MSPAS
Physician Assistant Studies
Become a Patient-Centered Clinician
Becoming an effective clinician involves more than understanding body systems and drug interactions: It requires active listening and empathy. JWU Providence’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) focuses on training healthcare professionals who treat the whole patient.
Our curriculum will prepare you to meet the complex needs of patients — and to develop the critical thinking skills to integrate seamlessly into a collaborative, patient-centered medical team.
Hone your clinical and therapeutic skills at our 18,000-square-foot Center for Physician Assistant Studies, located in the center of Providence’s medical education corridor.
One of only a few facilities in the country entirely dedicated to the education of physician assistants, the Center provides students with 24-hour access to cadaver-based anatomy labs, a clinical skills practice center with simulated exam rooms, “active learning” classrooms and more.
Enrollment is limited to 36 students each year and classes begin each June.
Admissions is contingent upon meeting the technical standards for this program. Individual states may require specific licensing or professional certification in addition to earning a degree in order to practice in the field. Learn more via the Catalog’s Licensure & Professional Certification Disclosures.
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PA Program Accolades and Occupational Outlook
JWU’s Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) was recently named by U.S. News & World Report as one of the top 30% of programs nationwide — making it the highest-ranked PA program in Rhode Island.
Join a Growing Profession
Demand for physician assistants is on the rise — and Forbes, U.S. News & World Report and CNN all rate this sector as a top profession. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2024 Occupational Outlook for physician assistants forecasts 28% growth between 2023 and 2033 — much faster than the average for other health diagnosing/treating practitioners. The BLS lists 2024 median pay at $133,260.
Meet Our Faculty
At JWU, our clinically experienced faculty will help prepare you to meet the complex, ever-changing needs of patients.
Program Director and Associate Professor
Meehan is passionate about diversity in healthcare and believes in student-centered education where the needs of the individual student are considered.
Associate Professor
Kruzel has a background working as a PA in emergency medicine and primary care and serves as the program’s director of clinical education. She currently chairs the PA Admissions Committee.
Assistant Professor
Cerio has practiced clinically as a PA in internal medicine, hematology, general oncology, and other specialties. At JWU, she incorporates her clinical experience into lectures.
PA Students on JWU’s ‘Right Fit’ Program
Aurora DiMarco ’20, ’24 (pictured inset) completed her undergraduate degree in Biology at JWU, so she knew it was a supportive place in which to learn. When she decided to pursue becoming a PA, she didn’t have to look far for her program: “The people and the school made JWU’s PA program my #1 choice. I knew that JWU would be the right fit for me.”
What swayed her the most? “I love the small class sizes. I have built personal, lifelong relationships with professors and mentors, and I am so grateful that I found a home here in Providence.”
Aris Degaitas ’22, ’24 entered JWU as a Health Sciences major but switched to the Biology program after discovering she wanted to be more involved with science labs.
’Elite’ Professors & Customized Facility
Experiencing the faculty in both programs gave her important insight into what it would be like to be a graduate student at JWU. “I knew my undergrad professors were great, so I knew the PA profs were going to be elite as well. JWU is a great school with smart people.”
Degaitas considers it a huge advantage that the Center for Physician Assistant Studies contains everything a PA student could need — from the lecture halls and cadaver-based anatomy lab to the clinical practice center and study areas: “I love having space for just us without distractions. The cadaver lab has been so great for dissecting and learnings skills hands on. Getting to identify structures and muscles is a unique learning experience that not everyone gets to have in PA school.”
For DiMarco, the PA facility enables students to truly immerse themselves in the coursework and acclimate to the program’s brisk pace: “I firmly believe that the PA building and patient care lab, the numerous stations and exam tables, and all of our opportunities to practice physical exam skills were key to my comfort and ability to work with patients during my rotations.”
Year 1: Didactic Year
- Foundations of Medicine
- Professional and Health Policy Issues I, II & III
- Introduction to Evidence-Based Practice
- Food Is Medicine I & II
- Clinical Hematology
- Patient Care I, II & III
- Clinical Endocrinology
- Emergency Medicine
- Surgical Principles
Year 2: Clinical Year
- Family Medicine Clinical Course
- Internal Medicine Clinical Course
- Pediatric Medicine Clinical Course
- Women’s Health Clinical Course
- Emergency Medicine Clinical Course
- Behavioral & Mental Health Clinical Course
- Surgery Clinical Course
- Clinical Elective Course I & II
- Master’s Course
The course listing above is a sampling of the course curriculum. View the full course listing here:
