We envision the Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) will provide an exceptional quality education meeting with the needs of the students, patients, public, employers, University, and Government of Manitoba in producing a highly qualified generalist medical professional. We seek to educate professionals with critical thinking and problem-solving skills. We desire to teach reflective medicine that considers the patient narrative when applying our clinical acumen. We seek to provide and improve access to high-quality medical care in all regions of Manitoba and Canada by placing the patient first.
It is our vision:
- To excel in the education and development of our students in the pursuit of their academic goals;
- To provide leading-edge research and material in support of our students and stakeholders;
- To be identified as the leading source of accurate and comprehensive information on subjects related to Physician Assistants in Canada;
- To deliver excellence and outstanding academic support to the community on Physician Assistant workforce and practice issues;
Values
Our values identify Physician Assistant Studies as a team effort where faculty, staff, and students value integrity, compassion, and excellence in the performance and approach to our studies and duties. We acknowledge that the words Change, Adapt, and Achieve is a reality of our community and society. We believe our actions must demonstrate respect, civility, and model professionalism to all and at all times.
Professionalism and Scholarship are life-long efforts requiring a commitment beyond the workplace. That to demonstrate respect and compassion require practicing integrity, responsibility, and accountability in our daily actions. We function as part of a global community represented in our students, patients, and environments. We conceptualize and recognize that as PAs and educators it is imperative learning outcomes and personal growth is defined in the evolving and changing curriculum context of academic education and clinical experiences, reflecting the need to adapt to technology and human growth.
Our curriculum emphasizes engagement by teachers and students to develop an appreciation for the patient-centred medicine. Our pedagogy embraces a spiral curriculum with topics and material revisited at different levels of difficulty and complexity. We build our understanding of clinical medicine on the foundation of medical science and emphasize hearing the patient narrative in our actions. New learning and clinical experiences reflect previous lessons. Reinforcing and expanding knowledge with every encounter. All aspects of the educational experience contribute to the growth and development of our graduates.
Generalist medicine is a philosophy of care distinguished by a commitment to the breadth of practice within each discipline and collaboration with the larger healthcare team to respond to patient and community needs. Generalists diagnose and manage clinical problems that are diverse, undifferentiated, and often involved having an essential role in coordinating patient care and advocacy. Our graduates will be responsive to the needs of the patient and their community have a core knowledge allowing adaptation to the needs of society.
Entrusted Professional Activities for the Canadian Physician Assistant (EPA-PA)
Physician Assistant education prepares a medical generalist adaptable to any clinical environment including primary health care, specialty practice, consulting or hospital-based roles. PAs will over time develop increased knowledge of a medical or surgical specialty, building their scope of practice to mirror that of the physician within a trust centered relationship.
- PA-Graduates must be ready for generalist medical practice within a formalized structure of indirect physician supervision.
- Graduate EPA-PAs are individually and longitudinally assessed over the course of the PA-Students’ education.
- Observation of these EPA-PAs, performed while a student, have occurred in a variety of clinical encounters, across all patient populations, clinical environments, and cultural settings.
- The assessments of the PA-Graduate include multiple members of the medical, educational team.
Graduate Physician Assistants can:
- Obtain a history and perform a physical examination adapted to the patient’s clinical situation.
- Form clinical questions and gather clinical evidence that advances patient care, and communicate those results to the patient and medical team.
- Formulate and prioritized differential diagnoses.
- Develop and implement patient-centered therapeutic plans within the formalized physician and clinical team relationship.
- Accurately document and report clinical encounters with members of the patient care team.
- Collaborate as a member of an inter-professional team in all aspects of patient care and transition of care responsibility.
- Recognise a patient requiring immediate care, providing the appropriate management and seeking help as needed.
- Perform procedures identified in the CanMEDS-PA Medical Expert competencies.
- Participate in continuing professional and patient quality improvement, life-long learning, and scholarship.
- Engage and educate patients on procedures, disease management, health promotion, wellness, and preventive medicine.
- Recognise and advocate for the patient concerning cultural, community, and social needs in support of positive mental and physical health and wellness.
- Practise patient-focused safe, professional, competent medical care.