Academics
VISION
We aspire to be a leader in physician assistant (PA) education whose diverse graduates provide superior healthcare within the communities they serve.
MISSION
The University of Maryland Baltimore Graduate School (UMB) promotes excellence in education to foster the development of competent, ethical and compassionate primary care providers. We value diversity, lifelong learning, research, and scholarship.
To accomplish this mission, emphasis is placed on both academics and professionalism. Our students are expected to exemplify the virtues of integrity, honesty, respect, and ethical behavior.
GOALS
- Educate physician assistant students to provide delegated services in an ethical, safe, legal, and competent manner under the supervision of a licensed physician.
- Provide educational and clinical experiences that prepare the physician assistant student to work collaboratively and lead interprofessional teams.
- Provide an educational experience that stresses the importance of furthering education through advanced study and continuing education, applying the concepts of evidence-based, patient-centered medicine.
- Provide students with educational opportunities and a wide variety of clinical experiences that will enable them to recognize social determinants of health and work effectively in all primary care settings including underserved and diverse communities.
- Prepare students to become effective communicators, educators, and responsible members of the community who utilize critical thinking skills in the clinical setting and base their practice on evidence-based, patient-centered medicine and sound ethical values.
- Enable students to meet the eligibility requirements and successfully pass the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) certifying examination upon graduation.
Primary care physician assistants contribute to the care of patients throughout all stages of life. Traditionally, they work with a Family Medicine Physician, Internal Medicine Physician or Pediatrician to deliver medical care while integrating all that addresses the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual components. They provide reliable care within the context of a team and they work in multiple healthcare settings. The University of Maryland Baltimore (UMB) PA Program works to teach its graduates the necessary attitudes, knowledge and skills to serve communities in a compassionate, caring and ethical manner. The program has adopted the NCCPA PA Competencies as our graduate outcomes, and has further defined milestones that students will work toward as they enter into the profession and continue in their lifelong learning journey as healthcare professionals.
System-Based Practice
SBP-1 Provides cost conscious care
SBP-2 Emphasizes patient safety
SBP-3 Advocates for individual and community health
SBP-4 Coordinates team based care
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
PBLI-1 Locates, appraises and assimilates evidence from scientific studies related to their patient’s health problems
PBLI-2 Demonstrates self-directed learning
PBLI-3 Improves systems in which the physician assistant provides care
Patient Care
PC-1 Cares for acutely ill or injured patients in urgent and emergency situations and in all settings
PC-2 Cares for patients with chronic illnesses
PC-3 Partners with the patient, family and community to improve health through disease prevention and health promotion
PC-4 Partners with the patient to address issues of ongoing signs and symptoms or health concerns that remain overtime without clear diagnosis despite evaluation and treatment in a patient centered cost effective manner
PC-5 Perform specialty appropriate procedures to meet the healthcare needs of individual patients, families and community and is knowledgeable about procedures performed by other specialists to guide patient care and referral.
Medical Knowledge
MK-1 Demonstrates medical knowledge of sufficient breadth and depth to practice primary care
MK-2 Applies critical thinking skills to patient care
Professionalism
Prof-1 Completes a process of professionalization
Prof-2 Demonstrates professional conduct and accountability
Prof-3 Demonstrates humanism and cultural proficiency
Prof-4 Maintains emotional, physical and mental health and pursues continual personal and professional growth
Communication
IC-1 Develops meaningful, therapeutic relationships with patients and their families
IC-2 Communicates effectively with patients and their families
IC-3 Develops relationships and effectively communicates with members of the healthcare team
IC-4 Utilizes technology to optimize communication
