University of Oklahoma

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PA Program
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences
Center College of Medicine Department of Family
and Preventive Medicine
University of Oklahoma
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OU PA Program Acceptance Information
PA Program
University of Oklahoma
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• CREDIT HOURS
• PREREQUISITES
• GRADE POINT AVERAGE
• GRADUATE RECORD EXAM (GRE)
• APPLICATION
• PERSONAL INTERVIEW
• LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
• PERSONAL STATEMENT
• RESUME
• HEALTH CARE EXPERIENCE/SHADOWING

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• Minimum 90 credit hoursFew get in with this few
  hours
• 4 year colleges for major workJunior college
  credit is acceptable but not impressive

A college with a tough academic reputation is
more likely to impress an admissions committee
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• English Composition 2 semesters
• U.S. Government 1 semester
• History 1 semester
• Psychology 1 semester
• Psych Elective 1 semester
• College Algebra 1 semester
• Microbiology 1 semester
• General Chemistry 2 semesters
• General Physics 1 semester
• Pathogenic Microbiology
• Virology
• Immunology
• Physiology 1 semester
• Anatomy 1 semester

Only need of one semester of one of these three
courses (not all three)
(or two semesters of AP)
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Students are encouraged to pursue a degree that
requires these courses

• Organic Chemistry
• 2 semesters
• Biochemistry or Cell Biology 1 semester
• Medical Terminology
• 1 semester
• Bachelor Degree

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• A PA (student)
• Good grades are one of the first things we look
  in a candidate
• PA school involves a lot of academic work
  (voluminous)
• Admissions committee is looking for people who
  can handle that kind of work load
• Higher level or graduate courses are weighted
  more heavily than intro courses
• Any major is acceptable just makesure you take
  all the recommended prerequisite courses

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• Minimum GPA for Consideration to the Program
  2.75
• GPA - 3.69
• 75 - 3.87 or better Maximum 4.0
• 25 - 3.56-3.86 Minimum 3.2
• 10 - 3.41 or lower
• SCIENCE GPA - 3.56
• 75 - 3.81 or better Maximum 4.0
• 25 - 3.31-3.8 Minimum 2.92
• 10 - 3.19 or lower

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• LAST 60 HOURS GPA - 3.73
• 75 - 3.89 or better Maximum 4.0
• 25 - 3.61-3.88 Minimum 2.9
• 10 - 3.49 or lower
• GRADUATE COURSE GPA 3.70 with at least 42 hours
• 75 had gt3.89 and gt 49 hours Maximum 3.94/81
  hours
• 25 had 3.52-3.89 and gt 27 hours Minimum
  3.27/11 hours
• 10 had lt3.37 and lt 17 hours

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• Poor GPA
• If you cant make the grades - stop and fix the
  problem
• Last 60 hours important  - As. Don't get
  discouraged if you
• started out slowly in college improving your
  GPA from
• year to year counts for a lot. A less than
  stellar first two
• years in college can be made up to some extent
  with a
• good finish
• If Cs in applied sciences (anatomy, physiology,
  micro, path, etc)
• may need to repeat to get good grasp of the
  basics or take upper
• level courses (biochem is better than taking gen
  chem again)
• make As

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• Poor GPA
• Past D or F do not need to be retaken unless
  the student feels the course material is
  important for degree or admission
• If degree finished - may need to prove ability to
  do tough work through grad school. Shows growth,
  dedication, and ability to succeed in upper
  level courses

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• GRE score average or better
• (not a major factor unless you have a low GPA)
• Written 4.53
• 75 - 5.00 or better Maximum 6.0
• 25 - 4.00-5.00 Minimum 3.5
• 10 - 3.95 or lower
• Quantitative 597
• 75 - 650 or better Maximum 750
• 25 - 550-640 Minimum 390
• 10 - 498 or lower
• Verbal 467
• 75 - 520 or better Maximum 620
• 25 - 410-510 Minimum 320
• 10 - 390 or lower

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• Deadline is October 1
• Apply early (to make sure everything gets in)
  we do not start looking at applications until
  after the October 1 deadline
• Check application status online to see if
  anything is missing or incomplete information
  is entered daily so check website (if it is not
  on the website then we do not have it)
• It is students responsibility to make sure
  everything is in by October 1
• Nothing submitted after October 1st will be
  accepted
• Prerequisites do not have to be complete by the
  October 1st deadline
• If GRE scores are not in by October 1st that ok
  we will accept them from the testing center after
  the deadline as long as the test has been taken
  by September 30

