MISSION

The primary mission of the University of North Dakota Physician Assistant Program is to prepare selected health care professionals to become competent physician assistants working collaboratively with physician supervision, emphasizing primary care in rural and/or underserved areas of North Dakota, the United States and the world.  

With this mission, the goal is to improve access to healthcare, help alleviate shortages of primary care providers and deliver comprehensive, affordable health care services to the people of rural and/or underserved populations.

VISION

The vision of the University of North Dakota Physician Assistant Program is to strive for continued excellence in PA education while developing competent graduates to provide comprehensive quality health care to all. This will occur through innovation in teaching with technology and incorporating novel methods of simulation throughout the unique curriculum.  This, combined with increased collaboration with clinical sites will enhance application of learning allowing the UND PA Program within the School of Medicine and Health Sciences to become the national PA program of choice for both students and employers looking for primary care providers.

CORE VALUES

Education – foster critical thinking skills for the life-long learning of students, faculty and staff
Innovation – commit to excellence by continual program assessment and improvement
Service – address the health care needs of people in rural/underserved areas
Commitment - accountability to the student, program, institution and profession
Professional – model ethical behavior with compassion, caring and respect

PHILOSOPHY

The Program’s approach to education is based on the philosophy that adult students are mature, highly motivated, and have a rich resource of past personal and professional experiences for present learning. While the faculty and preceptor serve as catalysts, learning is the responsibility of the student. The interdisciplinary teaching approach integrates previous clinical skill and knowledge utilizing multiple techniques to facilitate learning. The goal is preparation of the student as a primary care provider in a variety of settings, utilizing a problem-oriented approach to logical thinking and sound judgment.

Furthermore, the Program faculty believes that physician assistants are accountable and responsible for the quality of their practice and for life-long learning to assure their ability to continually improve the care they deliver.

Also central to the Program’s mission is the Physician/PA Student Team development.  A unique characteristic of the UND PA Program is the partnering of the student with a primary care preceptor throughout the entire clinical portion of the Program. No candidate is admitted into the Program without the agreement of  a practicing physician in Primary Care who is committed to serve as a preceptor for the length of the Program.  This team approach forms the foundation and models the physician and physician assistant relationship inherent in a primary care PA’s clinical practice.  By completing the majority of clinical experiences in the office of a practicing primary care physician, students are assured of exposure to the common primary care problems in a practice setting.  It is under the aegis and supervision of the preceptor in a one-to-one teaching relationship that the student gains clinical competencies and accomplishes role integration.  This is closely monitored and augmented by the Program faculty.

PROGRAM OUTCOMES

Program Outcomes

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