Academic Policies and Admission Requirements

To remain in good academic standing and to graduate from the program, a student must maintain a GPA of 3.0. Core PA courses must be passed with a B- or better. Students are expected to maintain a mature, professional attitude consistent with that of an effective health care practitioner.

The performance record of each student is reviewed at the end of each semester. Any student who fails to maintain these standards may not be permitted to progress in the program.

The program may be completed in two or three years. The maximum amount of time to complete the course of study is three years, unless approval is granted by the department due to extenuating circumstances.

The Physician Assistant Program carefully abides by the nondiscriminatory admissions policy of the University of Detroit Mercy. Applications are accepted for regular admission from August 1 through February 15th in the year for which admission is sought. Applicants in transfer from other Physician Assistant Programs must be reviewed for admission by the end of the semester preceding the one for which transfer admission is sought.

The Physician Assistant Program recognizes four categories of admission.

REGULAR ADMISSION: is selectively afforded to applicants who satisfy all admission requirements of the University and the Physician Assistant Program.

CONTINGENT ADMISSION: is afforded to applicants who appear qualified for regular admission but have not completed all requirements. When the admission requirement has been completed, a decision about regular admission will be made by the Program faculty. Students admitted on a contingent basis, must resolve the incomplete requirement prior to registering for classes and beginning training in the Program.

TRANSFER ADMISSION: is afforded applicants wishing admission to the University of Detroit Mercy Physician Assistant Program who meet the program admission criteria and are currently in good standing in another accredited Physician Assistant Program.

The Physician Assistant Program does not offer provisional, conditional or unclassified admission as defined by the University. The Program Admissions Committee consists of the Physician Assistant Program faculty, the Program Medical Director, community PA's, students currently enrolled in the Program and members of the adjunct faculty. The Program strives to include representatives from minority and disadvantaged groups on the Committee.

UDM undergraduates, applicants from underserved communities and underrepresented minorities in the profession may be given additional consideration in the application process.

The Physician Assistant Program will consider applicants who have completed advanced medical training but who are not already licensed to practice as a medical or osteopathic physician in the U.S.. Such applicants must demonstrate, by documentation or examination, successful completion of prerequisite course work equivalents. Such applicants must meet all other admission requirements. Any applicant may also be asked to demonstrate language competency The Program does not offer an accelerated course of study or advanced standing but the student advisor will, on the advice of the course instructor, review requests for waiver or modification of selected required coursework for admitted students who can demonstrate sufficient knowledge and proficient skill in the course material.

TECHNICAL STANDARDS

A candidate for the Physician Assistant Program must have the abilities and skills in five categories: Observation, communication, motor, intellectual, and behavioral/social.

Reasonable accommodation for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis, but a candidate must be able to perform in an independent manner. The following skills are required with or without accommodation.

OBSERVATION: Candidates must have sufficient sensory capacity to observe in the lecture hall, the laboratory, the outpatient setting, and the patient's bedside. Sensory skills adequate to perform physical examination are required. Functional vision, hearing and tactile sensation must be adequate to observe a patient's condition and to elicit information through procedures regularly required in a physical examination, such as inspection, auscultation and palpation.

COMMUNICATION: Candidates must be able to communicate effectively in both academic and health settings. Candidates must show evidence of effective written and verbal communication skills.

MOTOR: The ability to participate in basic diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers and procedures (e.g. palpation, auscultation) is required. Candidates must have sufficient motor function to execute movements reasonably required to provide care to patients. Candidates must be able to negotiate patient care environments and must be able to move between settings, such as clinic, classroom building, and hospital.

PHYSICAL STAMINA sufficient to complete the rigorous course of didactic and clinical study is required. Long periods of sitting, standing, or moving are required in classroom, laboratory, and clinical experiences.

INTELLECTUAL: Candidates must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize. Problem solving, one of the critical skills demanded of physician assistants, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, candidates should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures. Candidates must be able to read and understand medical literature. In order to complete the Physician Assistant degree, candidates must be able to demonstrate mastery of these skills and the ability to use them together in a timely and often critical fashion in medical problem-solving and patient care.

BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES: Candidates must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgement, and the prompt completion of all academic and patient care responsibilities. The development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients and other members of the health care team is essential. Candidates must possess the ability to effectively function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice with flexibility, compassion, integrity, motivation, interpersonal skills, and concern for all required.

College of Health Professions
Policy and Procedure for
Drug Screening and Criminal Background Checks

The clinical programs of the University of Detroit Mercy’s College of Health Professions (CHP) require students to participate in the care of patients in various health care settings.  Accordingly, passing a criminal background check and drug screen is a condition for admission to the Physician Assistant (PA) Program. (See link below for full policy and procedure).

• Criminal Background Check and Drug Screen Policy and Procedure
• Appendix A Mandatory Exclusions

Latex Allergy

Latex allergy/sensitivity is a growing concern for health care professionals. The University of Detroit Mercy, College of Health Professions (CHP) is unable to provide a latex-free environment to learners in either the clinical practice laboratories on campus or clinical placement sites off campus. Applicants who have a known latex allergy/sensitivity are encouraged to consult their personal health care provider prior to entering a health care profession.