Mission and Goals

Closeup of a stethoscope and a white coat embroidered with the words, “Johnson & Wales University Physician Assistant Studies Program.”

Our Mission

The mission of the Physician Assistant Studies program at JWU is to educate students to become collaborative practitioners with the respect, empathy and trust inherent to patient-centered, humanistic healthcare.

Maintaining a relationship of trust and caring is central to becoming a healthcare professional, whether your goal is to stay in Rhode Island, or go where a growing career opportunity takes you.


Program Goals and Success in Achieving Goals

The goals of JWU’s Physician Assistant Studies Program are as follows:

Goal 1

To recruit and matriculate students who exceed our admissions requirements, resulting in successful completion of Physician Assistant medical education.

The JWU Physician Assistant Program Admissions Committee has developed a successful process to recruit and matriculate qualified students who are successful in our rigorous 24 month program. Our program has a 95% five-year student graduation ratea and a 97% PANCE five-year first-time taker pass rate with an overall pass rate of 99%. The quality of the students we have matriculated is demonstrated in Table 1; all exceed our admissions requirements for Overall and BCP (Biology, Chemistry and Physics) GPAs, and hours of direct patient care.

TABLE 1: CASPA reported cumulative GPA and BCP of matriculating students


Criteria Minimum
Admissions Requirement Goal
Class of
2024
Mean
(Range)
Class of
2025
Mean
(Range)
Class of
2026
Mean
(Range)
Class of 2027
Overall GPA 3.50 3.74
(3.48-3.96)
3.72
(3.4-4.0)
3.79
(3.38-4.00)
3.86
(3.65-4.00)
Overall
BCP GPA
3.50 3.66
(3.32-3.96)
3.64
(3.3-4.0)
3.73
(3.31-4.00)
3.83
(3.42-4.00)
Direct Patient Care Hoursb 2000 3,192
(800-14,552)
4,453
(705-30,712)
3,002
(1,040-13,432)
2,342
(510-6,264)

a As reported in Table 53 of the Physician Assistant Education Association, By the Numbers: Program Report 36: Data from the 2021 Program Survey, Washington, DC: PAEA; 2023. DOI: 10.17538/PR36.2021, all US PA Programs graduation rate for the 2021 cohort is 94.1%.

b Hours of direct patient care is tracked and reported by the PA Admissions Counselor based on data from verified CASPA applications and updates from matriculated students. All Health Care Experience and Patient Care Experience reported on CASPA is reviewed individually to determine what meets program requirements for “direct patient care.”
Source: Matriculation data available through Central Application Service for Physician Assistants (CASPA)


Table 2: Graduation Rate and PANCE Performance of Program Graduates


Criteria Program Goal Class of
2023
Class of
2024
Class of
2025
3-Year Average
Graduation Rate 3-year average above national average (94%)a 35/36
97.2%
34/36
94.4%
33/36
91.7%
94.4%
NCCPA PANCE Pass Rate 1st-time pass rate > national average 97%
(Nat’l Avg. 92%)
100% overall
97%
(Nat’l Avg. 92%)
97% overall
97%
(Nat’l Avg. Pending%)
97%


Goal 2

Offer an integrated didactic curriculum that provides the knowledge, skills and humanistic principles required for the clinical year.

The JWU PA program didactic curriculum provides students with a strong foundation in the knowledge, skills, and humanistic principles necessary for a successful clinical year.

As demonstrated in Table 2, responses to student and clinical preceptor surveys, an end-of-didactic year PACKRAT (Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool), and student performance on Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs), the Program delivers a curriculum that meets or exceeds our goal and prepares students well for their clinical rotations.

