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SALUS

Physician AssistantCollege of Health Sciences

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clinics as well as hundreds of practice sites across the country.

Salus is a multidisciplinary university that encourages a

collaborative campus culture, ensuring that students are well

grounded in today’s team approach to health care.

Because Salus pushes the frontiers of education, our

graduates stand at the forefront of their professions. That’s

why ambitious students from around the world choose to study

at Salus. This private university, located in a quiet suburb

outside Philadelphia, is a goal-oriented community united in a

common purpose: to make a real difference in the lives of real

people. Our name—Salus, from a Latin word meaning “health

and well-being”—embodies that mission.

Salus delivers more clinical immersion: more extensive, more

The Physician Assistant program at Salus University delivers an education designed forthe way physician assistants practice today. These frontline providers are taking expandedroles in health care and shouldering greater responsibility for direct patient care. Our programresponds to this new reality, offering such distinctions as an anatomy-based curriculumand an early, intense clinical program. Our graduates draw on a deep understanding—nota mere recognition—of human health and disease to meet these ever-growing challenges.

A SPIRIT OF INNOVATION drives the educational

philosophy of Salus University. It was true in 1919, when

the university was founded as the Pennsylvania College of

Optometry, the nation’s first nonprofit, independent college of

optometry. And it is true today, as Salus continues to pioneer

advances in Physician Assistant studies, Optometry, Audiology,

and Low Vision Education and Rehabilitation at its

graduate-level colleges.

Our academic programs feature innovative biomedical-

based curricula as well as early and extensive clinical training.

Hands-on skills are learned in state-of-the-art teaching labs, and

direct patient care is mastered in our own community-based

Salus University comprises

four accredited colleges:

• College of Health Sciences

• Pennsylvania College of Optometry

• George S. Osborne College

of Audiology

• College of Education and Rehabilitation

www.salus.edu/physicianassistant

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Elkins Park CampusOn Salus’s 11.5-acre main campus,students enjoy suburban convenience,modern academic buildings, and quickaccess to the professional opportunities ofthe greater Philadelphia metro region.Teaching facilities for the Physician Assistant program include two dedicated labs and community-based clinics in optometry and audiology.

varied, more intense, more hands on, more patient centered.

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Frontline InsightsOur faculty members strive tocontinue their clinical practice asphysician assistants in private, military, and international practice.This ensures that your Salus educationis fresh, current, and relevant.

www.salus.edu/physicianassistant

Faculty members are

nationally certified

physician assistants and

board-certified physicians

with extensive clinical

experience, ranging from

specialty medicine to

primary care. They are

also devoted educators

who are generous with

their time and attention.

“You can tell, just by the

way faculty members talk to

you, that they are genuine

and really care,” says

second-year student

Trenise Robinson.

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Physician assistants work in

all medical and surgical spe-

cialties and settings as part of

physician–physician assistant teams.

They collaborate on specialty health

care teams and assume direct responsi-

bility for their patients’ well-being.

This evolving role demands an educa-

tion grounded in the realities of con-

temporary practice. Salus University’s

Physician Assistant program in the

College of Health Sciences delivers

this kind of education, through a new

and innovative 25-month residential

program leading to a Master of

Medical Science (M.M.S.) degree.

This is a program designed to

meet today’s standards and anticipate

tomorrow’s advances. Our fully

integrated curriculum begins with a

strong foundation in basic science and

pathophysiology that integrates course-

work with clinical practice in our

on-campus clinical skills lab and gross

anatomy lab. Students learn evidence-

based medicine theory and work in

small groups on case-based problems

that encourage teamwork and develop

critical thinking ability. Our energetic

and dedicated faculty members

closely mentor students who move

through the program in a unified

class cohort, creating a close-knit

and supportive learning community.

