Stephens College is proud to announce for the second year in a row all graduates of the Master of Physician Assistant Studies program received a first-time 100% pass rate on the National Certifying Exam. The pass rate is an indicator of the program’s dedication to excellence in teaching and the ability to prepare students to practice medicine. Students must graduate from a physician assistant program accredited by the ARC-PA to sit for the exam.
“Student success is due to two main elements: a faculty that is dedicated to the program and the PA profession, and highly motivated students. We are extremely proud of the Class of 2019 for their hard work and dedication to learning medicine,” said Dr. Megan Blakemore, director of the physician assistant studies program. “Stephens prepares students to be patient-centered providers who will become leaders in their profession.”
"Attaining a 100% PANCE board pass rate for the second consecutive year, in the first two graduating cohorts of our MPAS program, is an impressive accomplishment," said Dr. Julia Moffitt, dean of the School of Health Sciences. "It speaks to the level of commitment to excellence that our students, faculty and staff within the PA program have made. This commitment to excellence is what leads to the very best outcomes in patient care."
The Stephens PA program is a full-time, 27-month professional program, providing 13 months of didactic education and 14 months of clinical training. Clinical rotations include family medicine, women’s health, pediatrics, general surgery, internal medicine, behavioral medicine and emergency medicine. Stephens has partnered with area hospitals, clinics, private practice groups and individual providers to offer the highest quality clinical training by providers who are dedicated to their patients and to the students they teach.
About the Stephens College PA program
The Stephens College PA program welcomed its charter class in August 2016; the College opened a state-of-the-art Center for Health Sciences at Sampson Hall the same year to house the program. The program is part of the School of Health Sciences that also includes a Master of Education in Counseling as well as undergraduate programs in health science, biology, pre-professional tracks and equestrian studies. The program is accredited nationally by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistants (ARC-PA) and prepares students to be compassionate, team-based, service-minded caregivers who positively impact the ever-changing and demanding health care environment.