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• Three PROFESSIONAL references
• References should come from people able to
  provide an objective
• evaluation of you
• When asking for a letter do the following
• Give as much time as possible and give them a
  deadline
• Ask them to write you a strong letter of
  recommendation (not just an average one)
• Give them information about yourself (resume) so
  that theycan highlight your achievements
• Give them a pre-addressed,self-stamped envelope

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• Choose with care the people you ask to recommend
  you
• No friends, relatives, or friends of family, or
  other that have not
• known you on a professional level because they
  cannot provide
• an objective evaluation
• Physician, PA, professor, leadership sponsor,
  work manager,
• volunteer supervisor are good
• Do not force an evaluation out of someone you
  barely know
• Get to know your professors
• A letter from a professor who knows you well is
  better than a professor who had you in lecture
  and says that you got an A in his/her course but
  doesn't know you very well
• Get involved in class, make yourself known when
  working with professors on class projects, and
  ask to do some independent work

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• Why I want to be a PA
• No tears - cut to the chase
• Why do you want to go into this profession
• Your motivation to become a PA will help shape
  the way you go about achieving your goal
• If you do it for the right reasons people will
  likely recognize that, same thing applies if you
  are doing it for the wrong reasons
• Sell yourself
• Second time applicant.  What have you done to
  improve yourself?
• Whatever your reasons for going to PA school just
  make sure they are from the heart.
• We want to see if you can communicate in writing

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• Pre-PA clubs are often good sources of
  information
• Focus on work experience, volunteerism,
  leadership experience, and involvement in
  professional clubs (clubs, sororities,
  fraternities, diversity groups, etc)
• List shadowing experiences
• Document time spent with PA students

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• Can be hard to get health care experience
• More important to find out the role of a PA
• Volunteering
• One of the best things you can do to enrich
  yourself is to perform volunteer work - helping
  other human beings is part of what medicine is
  about
• Part of what will set you apart as an applicant
  are those things that show traits such as
  compassion and caring

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• Should be done for the reason of learning about
  the function and role of a PA
• The experiences should not be for the amount of
  time spent with a PA, but for what was learned
  during the time spent with the PA (what does a PA
  do?)
• Ask questions of the PA on what they like/dislike
  about the profession, hot topics, the future of
  the profession, etc.
• Recommend one primary care and two specialty areas

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• Following a PA student for a day or half day will
  allow the applicant to answer the question Do
  you know what to expect if you are accepted into
  the PA program?
• Find out the blood and guts of the program
• Learn about the emotional demands and the effect
  on personal time and family life

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• Occurs in early to mid-January
• Allows use to get to know you up close and
  personal
• We are mostly interested in what kind of person
  you are and how you would fit into our program
• During the interview itself make eye contact,
  smile and try to relax as much as you can
• Be honest and forthright with your answers
• Come prepared for all the favorite interviewer
  questions such as why do you want to be a PA?
  Tell me about yourself. Tell me what you know
  about our program, etc.
• Know why you want to be a PA rather than any
  other profession

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• Set up a practice interview with your advisor and
  have him/her drill you with questions
• Research our program prior to the interview
• Look over the website
• Talk to as many students as possible (prior to
  the day of the interview) about what they think
  of the program
• Look over the AAPA/SAAAPA website
• Be current on medical issues
• Come prepared with a copy of latest transcript
  (official and unofficial)
• Ask the interviewers questions during the
  interview

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• Well-Rounded PersonalityIt takes a well rounded
  person with an ability to communicate accurately
  and efficiently to become a successful Physician
  Associate. This includes a person who has been
  willing to step beyond academia and correspond
  with their community. Those life experience
  blend well with profession of Physician
  Associate.
• Team PlayerThe Physician and Physician Associate
  role is that of cooperation. The ability to work
  in an environment that fits with both you and
  your Supervising Physicians beliefs is
  imperative. Your role within that environment is
  constantly changing. Their may be times that you
  may need to take the lead in a situation but
  always remembering the role of your Physician.
  In addition, an incident my occur that requires
  you to play more of a contributing member and not
  a leader.
• MotivationThe medicine and health field is
  constantly changing with the discoveries to
  improve health care. Therefore, as members of
  the health care field, you must be motivated to
  stay current within this field.

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• Prepare for possibility of not being accepted
• Take some courses in the spring following your
  application in the
• event you do not get in (often the notice is too
  late to enroll in
• something after receiving the letter)
• Dont get discouraged
• Many students do not get in the first time
• If youre not accepted, use that 10 months to
  better prepare you for
• possible acceptance the following year
• Specifically, gain a greater understanding of
  science by taking
• advanced courses in science, become more familiar
  with the
• profession using the internet, and gain
  experience by
• volunteering or working in a health care setting
• Seek advisement
• Make an appointment with an advisor to go over
  application packet
• and interview scores. Follow their
  recommendations and try again.