Early and extensive clinical edu-

cation is a hallmark of Salus University,

and the Physician Assistant program

is no exception. Patient contact and

community immersion are introduced

in the first year. The second year is de-

voted to clinical experiences in a variety

of health care specialties and settings,

including top-flight hospitals and

medical centers. Your education culmin-

ates with a capstone project that pulls

together all your medical knowledge,

clinical skills, and professional values.

Graduates of Salus University’s

Physician Assistant program enter the

profession with an education designed

specifically for the evolving demands

placed on today’s

physician assistant.

And that gives you

an edge.

Distinctions of Our Program

Commitment to campus–community interactive learning

Student:faculty ratio lower than the national average

- Fully integrated curriculum with on-campus cadaver lab

Patient care and clinical experiences start in the first year

B O DY WORK

The curriculum integrates coursework withlab work for each body system.

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Immediate ImmersionSalus works hard to introduce first-year students to unique shadowing experiences.

www.salus.edu/physicianassistant

Physician assistants

enjoy many personal

and professional

rewards. The profession

has been ranked the

country’s fourth fastest

growing by both

CNN.com and

Forbes.com and has

been named a Top 10

profession five years

running by both

Money and US News &

World Report.

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Your education at Salus

University’s College of Health

Sciences begins with a 13-

month didactic year that provides an

integrated foundation in biomedicine’s

basic and clinical sciences. Over three

terms, your coursework sequentially

builds a thorough knowledge of general

medicine, patient assessment and

management, and pharmacology and

therapeutics. You will learn the physiol-

ogy and pathophysiology of all body

systems as well as the application of this

knowledge in special patient populations,

including pediatrics, geriatrics, and

women’s medicine.

The use of cadavers to teach

anatomy and physiology is evidence of

our commitment to a quality education.

Custom-designed—not retrofitted—for

the teaching of physician assistants, our

gross anatomy lab familiarizes students

with the human body and facilitates the

correlation of coursework with anatom-

ical knowledge and clinical skills and

procedures. In addition, our clinical skills

lab gives students the opportunity to

apply their new abilities in a simulated

patient-care environment. Coursework

and lab work are fully integrated, so that

classroom lessons on the cardiovascular

system, for example, are complemented

by relevant hands-on practice.

Beginning in the first term,

students learn to apply evidence-based

medicine in the Clinical Problem

Solving course sequence that extends

throughout the didactic year. Working

in small groups, students use critical

thinking and problem-solving techniques

to address complex case studies under

the guidance of faculty. They are thus

well prepared for the weekly preclinical

experiences introduced in the second

term. Visiting a variety of practice

settings, students initially observe expe-

rienced clinicians at work and then

progressively provide direct patient care

as their skills and confidence grow.

C LO S E CON TAC T

A peer-to-peer mentoring program matches each entering student with an experienced physician assistant student, easing your transition to the Salus community.

Great Spaces for Learning

C L I N I C A L S K I L L S A S S E S S M E N T

L A B : Acclimate to the professional practice environment in this lab that simulates a primary care clinic, right down to exam tables, privacy drapes, and computers for ordering and coding, plus an audiovisual system for lectures and demonstrations.

C A D AV E R L A B : Receive firsthand exposure to human anatomy in this state-of-the-art lab, equipped with stainless steel tables, a full set of dissection instru-ments, and a video system for teaching and sharing special instructions.

E Y E A N D E A R C O M M U N I T Y C L I N I C S :Learn to collaborate in specialty health careteams through learning experiences at The Eye Institute and the Pennsylvania Ear Institute, Salus’s on-campus clinical teach-ing facilities for optometry and audiology.

C L I N I C A L P R O B L E M - S O LV I N G

C L A S S R O O M S : Work in small groups in specially designed conference-style classrooms, analyzing and resolving patient cases—just like professional health care teams.

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Clinical PartnersOur challenging clinical program brings students intoprestigious practice sites, including Mayo Clinic, St. Jude Children’s ResearchHospital, Temple UniversityHospital, Albert EinsteinMedical Center, and JeanesHospital.

www.salus.edu/physicianassistant

Students receive intense

preparation for

the Physician Assistant

National Certifying

Exam (PANCE),

including coursework,

a senior seminar, two

practice tests, and

a board review course

in the senior year.

