the medical setting, and the training of the physician assistant. In many states, physician assistants can prescribe and/or dispense medicine. The MS in Physician Assistant program at South University’s Richmond campus is designed to provide students with effective learning opportunities that will prepare them to perform their expected competencies in an ethical, legal, safe and effective manner upon graduation.
Accreditation Review Commission on Education for Physician Assistant
The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation - Provisional status to the South University-Richmond Campus Physician Assistant Program sponsored by South University.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation- Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.
Take the Next Step in Your Medical Career
Admission Requirements
The South University, Richmond Physician Assistant program participates with the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). Please refer to the application process tab for instructions. Individuals whose applications are reviewed positively will be invited for a personal on-campus interview.
Applicant Criteria
Selection for the Physician Assistant program is highly competitive. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview or admission. Successful applicants will generally exceed the minimum criteria. The following criteria represent the minimum conditions established for students interested in applying to the South University Physician Assistant Master of Science degree programs:
Applicants must have an earned bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited U.S. institution.
Applicants must have an overall GPA as calculated by the CASPA service of 3.0 or greater (on a 4.0 scale) (including undergraduate, post-baccalaureate, and graduate coursework)
Applicants should have a Biology-Chemistry-Physics (BCP) science GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) as calculated by the CASPA service.
Applicants must submit scores from the GRE general exam directly to the CASPA service using the South University PA program code 7147.
At least one reference on the CASPA application must be from a physician (MD/DO), Physician Assistant, or Nurse Practitioner with whom the applicant has worked or shadowed and to whom the applicant is not related. Impressive, well- articulated, and unequivocal letters attesting to the applicant’s motivation, communication and interpersonal skills, professionalism, and future contribution towards health care are considered competitive. Preference is granted to applicants with letter(s) from a PA.
Preference will be given to those with GRE scores at the 50th percentile or above.
Preference will be given to those with an overall GPA at or above 3.3
Preference will be given to those with a prerequisite (BCP) GPA at or above 3.15
Prerequisites
Students must complete all prerequisite courses listed below with a grade of C or better at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university prior to submission of his/her application.
Human Anatomy (1 course) and lab
Human Physiology (1 course) and lab
General Biology (2 courses)
General Chemistry (2 courses) and labs
Microbiology (1 course) and lab
Biochemistry (1 course) –or– Organic Chemistry (1 course) and lab
Prerequisite coursework which is obtained from a four-year college or university and which is designed for science majors is considered more competitive.
In general, prerequisite coursework with titles that include “Essentials of,” “Survey of,” or “Introductory to,” unless specifically designed for science majors, are considered less competitive.
Human Anatomy and Physiology may be taken as standalone courses or as part of a sequence. In the event that the courses are taken as part of a sequence, only a completed sequence of Human Anatomy and Physiology I and II will be accepted.
Basic science courses should be those for science majors. Microbiology courses must be 200/2000-level courses or higher. The General Biology and Biochemistry courses are recommended to include a lab, but it is not required.
Only courses (excluding General Biology and Biochemistry) with an associated lab will be given credit for fulfilling prerequisite requirements. In the event that a laboratory is not offered with a prerequisite course, applicants may request the lab requirement for that course be waived by contacting the program. Lab waivers and/or course substitutions are granted at the discretion of the Admissions Committee. Applicants requesting a waiver should be prepared to submit supporting documents, including, but not limited to, course descriptions.
The South University Physician Assistant program accepts credit for Advanced Placement (AP) courses. AP courses taken and successfully completed will be counted as one course credit towards completion of the respective prerequisite subject. Grades earned in AP courses are not used in the calculation of the applicant’s overall or prerequisite GPA.
The South University Physician Assistant program does not accept College Level Examination Program (CLEP) credit for any prerequisite requirements.
The South University Physician Assistant program does not accept a transfer of credits from other physician assistant programs or provide enrolled students with a waiver of credit (i.e., advanced placement) for any component of the required curricular coursework. All students must complete each course in the South University Physician Assistant curriculum.
