Since many individuals now have access to insurance through the Affordable Care Act,
there is a need for more licensed health care providers to treat them. Physician assistants
are one of the fastest-growing professions in this country, and our program is one
of the nation’s most established programs.
Physician assistants are highly skilled health care providers. This program is designed
for students with completed bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Full-time, continuous
enrollment is required throughout the 98-credit, 26-month program.
"Towson University fosters intellectual inquiry and critical thinking preparing graduates
who will serve as effective, ethical leaders and engaged citizens. Through a foundation
in the liberal arts, an emphasis on rigorous academic standards, and the creation
of small learning environments, we are committed to providing a collaborative, interdisciplinary
and inter-professional atmosphere, excellence in teaching, leadership development,
civic engagement, and applied and sponsored research opportunities at the undergraduate
and graduate levels. Our graduates leave Towson University with the vision, creativity
and adaptability to craft solutions that enrich the culture, society, economy, and
environment of Maryland, the region, and beyond."
PA Program Mission, Vision, Values and Goals
The Physician Assistant Studies Program revised its Mission, Vision and Goals for
2021-2022 as of November 4th, 2021. Outcomes from the prior 2019-2020 goals included
integrating interprofessional educational experiences into the PA curriculum. PA
students participated in the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Towson University
Open School Chapter learning events where they applied principles related to quality
improvement, leadership and team building to improve patient safety and health outcomes.
For additional information on our achievements, please see the updated Mission, Vision, and Goals (PDF).
Mission
Our PA Program educates and empowers resilient graduates to practice collaborative,
evidence-based medicine in the ever-changing and diverse health care environment.
Vision
Our PA Program is renowned for excellence in PA education, leadership, and innovative
approaches to interprofessional practice.
Values
Our PA Program values are:
cultural humility
collegiality
integrity
interprofessionalism
life-long learning
leadership
Goals
Goal 1: For each student cohort, the program will provide the highest level of PA
education, medical competencies, and professionalism. This is benchmarked by results
on the 5 program learning outcomes.
Goal 2: The program will maintain a PANCE 1st time pass rate at or above the national
average with each graduating class. This is benchmarked by students' mean performance
on each content area and the mean performance on all organ systems and task areas.
Goal 3: With each admissions cycle, the program will continue to enhance and strengthen
the admission process to create a diverse student population that is reflective of
the communities we serve. This is benchmarked by current region census data, reflective
of diverse student population admission.
Goal 4: The program will provide each student with opportunities for interprofessional
collaborative experiences (IPE) and a foundation for leadership, clinically oriented
research, and continued life-long learning. This is benchmarked by participation in
at least 2 IPE educational activities per year, participation with the Institute of
Healthcare Improvement (IHI), collaborative learning simulation with other healthcare
students, and student-lead volunteering.
PA Program Competencies
Medical Knowledge: demonstrate core knowledge about biomedical and clinical sciences and the application
of this knowledge to patient care.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills: demonstrate verbal, nonverbal and written communication skills that result in effective
information exchange with patients and all other persons regarding the health care
system.
Patient Care: demonstrate care that is effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable
for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of wellness.
Professionalism: demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse
patient population and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.
Systems-Based Practice: demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of health care
to provide patient care that is of optimal value. Also incorporated within this goal
is that students will use technologies to identify, retrieve, and apply relevant information.
Application Information
All applicants must be verified in CASPA by August 1. Please allow sufficient time for verification as it can take up to 4-weeks from
the date of submission. To view the admission requirements as a whole, please review our Admission & Requirements Deadlines page. The application for summer 2024 opens April 27, 2023.
Student Attrition Information
In compliance with the ARC-PA Accreditation Standards (5th Edition), the program will
provide the most current annual attrition information.
Applicants must first apply throughCASPA. The CASPA verification deadline is August 1. Please allow sufficient time for verification as it can take up to 4-weeks from
the date of submission.
If extended an invitation for an interview, complete the Towson application by the
given deadline.
International graduate students may have additional admission and application requirements.
Please review our Admission & Requirements Deadlines for more information.
At its September 2021 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant,
Inc. (ARC-PA) placed the Towson University CCBC Essex Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Towson University on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in September 2023.
Probation accreditation is a temporary accreditation status initially of not less
than two years. However, that period may be extended by the ARC-PA for up to an additional
two years if the ARC-PA finds that the program is making substantial progress toward
meeting all applicable standards but requires additional time to come into full compliance.
Probation accreditation status is granted, at the sole discretion of the ARC-PA, when
a program holding an accreditation status of Accreditation - Provisional or Accreditation
- Continued does not, in the judgment of the ARC-PA, meet the Standards or when the
capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its
students is threatened. Once placed on probation, a program that fails to comply with
accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be
scheduled for a focused site visit and is subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.
Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program
Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s).
Individuals who successfully complete the program are eligible for certification by
the National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Graduates
of the program have consistently scored well on the Physician Assistant National Certifying
Examination (PANCE), and have achieved a 100% first time pass rate for the class of
2020, surpassing the national exam pass rate average.
Join a strong network of successful alumni around the country. More than 1,000 program
graduates are employed in a wide variety of medical settings in regional, national
and international locations.
A History of Success
The oldest and most established program in Maryland, the CCBC-Essex physician assistant
program began in 1972 as a cooperative effort with the Johns Hopkins University and
Franklin Square Hospital. The program has undergone a dynamic evolution in its 40-year
history.
A Vital Role
Make a direct impact on patients and their families. Working as part of the medical
team, physician assistants practice medicine by performing patient histories and physical
examination, ordering or performing laboratory tests, and analyzing medical data to
formulate diagnoses and develop care management plans.
