About the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program

Welcome to the UAMS Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program’s official website. The website contains a lot of information about our degree program and our requirements.

We offer several unique educational opportunities in our program including small class sizes, having the students see their first actual patient about five weeks into the program, and our weekly small-group case-based course that occurs for three semesters. The program really tries to emphasize what we feel is important to being a good medical provider such as patient-centered medicine, cultural awareness and knowledge, clinical application of knowledge, critical thinking skills, evidence-based medicine and interprofessional education.

We are really excited about what we have created here, so please take some time and explore the website. Thank you for your interest in the program!

Edward Williams, DMSc, M.Ed., PA-C

The mission of the UAMS Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program is to produce graduates who will practice transformative patient-and family-centered care with the highest professional standards in any community by doing the following:

• Embracing cultural diversity
• Collaborating effectively with all members of a health care team
• Contributing to the physician assistant profession through leadership, education and service

The UAMS Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program will lead the region in innovative physician assistant education, advancement of the profession and transformative health care by embracing cultural humility and inclusivity, intentional patient and professional advocacy, and collaborative service.

Our program is designed to develop highly skilled and compassionate physician assistants who can provide excellent care to diverse patients. We achieve this through the following:

• Early Patient Interaction: Students see patients within five weeks, gaining practical experience alongside a strong theoretical foundation.
• Small Class Sizes: Personalized attention fosters deep learning and strong bonds between classmates.
• Case-Based Learning: Weekly sessions hone critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills.
• Focus on Core Values: We emphasize patient-centered care, cultural humility, collaboration and evidence-based medicine.
• Broad Clinical Rotations: Students gain experience in a variety of settings, preparing them for diverse practice opportunities.

Our graduates are well-positioned to excel as physician assistants, contributing to the profession and transforming health care delivery.

Our program is dedicated to achieving all our student success goals. Learn more about them on our Goals and Competencies page.

Our program’s educational objectives are detailed in our core competencies. Learn more about them on our Goals and Competencies page.

The UAMS Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program is a continuous 28-month, full-time professional degree program that accepts new students once a year beginning in mid-May and finishing a little over two years later at the end of August.

The program strives to prepare physician assistants in a broad range of medical knowledge and skills and educate them to provide high-quality and compassionate health care to diverse patient populations with the supervision of a licensed physician.

This is a cohort-based full-time program with a lock-step curriculum. Students must complete all courses each semester and be in good standing to continue to the next semester. The first 13 months of the curriculum consist of an intensive didactic phase and includes classroom, laboratory, seminars, patient simulation, service learning and clinical patient encounters.

The second 15 months of the program is the clinical phase which comprises 10 core rotations, two elective rotations, a capstone project and a summative evaluation. The core rotations include family practice, internal medicine, inpatient medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, emergency medicine, general surgery, pediatrics, behavioral medicine, orthopedic medicine and geriatric medicine. Clinical rotations will take place at UAMS and clinical facilities around the state.

What Makes Our Program Unique?

Our program offers a small class size of 40 students and a low faculty-to-student ratio of 1-to-4. Each student is placed with a faculty advisor throughout the program and benefits from early patient encounters and service learning.

Unique features include the 12th Street Health and Wellness Center, Student Success Center, Student Wellness Center, interprofessional education and mindfulness training.

The Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program has worked diligently to develop a strong clinical phase for the degree program by establishing partnerships with the top medical facilities in the state of Arkansas.

Clinical rotations will take place at UAMS and many medical facilities across the state.

Partnerships have been established with the UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging, the UAMS Regional Campuses and multiple departments within the UAMS College of Medicine including the Department of Internal Medicine, the Department of Surgery, the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Additionally, the program partners with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Baptist Health Care, CHI St. Vincent Health System and multiple community physicians and physician assistants.

Our program follows a rigorous schedule, with classes held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. This comprehensive timetable ensures students receive extensive hands-on learning and classroom instruction, preparing them thoroughly for clinical practice. This structure fosters a deep understanding of medical knowledge and skills, crucial for their future roles as health care professionals.

Due to the demanding nature of this schedule, students are not allowed to work while enrolled in the program.

Students matriculate into our program every May, with an annual enrollment of 40 students.

A Master of Physician Assistant Studies is awarded upon successful completion of all requirements for the UAMS Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program.

Graduates of the degree program will be eligible to sit for the national certification examination through the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants.

Once nationally certified, graduates of the program will be eligible to apply for state licensure.

Successful completion of the program does not itself ensure certification and/or licensure. It is the student’s responsibility to be familiar with licensure and certification requirements.

Information about national certification can be found on the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants website, while information about Arkansas state licensure can be found on the Arkansas State Medical Board website.