Clinical Experience
Clinical experiences should provide the applicant with a knowledge of and orientation to the presentation, signs, and symptoms of a variety of ill or injured patients. Preference is given to applicants with clinical experience that includes direct patient care. However, there is no requirement for a predetermined number of hours (or months) of health care experience to be earned by an applicant. Such experiences are evaluated on an individual basis with regard to time spent with physician assistants or physicians observing or caring for patients.
Admissions Committee Selection Factors
Applicants for admission are considered and ranked using multiple factors. Applicants are awarded preference points based upon the following selection factors:
Academic achievement (overall GPA, BCP) and entrance examination (GRE) scores.
Preference will be given to those with GRE scores (Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning) at the 50th percentile or above
Preference will be given to those with an overall GPA at or above 3.3.
Preference will be given to those with a prerequisite (BCP) GPA at or above 3.15.
Quality of letters of reference
References from PAs are preferred.
Letters from personal acquaintances are discouraged.
Quality hands-on patient care
Preference is given to applicants with clinical experience that requires direct patient care, such as: Physical Therapist, Respiratory Therapist, EMT/Paramedic, Nurse, or Certified Nursing Assistant.
Personal statement/essay
Prerequisite coursework which is obtained from a four-year college or university and which is designed for science majors
PA mentorship/shadowing experiences
Community service hours
Interview performance
Evidence of an applicant’s interpersonal skills, problem-solving ability, professionalism, motivation, academic potential, communication, knowledge of the PA profession and the health care system with an alignment to the mission and vision of the program are assessed by the Admissions Committee.
Application Requirements:
The South University, Richmond Master of Science in Physician Assistant program participates with the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). The CASPA application process requires submission of scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) and transcripts.
A completed application must be submitted through the Centralized Applications Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA). The application cycle for the January 2021 start will begin in April 2020. The deadline for all application materials to be complete* in the CASPA application portal is August 1, 2020.
To apply for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant degree program at South University, Richmond, individuals must:
- Complete CASPA online Applications including submission of all transcripts and GRE scores.
- Official GRE scores for the General Test (verbal, quantitative, and written essay) are required to be electronically submitted to CASPA through ETS (Educational Testing Service) using the Glen Allen program GRE Code: 7147. Paper copies are not accepted.
If you have questions in regard to the Application Process, please see the FAQs or contact the Richmond Physician Assistant program office by calling 804.727.6894 or by email at RichmondPAProgram@southuniversity.edu.
Please do not send transcripts directly to South University. Transcripts should be sent to CASPA.
*This is the date your application became complete and was placed in the verification queue. Your complete date is the day your final required item - a transcript, reference letter, payment, or e-submitted application - posted to your CASPA account.
Post-Acceptance Requirements
Accepted applicants will be required to complete the following items in order to obtain approval for matriculation in January:
Satisfactory Criminal Background and Drug Screen Report
Health /Immunization Requirements
Health Insurance Documentation
Baccalaureate Diploma Verification
American Heart Association (AHA) Approved Basic Life Support (BLS) Certification
FAFSA application (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) submission for those applying for financial aid
Students seeking admissions to the Physician Assistant program in the College of Health Professions should be aware that applicants with a prior felony conviction and/or a serious misdemeanor conviction will not be considered. Acceptance into a South University program or its completion does not guarantee that a student will be able to obtain subsequent licensure or certification. There is a $1000 acceptance fee, $900 of which is refundable, for those applicants accepted into the Physician Assistant program at South University, Richmond. Acceptance fees are applied towards tuition.
PANCE Certification
Graduates of an accredited Physician Assistant program must pass the national Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) in order to acquire state licensure to practice. This exam is developed jointly by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
Please click here for South University Richmond PANCE Pass Rates.
South University does not guarantee third-party certification/licensure. Outside agencies control the requirements for taking and passing certification/licensing exams and are subject to change without notice to South University.
