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PA Program Goals

PA Program Goals

  1. Maintain Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) first time taker pass rates at or above the national average.

    To become a certified physician assistant, all students must pass the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE). PANCE is a computerized, multiple-choice test that assesses students' practical medical and surgical knowledge.  The table below demonstrates the University of Mount Union Physician Assistant Studies Program’s success.  The goal has been achieved in eight out of the past ten years.

    Class Year # of First-Time Takers   Program First-Time Taker Pass Rate National First-Time Taker Pass Rate
    2011 19 95% 91%
    2012 26 96% 93%
    2013 31 87% 94%
    2014 30 100% 95%
    2015 30 100% 96%
    2016 28 96% 96%
    2017 34 97% 97%
    2018 37 100% 98%
    2019 38 95% 93%
    2020 36 92% 95%
    2021 38 95% 93%
    2022 40 83% 92%
    2023 38 97% 92%
  2. Maintain a 95% or greater graduation rate for the students of the University of Mount Union Physician Assistant Studies Program.*

    The table below demonstrates the University of Mount Union Physician Assistant Studies Program’s success.

    Class Year Matriculants   Graduates Rate
    2011 19 19 100%
    2012 27 26 96%
    2013 31 31 100%
    2014 32 30 97%*
    2015 32 30 100%*
    2016 30 28 97%*
    2017 35 34 97%
    2018 40 37 97%*
    2019 40 38 98%*
    2020 40 36 100%*
    2021 42 38 98%*
    2022 40 40 100%
    2023 40 38 100%*

    * Excluding students who decelerated or who elected to withdraw

  3. Maintain an average score of 8 out of 10 or higher on clinical preceptor evaluations of student professionalism.

    The University of Mount Union Physician Assistant Studies Program teaches and promotes the importance of developing Physician Assistants who work and lead through professionalism. The Physician Assistant Studies Program tracks and monitors student professionalism during the clinical year through clinical preceptor evaluations. 

    • Preceptors evaluate students on the following professional characteristics and rank the students from 1 (marginal/failing) to 10 (exceptional):

    Cohort Humanistic Attributes Relationships with Staff and Colleagues Attitude, Interest, and Responsibility Overall
    2009-11 9.61 9.61 9.67 9.63
    2010-12 9.69 9.69 9.69 9.69
    2011-13 9.75 9.79 9.78 9.77
    2012-14 9.72 9.75 9.72 9.73
    2013-15 9.65 9.69 9.71 9.68
    2014-16 9.76 9.79 9.79 9.78
    2015-17 9.74 9.73 9.73 9.73
    2016-18 9.83 9.86 9.84 9.84
    2017-19 9.79 9.81 9.80 9.80
    2018-20 9.68 9.70 9.72 9.70
    2019-21 9.83 9.85 9.86 9.85
    2020-22 9.67 9.67 8.33 9.22
    2021-23 9.83 9.82 9.77 9.81

     

    • Humanistic attributes:  Demonstrates empathy, altruism, sensitivity, respect for the individual, professionalism.
    • Relationship with staff and colleagues:  Ability to interact cooperatively with other members of team. Respectful, professional.
    • Attitude, interest, and responsibility.  Reliable, available, prompt
  4. To have 100% of graduates employed as physician assistants within 6 months of graduation.

    Of the 2022 graduates who responded to a university survey six months after graduation 20 of the 21 respondents were employed as PAs (95%). See the table below for past cohorts.

    Graduate Survey Results – Employment Status

    Class of 2013 Class of 2014 Class of 2015 Class of 2016 Class of 2017 Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2020 Class of 2021 Class of 2022
    Number of Graduates 31 30 30 28 34 37 38 36 38 40
    Number of Students Responding 11 18 16 12 21 25 9 22 26 21
    Response Rate 35% 60% 53% 43% 62% 68% 24% 61% 68% 53%
    Percentage of Respondents Employed at Time of Survey (approximately 6 months after graduation) 91% 100% 100% 100% 90% 96% 89% 82% 100% 95%

    PA students at the University of Mount Union are sometimes offered jobs as a result of their supervised clinical practice experiences (clinical rotations).  The Student Success Center at the University assists PA students with resume´ preparation and arranges mock interviews with area employers.  When potential employers contact the program, these job openings are posted for students and alumni to review. Health recruiters from around the region, such as Akron Children’s Hospital, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Summa Health System and Akron General Medical Center, travel to campus annually for our Meet-a-Mount Union PA event. This event has been held on campus in the spring semester of the students’ clinical year since 2017. In 2019, 12 recruiters from eight organizations self-reported the need for approximately 80 new, advanced practice providers.