This focus on student

success pays off: Our

inaugural graduating

class posted a 100%

pass rate on PANCE.

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Students of the College of Health

Sciences begin their clinical year

with confidence in their medical

knowledge, clinical skills, and profes-

sional attitude. The second year of study

is dedicated entirely to clinical rotations

that provide direct patient care experiences

in primary and specialty medical care

settings. Over these 12 months, you will

transition from a learner to a practitioner,

capable, compassionate, and prepared

for a career as a physician assistant.

Students perform a total of ten

clinical rotations over three terms; each

rotation is five weeks long and brings

the student into a different professional

practice site. Eight required rotations

cover the following core areas: emergency

medicine, family medicine/primary

care, internal medicine, general surgery,

geriatric medicine, pediatric medicine,

and women’s health/prenatal care. Two

elective rotations are chosen by the

student, permitting further exposure to

a core area or specialty in which the

student can reinforce his/her knowledge

or gain experience.

Our extensive clinical program ex-

poses students to a wide spectrum of

practice environments, including clinics,

hospitals, long-term-care facilities, and

private practice settings. Most rotation

sites are nearby, thanks to Salus’s strategic

location in a well-populated urban/

suburban region; students rarely need to

relocate. The number of sites is continu-

ally growing to meet students’ needs, and

our clinical program staff devotes the

majority of its time to developing new

and maintaining established relationships.

An advanced didactic component

complements your clinical year and caps

your Salus education. This transitional

component is your bridge into health

care practice, covering such professional

topics as ethics, insurance, credential-

ing and licensure, and continuing

medical education. Students

conclude their educa-

tion by presenting

a Grand Rounds

case study of a

patient encoun-

tered during

clinical rotations.

Highlights of Clinical Program

First-year students shadow physician assistants and other providers

in professional settings in their pre-clinical exposure activity.

Second-year students complete ten five-week rotations during which

they provide direct patient care under supervision.

Core and elective rotations provide exposure to as many

as ten medical disciplines.

Rotations are completed in top-flight hospital, ambulatory medicine,

private office, and long-term-care settings.

S T U DY S P OT

The Gérard Cottet Library has extensive print and electronic resources

to support your studies.

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The Hafter Student

Community Center

gives students a place

to work out, relax

alone, or connect with

classmates. This

new, 36,000-square-

foot complex is

staffed with full-time

instructors and

includes a fitness facility,

suspended running

track, and full-size

basketball court. A

comfortable lounge area

includes televisions,

game room, kitchenette,

and meeting rooms.

Class Profile(Recent entering class)

SIZE:

45 students from

20 states

AGE:

21 to 44 (mean age, 23)

DIVERSITY:

69% female;

13% minority

ACADEMIC BACKGROUND:

Four-year degrees: 100%

Average GPA: 3.61

www.salus.edu/physicianassistant

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Focused yet friendly—that’s how

students describe the Salus com-

munity. The main campus is

located in Elkins Park, a quiet place that

offers suburban conveniences with quick

access to the cultural and professional

opportunities of Philadelphia. (The train

to Philadelphia is a 15-minute walk

from campus.) The Elkins Park Campus,

beautifully landscaped on 11.5 acres of

a former estate, includes two modern

academic buildings and a student center

clustered near a pond.

Our busy students benefit from a

centralized campus with easy access to

academic and co-curricular resources, in-

cluding classrooms, laboratories, library,

bookstore, lounges, administrative offices,

and a comfortable cafeteria serving drinks,

snacks, and made-to-order hot and cold

foods. As a graduate-level university,

Salus assists students in relocating to the

area and choosing among many attractive,

affordable housing options in local

neighborhoods. Students find it conven-

ient to commute from Elkins Park, by car

or public transportation, to clerkships

throughout the Philadelphia region.