Curriculum
South University, Richmond; South University, Savannah; and South University, West Palm Beach.
Program Goals
Please click here for information on our Physician Assistant program and effectiveness in achieving program goals.
The following are program goals for the South University, Richmond Physician Assistant program :
• The program will recruit a highly qualified, diverse student cohort that will foster success in the program.
• The program will strive to adequately prepare graduating students to achieve a first-time pass rate that exceeds the national average upon completion of the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE).
• The program will provide students service learning opportunities that allow them to use their skills and education to demonstrate compassion and commitment to the community.
(Note: Requirements for NCCPA Certification are determined by the NCCPA and are subject to change without notification to South University. Graduation from the South University, Richmond Physician Assistant program does not guarantee certification or employment.)
Tuition and Fees
Tuition for the MS Degree
Per quarter: $9,400.00
Total tuition: $84,600.00
Required Fees for the MS Degree
Acceptance Fee: $500.00
(Non-refundable/Applied to Tuition)
Graduation Fee: $125.00
American Academy of Physician Assistant (AAPA) Student Membership Fee: $75.00
(One-time Fee)
Other Estimated Costs For the MS Degree
Professional Instruments: $1,000.00
(Approximate)
Textbooks: $1,740.00
(Approximately $10.00 per credit hour enrolled)
Surgical Scrubs: $55.00
(Approximate)
Laptop Computer and privacy screen: $1,500.00
Background Check: $200.00-400.00 (Additional fees may apply to the base package fee contingent upon credentialing requirements of the hospital.)
State Association Fees: $20.00
Exam Soft (testing software): $135.00
Estimated Total for the MS Degree
Tuition and Fees: $89,650.00
Tuition and fees are subject to change. The tuition for in-state and out-of-state residents is the same. Acceptance fee is non-refundable and upon acceptance is applied toward the student’s tuition. If a student decides not to attend after accepting, the fee will not be refunded.
All students are required to have a laptop computer with wireless internet access for use in the multimedia classroom. Purchase of these items is not recommended prior to acceptance into the program because of these very specific requirements.
Payment of Tuition and Fees
All charges are due and payable on or before the registration date for each quarter. Circumstances which prevent a student from adhering to these dates should be discussed with the financial aid office. Students attending school under grants and/or loans should confer with the financial aid office concerning payment of fees. Students attending school under the G.I. Bill may discuss payment of school fees with the Director of Financial Aid. Failure to make proper payments, unless otherwise cleared with the financial aid office, will result in dismissal from the university. Grades will not be issued, degrees granted, or academic transcripts furnished until all financial obligations have been satisfied and all university property returned. For refund policies, please see the South University catalog.
Policies and procedures for student withdrawal, refunds of tuition and fees, policies that limit or prevent students from working during the program and policies and procedures for processing student grievances can be found in the South University catalog.
Student Employment
Due to the rigorous nature of the Physician Assistant program, employment during a student's course of training is strongly discouraged.
Employment must never interfere with academic or clinical assignments.
At no time is a South University Physician Assistant student allowed to or required to work for the South University Physician Assistant program or program clinical sites.
Student Handbook
South University Student Handbook
For additional and detailed information about being a student at South University, Richmond please refer to the Student Handbook available here.
For the Physician Assistant (MS) Program Student Handbook please click here. All Physician Assistant program policies apply to all students, principal faculty, and the program director regardless of location, i.e., didactic and clinical settings.
Physician Assistant at South University
South University is committed to creating career opportunities for our students, so we provide the relevant coursework for you to meet your career goals in a position as a Physician Assistant as well as the ethical and legal competencies and effective communication skills that are integral for this profession. In addition, we instill the value of continued education in our students so you can continue to create more opportunities for success in your career.
Mission & Vision
Physician Assistant Program
Missions Statement
The South University Physician Assistant (MSPA) exists to educate a diverse student population as providers of high-quality, cost-efficient health care who will make a positive impact while practicing the art and science of medicine with physician collaboration.