TABLE 2: Responses to student and clinical preceptor surveys, OSCEs and PACKRAT (end of year didactic examination)


Evaluation
Type
State-
ment
Goal Class of
2022
Mean 
Class of
2023
Mean
Class of 2024
Mean
Class of 2025 Mean
End of Didactic Year Survey
Scalea 1-5
Rate how well the didactic phase prepared you for clinical rotations. ≥4.0 N/A 4.3
N=35
4.0
N=33
4.0
N=34
Grads
Exit Survey 

Scaleb 1-5
Rate ability to apply didactic course knowledge to your clinical rotations. ≥4.0 4.7
N=34
4.6
N=35
4.3
N=33
4.4
N=34
Grads
Exit Survey
Scale 1-5c
Rate ability to develop rapport & trust with patients & families. ≥4.0 4.7
N=34
4.6
N=35
4.4
N=33
4.5
N=34

Preceptor Preparedness Survey
Scale 1-5d

Rate preparation of students for clinical rotations. ≥4.0 4.4
N=25
4.4
N=20
4.8
N=25
4.4
N=18

End of Didactic Year PACKRATe

PA Clinical Knowledge Rating & Assessment Tool Within 0.5 SD of the national score 135
(national average: 135
SD:21)
139
(national average: 136
SD:20)
138
(national average: 135
SD:20)
136
(national average: 133
SD:21)

End of Didactic
Year OSCEf

Scale: 0-100

Objective Structured Clinical Examination ≥80% 87% 81% 82% 86%

a Source: End of Didactic Year Survey (given to each student at the beginning of the clinical year) Scale: 1: Strongly Disagree, 2: Disagree, 3: Neutral, 4: Agree, 5: Strongly Agree

b Source: Exit Survey (given to each student at the time of graduation) Scale: 1: Strongly Disagree, 2: Disagree, 3: Neutral, 4: Agree, 5: Strongly Agree

c Source: Preceptor Preparedness Survey (given to preceptors annually near the beginning of the clinical year) Scale: 1: Strongly Disagree, 2: Disagree, 3: Neutral, 4: Agree, 5: Strongly Agree

d Clinical Facility Evaluation Form (completed by faculty while meeting with preceptor during clinical site visit).

e Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool (PACKRAT) is a standardized multiple-choice exam covering the core clinical areas taught during the didactic year. It is provided by the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) and is given to each PA student at the end of the didactic year and provides national results.

f Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) given to each PA student at the end of the didactic year. All OSCEs include assessment of student’s clinical skills and techniques as well as demonstration of humanistic qualities such as rapport and cultural sensitivity.



Goal 3

Provide Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPE) in a variety of clinical environments/settings, ranging from community to tertiary care facilities, ensuring student exposure to diverse populations and care levels while supporting the graduation of humanistic and culturally competent PAs.

Figure 1: Facility settings for clinical rotations

Representing all clinical site data for the class of 2024

During the Clinical Year (months 13-24, or second year) of the JWU PA program, students have clinical rotation experiences in the areas of behavioral health, women’s health, surgery, family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, and emergency medicine. In addition, students have 2 elective rotations to further explore and develop their professional interests. These experiences are in a variety of settings including large, multi-hospital systems, independent community hospitals, community health centers, large and small group practices, and independent providers. Patients in these settings represent the demographics of RI and Southern New England who receive all levels of medical care.

Additionally, responses by students and clinical year preceptors to specific questions in survey and clinical year evaluation instruments demonstrate that our students have ample experiences with diverse populations and manifest a humanistic approach to patient care.

Table 3: Responses to Exit Survey and End of Rotation questions targeting diverse and humanistic care


Evaluation
Type
State-
ment
Goal Class of
2022
Mean 
Class of
2023
Mean
Class of 2024
Mean
Class of 2025 Mean
Grads Exit Survey
Scale 1-5a
I gained experience in range of clinical environments & settings. ≥4.0 4.6
N=34
4.3
N=35
4.5
N=33
4.5
N=34
Grads
Exit Survey 

Scale 1-5a
I gained experience with diverse patient populations.* ≥4.0 4.4
N=34
4.6
N=35
4.5
N=33
4.5
N=34

End of Rotation Preceptor Evaluation
Scale 1-3b

Student demonstrates cultural competency. 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

