The mission of the Stony Brook University Physician Assistant Program is to offer the highest quality graduate-level medical education in a learning environment that fosters critical thinking, encourages professional leadership and inculcates a strong appreciation of ethical values and human diversity. Physician assistant education at Stony Brook emphasizes primary care and provides students with the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to be outstanding patient care providers.
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Philosophy and Rationale
The cornerstones of the development of the PA profession include
the mandate to provide creative solutions to existing health care
personnel needs, the shortage and maldistribution of physicians,
societal demands for more accessible and cost-effective medical care,
and the need to increase services available in primary care. The
contribution that the physician assistant profession has made towards
the resolution of these problems is well documented and has fueled
its growth and development. The excellent potential for additional
benefit in an era of managed care and experimentation with new health
care delivery and payment systems is also well recognized. These
facts justify continued preparation of physician assistants who possess:
- a strong background in the basic, behavioral,
and clinical sciences, especially as such education relates to
the provision of accessible, quality, cost-effective care in all
health care settings;
- an awareness of the expertise and contributions
of other health professionals including the benefits of an interdisciplinary
team approach to patient care; and
- a sense of humanism and concern
for the welfare of the patient, including the realization that
the patient must be viewed holistically, not as a singular medical
problem or disease state.
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General Goals and Objectives
In consideration of its mission and philosophy and rationale, the
faculty, students, and staff of the Department of Physician Assistant
Education have established the following goals and objectives:
Student Development:
- To provide a program of study and experience that equips the
student with current scientific, technical, and evidence-based
medical knowledge necessary to appropriately evaluate and manage
the patient.
- To provide students with the skills required
to ask and answer research questions and answer those questions
in an evidenced-based format.
- To help the student develop skills
in human relations, ethical behavior, and communication that
enhance her/his ability to work effectively with others and function
as a compassionate and sensitive medical care provider.
- To assist
the student to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to
collaborate effectively with peers and other health professionals.
- To
help the student appreciate the larger field of knowledge beyond
his/her own discipline and recognize
the importance of lifelong learning as a vehicle to enhance
professional growth and development.
- To foster a strong appreciation
of the value of human diversity and engender in the student
the desire to use his/her professional skills in the service of
others, regardless of such factors as race, ethnicity, gender,
religion, age, disability, creed, or sexual orientation.
- To facilitate
student appreciation of his/her responsibility as a community
role model.
- To increase student awareness of the importance
of participation in community service activities.
Program Development:
- To establish a cooperative and productive
relationship with other schools, departments, and programs in
the University, clinical affiliates, and preceptorship sites.
- To recruit and retain individuals from traditionally underrepresented
populations as students, faculty, and staff.
- To develop and maintain a fair and equitable admissions process
that responds to both the needs of the profession and society at
large.
- To implement effective continuous and periodic self-study processes
which provide ongoing monitoring and evaluation of program activities.
- To encourage and provide opportunities for continued professional
growth and development for PA faculty members.
- To foster and maintain contact with program graduates and encourage
their ongoing interest and participation in program development,
teaching, and evaluation.
Promotion of Health Care Delivery Standards:
- To promote and encourage improvement in the quality, accessibility,
and cost-effectiveness of patient care.
- To promote in theory and practice the team approach to health
care delivery.
- To promote the humanistic and ethical practice of medical care.
- To encourage and facilitate student and graduate participation
in the delivery of medical care in underserved areas.
- To facilitate student understanding of, and participation in,
new and innovative health care delivery systems.
- To increase student and graduate awareness of societal and medical
problems in the local community.
Development of the Physician Assistant Profession:
- To provide community and professional education concerning the
benefits of PA utilization, as well as PA education, roles, and
responsibilities.
- To participate in scholarly activities with the potential to
improve PA education and/or patient access to quality, cost-effective
care.
- To participate in, and work with, national, state, and local
physician assistant organizations to advance quality care, PA education,
and PA practice opportunities.
- To promote compliance with the code of ethics and related ethical
standards established for the profession by both the American Academy
of Physician Assistants and the New York State Society of Physician
Assistants.
- To encourage and facilitate student and graduate acquisition
and maintenance of professional registration and certification
by encouraging, facilitating, and providing continuing medical
education for physician assistants.
- To provide information and direction to students and graduates
on issues of concern to the profession including, but not limited
to legislation, reimbursement, and disciplinary procedures.
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