LHU Admissions INTRO to theLHU Admissions INTRO to theGraduate Physician Assistant ProgramGraduate Physician Assistant Program

• General Cycle Schedule

• Open House Info• Application Process

and Deadlines

• Requirements• Encouraged

Activities• Interview Session P

lan

• About the Program• Program Outcomes• Program Mission• 4 Campuses• PA Program Staff

General Cycle Schedule• Fall/Spring Open Houses• Spring

– CASPA • opens Late April/early May (April 22nd 2015)• closes Oct 1st (about 700 applications per cycle)

• Summer: – Lori confirms complete applications, marks pre-reqs as complete and assigns reviews out– Sarah looks for fast track auto interviews (High score all criteria met applicants get expedited),

declines and overall CASPA flow– Faculty review applications and upload their decision regarding interviewing

• Interview offers made in a rolling fashion – Elizabeth emails interview offer letters, collects responses, sorts interview score sheets,

corresponds seat offer list with admissions, tracks seat offers)• Fall:

– Interviews Run from August-November– Seat offers made in a rolling fashion until the class is filled (some seats are reserved until the

last interview date)• List of conditional and unconditional offers (different letters from admissions)

– Student ID# and LHU email generated?

• $500 deposit– Waitlist selection in December

Open House Info

• http://paportal.lhup.edu/PA/DesktopDefault.aspx?pid=18&tabid=0

• Join us for an open house...• If you would like to register for one of the sessions, you

may do so online here.  Simply select which campus you would like to visit here:

• LHU's Main Campus • LHU's Clearfield Campus• LHU's Coudersport Campus • LHU's Dixon University Center Campus: check back

soon for upcoming dates

• NEED TO ADD HBG

Open House sign-up

• What happens?

Application Process and Deadlines

• 2015-2016 admissions cycle April 22nd-October 1st • Apply through the Centralized Application Service for

Physician Assistants (CASPA) – https://portal.caspaonline.org/

• Official report of GRE scores directly to CASPA (Designated Institution (DI) Code 8827). 

• Interview offers start in the summer, and end in October.• Student notice of status by December.

– Does not Meet Requirements– Decline after interview– Hold until final review in December (then offered seat, waitlisted or

declined)– Accepted/offered seat

Requirements

• baccalaureate degree • cumulative grade point average of at

least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale • minimum score of 300 on the

Graduate Record Exam within the past 3 years.  

• satisfactory completion of all pre-requisite courses listed below

Pre-req Courses

• Candidates are eligible to apply if they will complete all prerequisite courses prior to the start of the program in May.

• Grade of B or better is required in all these pre-requisite courses:1. General Chemistry I2. General Chemistry II3. Two Biology or Zoology Courses4. Human Anatomy*5. Human Physiology*6. Microbiology7. Human Genetics8. Statistics

*Anatomy and Physiology courses must be completed within 5 years of matriculation.  A combined two semester anatomy/physiology is acceptable.All required courses must be completed within 10 years of matriculation. Science courses with labs are preferred.

Suggested Courses

• We are looking for a pattern of academic rigor and success.

• Advanced Coursework in – Biology (Virology, Immunology, Cell or

Molecular Bio) – Chemistry (Biochemistry, Organic 1&2)– Physics 1&2– Psychology and behavioral sciences– Anatomy & Physiology

Encouraged Activities

• Shadowing with PA’s• Patient Care experiences

– CNA, EMT, phlebotomy, etc

• Service/Volunteerism • Underserved exposure• Research • Life experience

About the Program• Only State program in PA (think of veterans with GI Bill)• 24 month program leads to a Masters of Health Science

Degree, that is awarded by Lock Haven University, and a certificate as a Physician Assistant.

• 4 locations: Lock Haven University Main Campus, Clearfield Branch Campus, Dixon University Center Campus in Harrisburg, PA, and Cole Memorial Campus in Coudersport, PA

• use of state of the art technology via highly interactive internet and instructional TV (ITV) delivery.

• module based teaching format

• Program Glossy link: http://paportal.lhup.edu/pa/files/File/admissionsInfo/PA%20program_glossy.pdf

Curriculum

• 24 Month Program, May-May– 12 months didactic– 12 months clinical

• Didactic Year– Modular approach– Service Learning

• Local and International opportunities

Clinical Year• Rotations: 6 weeks each (May-May)

1. Pediatrics2. Internal Medicine3. Surgery4. Emergency Medicine 5. Women’s Health6. Primary Care7. Mental and Behavioral Health or

Elective8. Elective

Clinical Year

• Rotation sites at various facilities throughout PA and US

• Students dynamically review student evaluations of clinical sites and create wish list

• Students encouraged to assist program to identify potential new sites– Program has final say on all

rotations

Program Outcomes

• Graduates– ~60% practicing in PA– ~45% practicing in Primary Care

• NCCPA Certification Exam (“Board”) pass rates– Class of 2014 1st time pass rate: 96%– Five year average 1st time pass rate: 95%– Overall: >99%

• ARC-PA– Continuing Accreditation– Next site-visit: 2017

• Degree awarded:– Master of Health Science

Program Mission

• The mission of the program is to educate highly-skilled Physician Assistants who:– are capable of providing quality health care– have expertise in the health care needs of the medically

underserved– are prepared to critically evaluate, and become leaders in

bringing about improvement in the medical and social systems that affect the health of underserved populations

– will seek and retain employment as primary care Physician Assistants in medically underserved areas of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Technology

• Technologically enhanced– ITV connectivity – Laptops are required and essential – Curriculum available online– Computerized Testing– Minimal expense on hard volume texts

• Online Textbooks at Clinical Key

– VMware “virtual” computing

Staff

CoudersportDebbie ClineAdmin Assistantdcline@lhup.eduX2604

Lock HavenLori BeersAdmin AssistantAdmissions requirements; interview session supportlbeers@lhup.eduX2929

Lock HavenCandace GibsonAdministratorcgibson@lhup.eduX2037

HarrisburgElizabeth GlabusAdmin AssistantInterview and Seat offers CASPA correspondence lbeers@lhup.eduX2929

Faculty• Lock Haven:

– Walt Eisenhauer: Dept Chair– Anna Mae Smith– Lane Bower– Amber O’Brian

• Clearfield:– Curtis Grenoble: Program Director– Jen Bell

• Coudersport– Pam Ruane

• Harrisburg:– Craig Ernst: Academic Coordinator– Sarah Lewis

Lock Haven University PA Program4 Campus Locations

One Program, One Curriculum

Coudersport

Four Campus Locations: One Program, One

Curriculum• On-site faculty advisors

– Lock Haven: 4 faculty– Branch Campuses: 2 faculty each

• Smaller Class Size• Intimate learning environment

– Discussion groups – Physical diagnosis labs– Cadaver labs

Four Campus Locations: One Program, One

Curriculum• Lectures are delivered

simultaneously to all campuses– Via fully interactive video conferencing – State of the art facilities & technology

Lock Haven

Clearfield

Clearfield

Coudersport

Harrisburg

Interview Session Plan

• Intro to LHU’s PA Program• Complete an Essay• Basic Science Quiz (on paper)• Get your Picture taken by Lori• Student led tour of Willis Health

Professions Building • Interview by team of faculty, alumni,

students• Q&A with students