End of Rotation Preceptor Evaluation Scale 1-3b

Student manifests humanistic approach to patient care. 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0 3.0

*Including culturally, socioeconomically and across the lifespan.

a Source: Exit Survey (given to each student at the time of graduation) Scale: 1: Strongly Disagree, 2: Disagree, 3: Neutral, 4: Agree, 5: Strongly Agree 

b End of Rotation Evaluation (completed by the preceptor at the end of each clinical rotation); Score represents all students and all nine rotations. Scale: 1: No, 2: Inconsistent, 3 YES


GOAL 4

To graduate physician assistants who are prepared to enter clinical practice, employ lifelong learning, utilize and apply evidence based medicine (EBM) in decision-making and demonstrate clinical skills and humanistic qualities such as rapport and cultural sensitivity. We are proud that our students “live” our mission and are prepared to enter clinical practice, apply evidence based medicine in decision-making and engage in lifelong learning.

Table 4 includes data from the students’ successful completion of an Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) within four months of graduation, completion of an evidence-based master’s project, and self-evaluation during their exit survey. All responses and data demonstrate that we have achieved our goal.

Table 4: Data representing responses from students who were asked to rate their perception of how the program prepared them for entry into practice at the time of graduation and employment of lifelong learning skills. Faculty evaluate students’ application of evidence-based medicine principles (master’s project), as well as clinical competency, and humanistic approach to patient care (OSCE).


Evaluation
Type
State-
ment
Goal Class of
2022
Mean 
Class of
2023
Mean
Class of 2024
Mean
Class of 2025 Mean
Grads Exit Survey
Scale 1-5a
I feel well prepared to enter clinical practice. ≥4.0 4.4
N=34
4.3
N=35
4.2
N=33
4.0
N=34
Grads
Exit Survey 

Scale 1-5a
I employed lifelong learning skills via self-reflection, active engagement, professional development. ≥4.0 4.5
N=34
4.5
N=35
4.4
N=33
4.3
N=34

Grads
Exit Survey 

Scale 1-5a

I developed a rapport with patients & families by providing patient-centered, humanistic care. ≥4.0 4.7
N=34
4.6
N=35
4.4
N=33
4.5
N=34

Master’s Projectb

Student applied evidence-based medicine principles & skills to guide clinical decision-making. ≥90% 93%
N=34

91%
N=35

93%
N=33
95%
N=34

PAEA EOC Examc

PAEA End of Curriculum Exam ≥25%
Advanced medical knowledge
18% 31% 36% 27%

End of Clinical Year OSCEd
Scale: 0-100

Objective Structured Clinical Examination ≥80% 83%
N=34
81%
N=35
80%
N=33

87%
N=34

NCCPA PANCE Pass Ratee

NCCPA PA National Certifying Exam First time Pass Rate >National average 97%
National average: 92%
97%
National average: 92%
97%
National average: 92%
97%
National average: TBD

a Source: Exit Survey (given to each student at the time of graduation) allows rating how prepared they feel in several areas of practice. Scale: 1: Poorly Prepared, 2: Marginally Prepared, 3: Adequately Prepared, 4: Well Prepared, 5: Very Well Prepared

b Master’s Project, completed near the end of the clinical year, evaluates the utilization of evidence and presentation skills and is graded by faculty. Scale: Meet (≥70) or Exceed (≥90) out of possible 100 points.

c PA Education Association End of Curriculum Exam (EOC) is a standardized multiple-choice exam covering the core clinical areas and tasks aligned with the PANCE exam. It is provided by the PA Education Association (PAEA) and is given to each PA student as part of the program summative exam and provides national results with a scaled score (1300-1800). Students scoring >1555 are awarded a designation of “Advanced Medical Knowledge.” 

d Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) given to each PA student at the end of the clinical year. All OSCEs include assessment of student’s clinical skills and techniques as well as demonstration of humanistic qualities such as rapport and cultural sensitivity.

e PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE) given by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), the only certifying organization for PAs in the United States. First-time pass-rates are calculated and compared to the national average.