Within the Physician Assistant

program, close bonds among students

and faculty are forged through outdoor

retreats, national academic competitions,

small-group cultural immersions, and

other team-building experiences. Each

class develops its own mission statement,

and the Physician Assistant Program

Student Society organizes social events

and professional opportunities.

Salus students are connected by com-

mon goals and united in a shared mission,

making for a rich campus life. Students

work together to coordinate activities such

as humanitarian missions, charity fund-

raisers, student-faculty talent shows, and the

Salus Soiree semiformal dance. At Salus,

you’ll find a campus community as people-

centered as the health professions it serves.

H E A LT H CA R E H U B

Philadelphia is home to leading hospitals, academic medical centers, and other professional sites for physician assistant practice.

Salus University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed or religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, physical or mental disabilities, or veteran status in its programs and activities. For inquiries regarding our non-discrimination policies, contact Maura Alexander , Salus University Affirmative Action Officer, at 215.780.1266.

The Best of Philadelphia 1 . O P P O R T U N I T Y

It’s a metro center, a medical mecca, and a great place to launch a physician assistant career.

2. A R T S & C U LT U R E

It’s a cosmopolitan city of museums, theaters, restaurants, nightclubs, boutiques, and more.

3. S P O R T S

It’s a real sports town, with 12 professional teams, including the Flyers, Eagles, 76ers, and Phillies.

4. H I S T O R Y

It’s where America began, with a story stretching from the colonial to the contemporary.

5. L O C AT I O N

It’s at the center of the Northeast metropolitan corridor, close to New York and Washington DC, the Jersey Shore and the Pocono Mountains.

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How To ApplyApplicants.Your application must be

submitted through the Central Applica-

tion Service for Physician Assistants

(CASPA), the centralized application

service administered by the Physician

Assistant Education Association. The

submission period opens in April of

the year prior to the year of enroll-

ment and closes the following Winter .

Application should be made as early as

possible to ensure timely processing by

CASPA and priority consideration by

Salus University. Information is avail-

able at www.caspaonline.org.

International Students.You must

submit to Salus University a course-by-

course credential review from an accred-

ited agency. Although these services

can be obtained from several agencies,

the recommended agency for physician

assistant candidates is Educational

Credential Evaluators. Information is

available at www.ece.org.

Prerequisites

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university, with a minimum GPA of 2.8

• Demonstration of technical standards required for admission to the program

• Documentation of at least 100 hours of health care experience as a volunteer, employee, or equivalent

• Experience observing or shadowing practicing physician assistants (strongly recommended)

• Completion of the following courses with a grade of 2.0 (C) or higher:

• Anatomy and Physiology I or Anatomy, with lab (4 credits)

• Anatomy and Physiology II or Physiology, with lab (4 credits)

• Chemistry I, with lab (4 credits)

• Chemistry II or Organic Chemistry, with lab (4 credits)

• Biology I, with lab (4 credits)

• Biology II or Genetics or Microbiology, with lab (4 credits)

• Intro to Psychology or General Psychology (3 credits)

• Mathematics or Statistics (3 credits)

• English Composition (3 credits)

(M.M.S.) degree from Salus University’s

College of Health Sciences is an excellent foundation for a rewarding career as a

physician assistant. Our 25-month residential program is an investment in a pro-

fession offering strong prospects and great personal satisfaction. Financial aid is

available; to discover the offerings for this year’s incoming class, visit www.salus.edu.

We encourage applications from candidates with the prerequisites listed here. Those

applicants best qualified to represent the physician assistant profession receive an in-

vitation for a campus visit and formal interview. This is our opportunity to get to

know you personally, and your opportunity to decide if Salus is right for you.

Visit: www.salus.edu/physicianassistant • Contact: 800.824.6262 or admissions@salus.edu • Apply: www.caspaonline.org

A Master of Medical Science

Connect with Salus

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