The Masters of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) program at Grand Valley State University (GVSU) is dedicated to providing an education to successfully admitted students without regard to disability status. No qualified candidate shall be excluded from consideration for admission, participation, and matriculation within the Physician Assistant Studies (PAS) program as long as they are able to perform the intellectual and technical skills required for medical practice as a Physician Assistant (PA).  

 

Successful completion of the MPAS degree does require students meet certain intellectual and technical skills. The granting of a degree to a PAS student signifies that the holder is an individual prepared for employment as a PA. In such a professional role, the PA can provide medical services in accordance with the applicable scope of practice laws. The PA must have the knowledge and skills to function in a broad variety of clinical situations and to render a wide spectrum of patient care.

 

Technical and Intellectual Requirements

• A candidate for the GVSU PAS program must have the capacity to integrate all information received by whatever sense(s) employed, consistently, efficiently, and accurately. They must have the intellectual ability to learn, integrate, analyze, and synthesize information. Traditionally, these skills are accomplished with the integration of the functional somatic senses of touch, vision, hearing, and smell and the candidate’s motor capacity. A candidate without the complete function of these abilities or senses may use technological accommodations* to perform the role of a PA in a reasonably independent manner.
• A candidate must have the ability to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures.
• A candidate must have the ability to function effectively under stress and possess the ability to adapt to changing environments, schedules, resources, and situations. They must possess compassion, integrity, concern for others, and self-motivation.
• A candidate must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written English in the classroom and with other professionals of the health care team.
• A candidate must have the ability to respond compassionately to a diverse population, including but not limited to diversity in gender, age, culture, race, religion, disabilities, and sexual orientation.             

 

          ^*Such accommodations are not provided by the GVSU PAS program.

 

The GVSU PAS program is committed to supporting all successfully admitted PAS students. Additionally, the GVSU Student Accessibility Resources provides support resources and accommodations to enhance the learning environment for persons with disabilities, such as alternative technology, textbooks, testing, etc. For questions, please contact the GVSU DSR:

 

GVSU DSR

1 Campus Drive

215 The Blue Connection

Allendale, MI 49401-9403

Phone: (616) 331-2490

https://www.gvsu.edu/accessibility/

 

This form will be required to be reviewed by a healthcare professional when the GVSU Health and Immunization form is completed and prior to starting the PA program.

 

For any questions regarding these standards, please contact the program Academic Coordinator, Cathy Tomek, at 616-331-5630 or [email protected].