Mission Statement
The AdventHealth University Physician Assistant Program’s mission is to educate knowledgeable and compassionate individuals as spiritually cognizant healthcare providers who embrace a mission of service to others.
Mission Supported Goals
- Support a nurturing and spiritually enriching learning environment.
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Measure of Success Outcomes Student Exit Survey Benchmark:
Graduating students are expected to report satisfaction with the nurturing and spiritually supportive environment created by the program (mean score ≥4.0 on a 5-point Likert scale).Students rated the nurturing and spiritually supportive environment of the program as follows: - Class of 2025 – 4.28
- Class of 2024 – 4.5
Student-to-Faculty Ratio Benchmark:
The program will maintain a student-to-faculty ratio at or below the national average for private PA programs (≤12.8:1), as reported in the PAEA Program Report 36.AHU maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio: - AHU PA Program (2025-2026) student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
- National Mean (all programs) student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
Academic Coursework Supporting Goal:
Curriculum ensures that all students are enrolled in academic courses that address the role of spirituality in healthcare, consistent with the program and institutional mission.PA students are required to take two courses that address the role of spirituality in healthcare: - Identity and Mission in Faith-Based Healthcare
- Role Fidelity and the Exercise of Power
Student Exit Survey Benchmark:
Graduating students are expected to report satisfaction with the spiritual focus of the program (mean score ≥4.0 on a 5-point Likert scale).Students rated satisfaction with the spiritual focus of the program as follows: - Class of 2025 – 4.21
- Class of 2024 – 4.32
- Graduate students who will all be successful on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE)
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PANCE Performance Benchmark
Measure of Success: PANCE All-time Performance Benchmark
The program seeks a 100% all-time pass rate on PANCE.Outcomes: PANCE All-time Performance Graduating Class AHU's All-time Pass Rate Class of 2021 100% Class of 2022 100% Class of 2023 96%* Class of 2024 100% Class of 2025 97%* *Students who have not yet passed the PANCE are registered to retake the exam.
PANCE Performance Benchmark:
Measure of Success: PANCE First-time Performance Benchmark
The program's 5-year first-time PANCE pass rate will meet or surpass the national average.Outcomes: PANCE First-time Performance Graduating Class AHU's First-time Pass Rate National Average Class of 2021 93% 93% Class of 2022 93% 92% Class of 2023 85% 92% Class of 2024 96% 92% Class of 2025 93% 91% 5-year Average 92% 92% - Promote students’ commitment to service learning experiences
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Measure of Success: Student volunteer hours Benchmark
The program seeks 100% completion of the required 40 hours of service-learning for each student (as defined in the AHU PA Program Policy Manual)
Outcomes:
Completion and verification of 40 hours of required service-learning for each student, documented and assessed through approved reflection and program verification processes.
- Class of 2025 – 100%
- Class of 2024 – 100%
- Class of 2023 – 100%
- Prepare highly qualified individuals from diverse background to provide exceptional whole-person care
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Measure of Success and Benchmarks Outcomes Matriculated Students (Classes of 2025 - 2027) Student demographic data represents a diverse student body: program data will be comparable to or exceed the national data as reported and published annually by the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA).
Physician Assistant Education Association, By the Numbers: Program Report 36: Data from the 2021 Program Survey, Washington, DC: PAEA; 2023. doi: 10.17538/PR36.2021.
Age AHU:
Average 25 (ranging from 20 to 40 at the time of admission)National:
Average 24.9GPA AHU:
Average 3.63 overall GPA (3.12 – 4.0)
Average 3.57 overall science GPA (3.07 - 4.0)National:
Average 3.60 overall GPA
Average 3.50 overall science GPAGender AHU:
80% female and 20% maleNational:
76% female and 23.9% maleRace AHU:
76% White, 9% Asian, 13% Black or African American, and 2% American Indian or
Alaskan NativeNational:
69.8% White, 10.5% Asian, 4.9% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian or Alaskan NativeEthnicity AHU:
29% HispanicNational:
9.5% HispanicClinical Experience AHU:
4901 average hours of patient contact experience (12 - 15,960)National:
3,235 average hours of patient contact experienceStudent Exit Survey Benchmarks:
Graduating students are expected to report satisfaction with the diversity of the student body (mean score ≥4.0 on a 5-point Likert scale).
Graduating students rated their satisfaction with the diversity of the student body as follows:
- Class of 2025 – 4.24
- Class of 2024 – 4.43
Alumni Survey:
Alumni are expected to report satisfaction with the diversity of the student body (mean score ≥4.0 on a 5-point Likert scale).
Alumni rated their satisfaction with the diversity of the student body as follows:
- Class of 2025 – 4.24
- Class of 2024 – 4.72
Summative Assessment:
The program expects 100% of the students to achieve a passing score on the Summative OSCE, demonstrating competence in the provision of whole-person care during the summative phase of the curriculum.
100 % of the CO2024 and CO2025 received a passing score on their Summative OSCE Evaluation: Whole Person Care Competency Assessment.