CUW recently announced another professional health care program to its School of Human Services. The first class for the Physician Assistant (PA) program will begin in May 2013. The 26-month, full-time, year round program is designed to prepare students to become competent physician assistants committed to caring for patients with an emphasis on primary care and preventative medicine.
The program is applying for provisional accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) and anticipates being accredited in March 2013. Accreditation is required prior to starting the program in order for graduates to be able to sit for the national certification exam for physician assistants, a credential required for state licensure. Should the program not receive accreditation, all deposits will be returned to candidates. For more information on the accreditation process, visit www.arc-pa.org .
“This new program is a great fit with Concordia’s mission to prepare students in mind, body, and spirit for service in this profession,” said Senior Vice President of Academics at CUW, Dr. William Cario.
The new Director of the PA program is Dr. Michelle Heinan. Heinan received her undergraduate degree from Alderson-Broaddus College in West Virginia, her master’s degree in health administration from Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, and her doctorate of education from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Heinan also served as a physician assistant in family practice and occupational medicine settings before joining the faculty of the University of Findlay in Ohio in 1998. She has also been program director at previous universities, including starting a program in Tennessee.
“I am very excited about starting the Physician Assistant Program here at CUW. Students will have the opportunity to learn how to interact and work with the other health professions on campus through an inter-professional approach,” said Dr. Heinan.
CUW becomes only the fifth university in the state of Wisconsin to have a PA program and will accept 30 students annually with applications for the first class being accepted June 1 through Dec. 1, 2012. The program will grant the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree to students.
“This program will, without a doubt, be an asset to the University and provide another strong health care profession for students to choose from,” said Dr. Linda Samuel, dean of the School of Human Services at CUW.
For more additional information on the program, contact Kathy Butler in the Graduate Admission office atkathy.butler@cuw.edu or 262-243-4366.
— This story is written by Kali Thiel, director of university communications for Concordia University Wisconsin and Ann Arbor. She may be reached at kali.thiel@cuw.edu or 262-243-2149.
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