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• General Recommendations
• Get degree, if not done already
• Spend more time shadowing PAs
• Come to class and talk with students
• Improve GPA (especially upper science)
• Health care experience

Take graduate hours You dont necessarily have to
finish a graduate degree but the number of hours
completed must be sufficient to demonstrate to
the admissions committee that you can do the work
here 
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• This is an adventure with many trials and
  tribulations.
• This new road you will travel is meant for vast
  learning and growth, with the ultimate goal of
  patient responsibility.
• The human being is complex, with the assessment
  and treatment being even more complex.
• This program is dedicated to teaching you skills
  of patient management and care.
• Your responsibility is recognizing and dedicating
  yourself to the ultimate goal.
• You may question yourself during the PA
  educational process. Including, How will I ever
  learn this vast amount of information? and
  multiple other questions. Remember, between the
  dedication of the PA faculty and staff, and your
  willingness to succeed, the end is one of many
  rewards.

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• www.okpa.org
• PA Program 271-2058
• Visiting Class Students
• email amber-hicks_at_ouhsc.edu
• Shadowing List/Faculty Pre-PA Advisement
• email lillie-neal_at_ouhsc.edu
• Prerequisites/Course Transfer Information
• OUHSC Office of Admissions 271-2359
• Online Application
• www.admissions.ouhsc.edu

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General Information
PA Program
University of Oklahoma
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PA Program
OU PA History
Profession began at Duke in 1965 University of
Oklahoma PA Program is currently only program in
state OU Program established in 1970 30-month
Master of Health Science Degree Program
University of Oklahoma
Accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission
on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA)
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PA Program
Physician Assistants
Professional member of the health care
team. Direct extension of the physician used to
improve access to high quality health
care. Often works in similar capacity as
physician but work is always guided and
supervised by a physician. PAs do NOT work
independently (without physician
supervision). The Physician does not need to be
physically present when the Physician Assistant
provides services. The physician retains
overall responsibility for the care of the
patient. PAs work within the scope of practice
of their supervising physician
University of Oklahoma
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PA Program
Scope of Practice
Obtain a patients accurate medical history
University of Oklahoma
Perform a thorough physical examination
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PA Program
Scope of Practice
Ordering and analyzing laboratory and diagnostic
tests
University of Oklahoma
Performing routine diagnostic tests such as PAP
smears and EKGs
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PA Program
Scope of Practice
Diagnosing and treating medical problems
University of Oklahoma
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PA Program
Scope of Practice
Prescribe medications
University of Oklahoma
Write medical orders in hospitals
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Make hospital rounds
Initiate and manage emergency treatment
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Assist in surgery
Debride, suture and care for wounds
Cast and splint fractures and sprains
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• Anywhere physicians work.

Private Physician Offices and Clinics Public and
Private Hospitals Emergency Departments
Veterans Affairs Facilities All Branches of
the Armed Services Schools and Industrial
Settings Federal and State Correctional
Institutions
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Physician AssistantTraining
PA Program
University of Oklahoma
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Begins in late June/early July - 17 Months

• Credit Hours
• -Summer 11
• -Fall 26
• -Spring 22
• -Summer/Fall 24

Classes held from 8-5, Monday-Friday
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• Begins in November - 13 Months, 52 Credit Hours

• Pediatrics One 1-Month Rotation
• Surgery One 1-Month Rotation
• Primary Care/Family Medicine One 2-Month
  Rotation, One 1-Month Rotation
• Mental Health One 1-Month Rotation
• Medicine Three 1-Month Rotations
• Emergency Medicine One 2-Month Rotation
• Obstetrics and Gynecology One 1-Month Rotation
• Preceptorship One 1-Month Rotation

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• DegreeMaster of Health Science Graduation in
  December
• CertificationNational certification exam (PANCE)
  taken after graduation. Must pass in order to be
  certified (C in PA-C)

OU Graduate Pass Rate 99
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• Finding a JobGood future for PA Profession in
  Oklahoma. PA Program helps with job placement by
  keeping a current job list available to PAs and
  PA students.
• SalaryAverage starting salary for new graduates
  is 74,000. Specialty practice salaries can
  exceed 100,000 with experience

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• Continuing Medical Education (CME)Must complete
  100 hours every two years
• Recertification ExamMust take and pass every 6
  years

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• The PA program discourages students from working,
  therefore, most students take out students loans
  to cover expenses during the program.

Resident Total 96,565Tuition/Fees 25,171
Non-Resident Total 121,104Tuition/Fees
49,710

• Books/Supplies 6440
• Living 60,954
• Computer 2500
• Loan Fees 1500