Vision Statement
The South University Master of Science in Physician Assistant (PA) degree program strives to provide educational experiences where faculty, staff, clinical instructors, students, and other health care providers work together in an atmosphere of mutual respect, cooperation, and commitment. The program’s primary focus is on the development of physician assistants capable of expanding into clinical leadership roles by demonstrating proficiency in critical thinking and creative problem solving, utilizing evidence-based skills gained through innovative approaches.
Technical Standards
In order to ensure that patients receive the best medical care possible, the faculty of the South University Physician Assistant program has identified certain skills and professional behaviors that are essential for successful progression of physician assistant students in the program. A student must possess skills and behaviors at a level of capability to perform a variety of duties required of a physician assistant as a health care professional.
Students with disabilities who can perform these skills and successfully execute professional behavior either unassisted, with dependable use of assistive devices, or by employing other reasonable accommodations are eligible to apply for enrollment in the program. Minimum performance standards include critical thinking, communication skills, observation skills, motor skills, and interpersonal abilities. Interested parties may contact the Physician Assistant program office for additional information about South University performance standards. These skills and behaviors include, but are not limited to;
Critical Thinking: A student must possess the intellectual, ethical, physical and emotional capabilities required to undertake the full curriculum and to achieve the levels of competence required by the faculty. The ability to solve problems, a skill that is critical to the practice of medicine, requires the intellectual abilities of measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis. Students must be able to perform demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences.
Communication Skills: A student should also be able to speak, to hear, and to observe patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and to perceive nonverbal communications. The student must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written forms.
Observation Skills: The student must be able to observe a patient accurately, both at a distance and in close proximity. This ability requires the functional use of vision and somatic sensation.
Motor Skills: A student should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion and other diagnostic techniques. A student should be able to execute movements reasonably required to move from area to area, maneuver in small spaces, calibrate and use large and small equipment, position and move patients, and provide patients with general care and emergency treatment.
Interpersonal Abilities: A student for the Physician Assistant program must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities required for the diagnosis and care of patients and the development of professionalism through mature, sensitive, and effective relationships with patients, families, and colleagues.
Faculty
PHysician Assistant Program at West Palm Beach
Dr. Ilaria Gadalla, DMSc, MS, PA-CPhysician Assistant Program Department Chair
Physician Assistant Program Director
Dr. Gadalla joined South University in January 2016 with over 12 years of clinical experience as a Physician Assistant in the fields of Hospitalist Medicine, Cardiology, and Internal Medicine. She graduated with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Albany Medical College in Albany, New York. She completed a Doctor of Medical Science with the University of Lynchburg in Virginia. She previously worked as a Respiratory Therapist and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Cardiopulmonary Science from the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.
She is an active member of the Florida Academy of Physician Assistants (FAPA), the American College of Cardiology (ACC), a fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), a member of the Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM), the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), and the Palm Beach County Medical Society. She has a variety of leadership experience including serving as the chair of the Society of Hospital Medicine NP/PA Committee, a member of the Society of Hospitalist Medicine Practice Management Committee, a member of the Governance and Ethics Board for PAEA, and the ACC Cardiovascular Team Physician Assistants Committee.
She recently published with the Society of Hospital Medicine the Hospital Medicine NP/PA Practice Integration and Optimization Statement to assist clinicians and administrators in Hospital Medicine and to promote exceptional care for hospitalized patients. Dr. Gadalla continues to serve the local community as a volunteer clinician at the Caridad Center and enjoys painting in her spare her time.
