Not only does Methodist University’s Physician Assistant Studies program prepare students medically and professionally for careers as physician assistants, but it helps them find their purpose. Take recent graduate Jordan Golding ’24M for example.
Not only does Methodist University’s Physician Assistant Studies program prepare students medically and professionally for careers as physician assistants, but it helps them find their purpose. Take recent graduate Jordan Golding ’24M for example.
During his first clinical rotation for the program more than a year ago – a time in which MU students are assigned to work directly with patients at various healthcare facilities – Golding quickly realized the impact he would have on peoples’ lives for the rest of his career.
“I met with an elderly patient who had a large tumor obstructing his bladder,” said Golding, who recently joined a post-graduate training fellowship with UCSF Fresno at Regional Medical Center, a Level One trauma center in his hometown of Fresno, California. “While it was clear medically on what to do in this situation, I learned a much greater lesson than clinical medicine. He knew his tumor was aggressive and had metastasized to other parts of his body, which meant he was dying from his cancer. But each morning as I made rounds on him, he would smile and remind me of how glad he was that he would soon be with God and how grateful he was for the medical staff. He left an indelible mark on me.”
Those personal experiences are why Golding knows he chose the right profession as a physician assistant.
“I met with real human beings and their families, people who are not a theoretical diagnostic puzzle on a test question or school assignment, but living and breathing with memories, fears, and hopes,” he added. “It’s both euphoric and humbling to impact lives in such a potent way.”
Golding’s story of impact is one of many that have taken root within Methodist University’s renowned Physician Assistant Studies program – which has prepared nearly 600 graduates for clinical practice since 1996.
History of Success
The on-campus, master’s degree program is designed for students interested in becoming physician assistants – licensed professionals who, with physician supervision, provide medical services such as taking medical histories, diagnosing illnesses, performing physical examinations, ordering and interpreting lab tests, setting fractures, assisting in surgery, and counseling patients.
“The beauty of our profession is the relationship we have with both the medical community and the patients themselves,” said April Martin, program director and chair of Methodist University’s Physician Assistant Studies program.
The competitive program selects up to 40 students in each cohort, guiding them through both didactic and clinical education over the course of 27 months.
“The first year of the program consists of didactic coursework that the entire cohort takes together,” Martin said. “During the second year of the program, we place students out into clinical rotations in various specialties and settings in medicine each lasting a month.”
Ultimately, the program’s goal is to prepare students for the PA National Certifying Exam (PANCE), an exam that physician assistants must pass to become licensed in the U.S.
MU’s Physician Assistant Studies program boasts an impressive 93% pass rate for its students who have taken the PANCE the last five years – allowing graduates to find successful jobs immediately after earning their master’s degree. In fact, 100% of students from the program’s class of 2023 reported they secured a job within six months of graduation (nearly half secured employment by graduation).
Knowledgeable Faculty
Another example of the program’s success is Domonique Koomson ’21M, who works as a physician assistant in inpatient cardiology at the North Carolina Heart and Vascular Hospital in Raleigh and teaches as an adjunct instructor for MU’s Physician Assistant Studies program.
“I had an amazing experience at Methodist University,” said Koomson, a Rocky Mount native. “Not only did I grow as a student, but also as a person. Through my experiences, I learned what kind of professional woman I wanted to be and how to take those steps every day. I have always been interested in education so of course Methodist University was the first place I hoped to return when I felt ready to take the leap into physician assistant education.”
Koomson is one of the many talented and knowledgeable faculty members the program offers to students, ensuring they receive a well-rounded education.
“Our faculty expertise includes military experience, emergency medicine, endocrinology, orthopedics, primary care, dermatology, pediatrics, and more,” said Martin. “We have experience in the surgical setting, outpatient primary care office setting, inpatient setting, and the emergency department. This is important because physician assistants have the opportunity to specialize in different areas of medicine.”
Outstanding Facilities
One of the reasons Methodist University’s Physician Assistant Studies program stands out among others in the region is the on-campus Human Anatomy Lab. Over the course of the program, students are provided first-hand experience by analyzing cadavers – human bodies donated for scientific study and medical purpose.
“This allows our students to get real invaluable experience to match what they’re learning in the classroom with what they’re seeing on an actual human body,” Martin said. “Not all PA programs have this available on their campus.”
The program also showcases dedicated facilities on the south end of Methodist University’s expansive campus – featuring an academic building with a recently-renovated study space, history and physical exam room, medical lecture hall for larger classes and presentations, and breakout rooms for more intimate classroom settings.
Lifelong Impact
Along with all of the facilities, faculty, and academic rigor is the opportunity to join a program that has a strong history of developing strong connections with students for a lifetime.
“If you’re looking for a family-like atmosphere with a supportive faculty and great University support, choose Methodist University,” Martin said.
Program alumni Golding and Koomson can both testify to the life-changing education they received through Methodist University’s Physician Assistant Studies program.
“As cliché as it sounds, I immediately felt at home ever since I first visited Methodist University,” said Koomson. “Methodist University was the bridge that connected my dreams of being a physician assistant to my everyday reality. I am forever grateful for MU.”
“My time at Methodist University will be one of the most meaningful chapters of my life,” added Golding. “I am graduating with a strong knowledge base and an even stronger sense of who I am as a person and what is important in life. I’m excited to continually carry Methodist University’s proverbial torch of excellence to love and serve others as a practicing physician assistant.”
If you’re interested in learning more or applying to the Physician Assistant Studies program, visit the program webpage.