Community involvement has become a hallmark of Quinnipiac University’s physician assistant program, as the school seeks to set itself apart from others in the state and the nation.
Community service is one of the four pillars of Quinnipiac’s program, along with professionalism, leadership and cultural competence.
“Those are not just words we put in brochures. We live by those goals,” said Cynthia Lord, program director and clinical associate professor.
Hamden-based Quinnipiac runs one of the three physician assistant programs in Connecticut from its North Haven branch campus. Others are at Yale University in New Haven and the University of Bridgeport.
Quinnipiac’s program prepares students for the expanding role of physician assistants in hospitals, private practices and clinics. Physician assistants are particularly desirable because they are trained as generalists and therefore have the option of specializing or filling in wherever needed.
In their 27 months at Quinnipiac, students gain fieldwork experience in hospitals, clinics and other medical care facilities throughout the state. Students in the program’s class of 2012 collectively gave more than 4,000 hours to volunteer work. Additionally, three students were named urban health scholars for completing a track dedicated to primary care and caring for underserved populations.
“Community is the cornerstone of the program. What makes it special is the commitment and focus on giving back,” said Robert Wooten, immediate past president of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Wooten addressed the program’s 33 graduates at their commencement ceremony on Aug. 11.
Kaitlyn Whitlock, a graduate of the class of 2012, chose to attend Quinnipiac because of the balance it offered between community involvement and an academically intense curriculum. She said the program’s emphasis on service has ensured that she and her classmates will continue with their community outreach long after graduation.
“I don’t think I would have had this experience anywhere else,” Whitlock said.
Ranked 11 out of 130 programs nationwide by U.S. News & World Report, Quinnipiac also uses experienced professors and new facilities on the North Haven campus to set itself apart.
Lord won the 2012 Outstanding PA of the Year Award this May from the American Academy of Physician Assistants, where she served as president from 2008-2009.
“All the professors are stellar individuals in their own right as PAs and as community leaders. They have great faculty and expertise. They have top-notch facilities and classrooms. It’s the perfect place to learn,” said Wooten, who presented Lord with her award at a ceremony in Ontario.
Whitlock does not yet know what field of medicine she wants to go into now that she graduated Quinnipiac, as she loves all aspects of the profession. The generalist training allows her to explore a variety of opportunities.
“The beauty of the job is the flexibility. I like every aspect, and being a PA gives me the freedom to choose,” Whitlock said.
This flexibility makes the profession one of the top 20 fastest growing jobs in the nation, expecting to experience 36 to 49 percent growth in the next decade, according to Lord. Among Quinnipiac’s graduates, 88 percent are working in their first choice job.
Graduates from this year’s class have already accepted positions in such areas as primary care, emergency care, cardiology, orthopedics and pediatrics. They will be working all over the country, including Connecticut.
“Connecticut is a very strong job market for Pas; it’s a PA-friendly state. Employers know the quality of Quinnipiac graduates, and they hire them,” said Lord.
As the nation’s healthcare system continues to change under the provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the demand for PAs is growing. Lord said PAs educated in Quinnipiac’s community-focused style will help to ensure healthcare remains patient centered.
“Each PA can and will make an impact on healthcare in this country,” said Lord.
