Education
The 24-month program begins in September. The first year will focus on the study of the clinical sciences underpinning health care delivery. In the second year, students will enter clinical placements.
Year I: Clinical Services
The clinical sciences curriculum is modeled on the McMaster Medical School COMPASS Curriculum as is designed to meet the competencies and entrustable professional activities of the PA profession (PDF). The PA program is currently accredited by EQual of Accreditation Canada . The curriculum will be delivered in small group problem-based learning modules with a focus on the physician assistant’s role in health care and the promotion of inter-professional education and training.
The clinical sciences curriculum consists of three Medical Foundations composed of the following components:
- Clinical Sciences (PBL tutorials)
- Interviewing, Examination and Reasoning (IER)(Clinical Skills)
- Professional Competencies
- Early Clinical Exposure
- Medical Communications
- Large Group Sessions (LGS)
Expandable List
- Clinical Science: Oxygen Transport: cardiovascular, respiratory and hematologic physiology and disease.
- IER: Basic communication skills, history taking and physical examination.
- ProComp: Professionalism, the role of the PA, principles and structure of the health care system, chronic disease, determinants of health
- Early Clinical Exposure Placements
- Clinical Science: Homeostasis: energy balance, GI, endocrine, nutrition, fluid and electrolyte balance (including renal, acid base, BP) and reproduction, and pregnancy
- IER: Continued development of communication skills, history taking and physical examination with additional focus on GI, endocrine and obstetric and gynecologic systems.
- ProComp: Medical ethics and medical decision making.
- Early Clinical Exposure Placements
- Clinical Science: Infection, neoplasia, neurologic, psychiatric and musculoskeletal physiology and disease
- IER: Continued development of communication skills (negotiation and conflict resolution), history taking and physical examination with additional focus on the neurologic, psychiatric and musculoskeletal systems.
- ProComp: Standards of care, laws and codes relevant to medical practice, institutional policies, mental health and society, breaking bad news, end of life decision-making, resource allocation
- Early Clinical Exposure Placements
Year II: Clerkship
In the second year of the program, students will undertake approximately 48 weeks of supervised clinical placements. Core experiences will take place in family medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, and psychiatry. Placements will take place in Hamilton, in the expanded McMaster campuses of St. Catharines and Kitchener/Waterloo, as well as in the broader Ontario community. Elective placements will round out the balance of the clinical year and will allow students to pursue additional career interests.
