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Mission & Goals

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Mission & Goals

The mission of the Physician Assistant program is to prepare students to provide healthcare in a broad range of medical settings by training them in the medical arts and sciences in an inclusive, multicultural environment dedicated to the delivery of patient-centered care, while fostering a strong commitment to clinical and community partnerships.

The overall goals of the Physician Assistant program are to prepare graduates to provide quality healthcare and to nurture their service as capable leaders in clinical, research and community service environments.

The successful achievement of the program’s mission is demonstrated through the following goals and performance indicators:

Goal

Recruit, enroll and retain a highly qualified and diverse student cohort.

Indicators

  • Entering classes average prerequisite GPA equal to or above 3.75
  • At least 50% of the entering student cohort will represent highly qualified, diverse backgrounds as indicated by admissions PEQs (Program Enhancing Qualities).

Measures

Class Average Prerequisite GPA Percentage of Entering Students with at least 1 PEQ
2026 3.82 87.50%
2025 3.83 92.50% 
2024 3.85 90% 
2023 3.85

92.50% 
2022 3.83 86.25% 

Findings

  • Average Pre-requisite GPA of entering classes were equal to or above 3.75
  • Entering student cohorts had well more than 50% representation of highly qualified, diverse backgrounds

Goal

Foster an attitude of service.

Indicator

  • Entering class average has an average of 500 volunteer hours
  • 40 hours of community service earned while in the program

Measures

Class Entering Average Volunteer Hours
2026 779
2025 851
2024 998.72
2023 725.67
2022 540.51

 

Class % of students to earn 40 hours of community service while in the program
2023 100%
2022* 100%

*First cohort with this requirement

Findings

  • Entering classes averaged more than 500 volunteer hours
  • 100% of students earned 40 hours of community service while in the program

Goal

Produce graduates who function as collaborative members of the healthcare team.

Indicators

  • Successful completion of Interprofessional Education (IPE) course series
  • Clinical evaluations reflective of student collaboration on the healthcare team*

Measures

Class % Completion of IPE Course Series
2024 100%
2023 100%
2022 100%
2021 100%
2020 100%

*First cohort to go through course series

** Clinical Evaluations - Measures to begin May 2023.

Findings

  • 100% of students successfully completed IPE course series

Goal

Ensure students successfully complete the program and graduate on time.

Indicator

  • 100% successful completion of all graduation requirements prior to graduation
  • 90% On-time graduation rate

Measures

Class Completion of all graduation requirements On-time graduation rate Notes
2024 100% 82.50% 5 graduated late; 2 withdrawals;  4 Decelerated to CO2025; 3 Decelerated to CO2026
2023 100% 77.50% 5 graduated late; 1 withdrawal; 3 dismissals; 8 Decelerated to CO2023; 1 Decelerated to CO2025
2022 100% 86.25% 6 graduated late; 1 withdrawal; 2 dismissals; 1 Decelerated to CO2023; 1 Decelerated to CO2024
2021 100% 90.00% 2 graduated late; 3 withdrew; 3 decelerated to CO2022
2020 100% 72.50% 18 graduated late; 4 decelerated to CO2021

Findings

  • 100% of students successfully completed all graduation requirements

Goal

Equip graduates to enter PA practice with excellent clinical knowledge and skills.

Indicators

  • PANCE first time pass rate at or above national average
  • 95% pass rate on final OSCE
  • 95% first time pass rate on End of Curriculum Exam

Measures

Class EVMS PANCE First Time Pass Rate National PANCE First Time Pass Rate
2023 97% 92%
2022 95% 92%
2021 95% 93%
2020 97% 95%
2019 90% 93%
2018 100% 98%

 

Class Pass rate on Final OSCE First time pass rate on EOC
2024 92% 100%
2023 97% 100%
2022 100% 99%
2021 97.40% 100%
2020 97.50% **

**No EOC due to COVID-19 Pandemic

Findings

  • Program's first time pass rate on the PANCE was at or above the national average for 4 out of the past 5 years
  • Pass rate on Final OSCE was above 95% the past 3 years
  • First time pass rate on the End of curriculum exam was above 95% the past 2 years it has been administered

Accomplishment of our goals will serve the:

  • Student, by fostering personal and professional discovery and development with the skills to become life-long learners
  • Patient, through student preparation to provide competent patient-centered primary and specialty care
  • Institution, by contributing to a seamless learning environment which fosters the development of competent and compassionate healthcare professionals
  • Community, by graduating professionals who understand the importance of community service, forging community alliances, and having an understanding of culturally appropriate care

Contact Us

Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences 
Physician Assistant 
at Old Dominion University
P. O. Box 1980
Norfolk, VA 23501

757.446.7158
VHS-PAProg@odu.edu

Get Directions 

Map of Medical Master's Program location

 

This website reflects current program information, including admission criteria and curricula. Information is subject to change.