Dr. Jeffrey M. Bishop, DO
Medical Director
Dr. Bishop is a Board Certified Family Medicine Physician who earned his degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1985. Prior to medical school, he spent 10 years in the United States Navy and earned his undergraduate degree as Bachelor of Science in Medicine as a Physician Assistant from the University of Nebraska. He was one of the youngest Physician Assistants (PA) in the United States Navy and achieved the rank of Chief Warrant Officer, which guided his path towards medical school. Dr. Bishop has been a resident of South Florida for over 60 years, and has been in the Wellington/Royal Palm Beach area servicing patients and the community for the past 30 years. He was a former owner and practicing physician at Western Communities Family Practice, the largest Primary Care Practice of its time in Palm Beach County, and retired from his very active Family Medicine Practice in 2006. He then became the Chief Medical Officer at Wellington Regional Medical Center (WRMC) and the Director of Medical Education where he served until 2013. Over the years, Dr. Bishop has held several leadership positions at WRMC and the community. He was on the Board of Governors at WRMC for 25 years, the Chairman of the Board for 5 years, Vice Chief and Chief of Staff for a period of 6 years combined, Chairman of the Utilization Management Committee, and developed the Surgery and Medicine Peer Review programs at WRMC. Dr. Bishop was awarded a Proclamation from the Mayor of Wellington in 2007 in recognition for his dedication to the local community. He developed the Medical Board of Governors in 2011 on which he continues to serve on through the Central Palm Beach County Chamber of Commerce.
In his spare time, Dr. Bishop had a professional racecar team for 15 years, which raced throughout the eastern coast of the United States.
Clinical Rotations
12 months
The clinical phase is 12 months in length. Eight five-week clinical rotations are conducted at a variety of clinical sites. Students will gain clinical exposure in the following disciplines: Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics, Women's Health, Behavioral Medicine, Emergency Medicine and the Clinical Elective.
Clinical sites are recruited by the Program’s Clinical Department and personnel from the Area Health Education Center (AHEC). Sites offer the students the wide variety of clinical experiences for that specific clinical rotation (course) and service delivery system. Students are not required to supply their own clinical sites or preceptors for clinical rotations. Sites for rotations will be determined by the department. Alternate rotation sites may be provided by the student to the Clinical Department personnel. Clinical Department personnel will evaluate sites suggested by students for viability as a clinical rotation site. In order to qualify for rotations outside of South University sites, or in student suggested sites, a student must demonstrate successful academic, clinical, and professional progress in the program.
The South University Physician Assistant program immunization policy is aligned with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Healthcare Personnel Vaccination Recommendations for health professionals. After acceptance into the program, but before registration can be successfully completed, all students must complete the South University Health Requirements. Be aware that additional immunizations may be required by some clinical training sites and are the students’ responsibility. If students choose not to be vaccinated, they will not be allowed to rotate at clinical sites that require immunizations unless expressly permitted in writing to the program by the appropriate personnel at that site. If any of the core (required) rotations cannot be completed because the student voluntarily chose not to be vaccinated as required by the clinical rotation site, the student will not be eligible for graduation from the Physician Assistant program. In addition, if the number of clinical sites available to students who have not been vaccinated does not meet graduation requirements, those students will not be eligible for graduation from the Physician Assistant program.
Physicians, physician assistants, and other health care providers serve as preceptors for clinical students in direct patient care, providing the opportunity for the student to perfect technical and procedural skills, and to become competent in communication, physical diagnosis, succinct recording and reporting, problem assessment, and development of a logical approach to further studies and therapy.
Our students rotate in busy clinics, private physician offices, teaching hospitals, large institutions, and military hospitals and clinics. Rotations exist both in small towns and metropolitan cities. Our students are offered a wide variety of experiences and locations for their clinical rotations that are designed to round out the application of knowledge and skills to actual patient care.
Outcomes
Learning Outcomes
Physician Assistant Learning Outcomes
(Graduate Competencies)
The following are the program learning outcomes (Graduate Competencies) for the South University Physician Assistant program.
Prior to graduation from the program, students will:
• 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..
• 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.
• PLO-6. Demonstrate professionalism through personal behaviors, sensitivity, and accountability essential to patients, society, and the profession.
Outstanding Education for Remarkable Careers
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