Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS)

CHA/PA Program Overview

The three-year, innovative curriculum of the University of Colorado PA program is designed to integrate clinical and basic sciences to prepare graduates with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes to practice medicine as part of the health care team. Graduates practice in all areas of medicine and serve patients of all ages.

Welcome from the Director

Welcome to the University of Colorado Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant (CHA/PA) Program. I invite you to explore our website to learn more about our program and students. You will see that we are unique among Physician Assistant programs in terms of our curriculum and courses. We are proud to be a part of this dynamic educational program that is consistently among the top-ranked programs according to US News and World Report.

Over the past 55 years, over 1,400 CHA/PA graduates have entered the workforce. CHA/PA alumni can be found throughout Colorado and across the United States, practicing in a wide variety of primary and specialty care settings.

The program is also recognized for its unique educational value and comprehensive physician assistant training. Costs for our three-year program for both in-state and out-of-state students are lower or comparable to most two-year training experiences. In 2018, we launched the Colorado Curriculum. Based on current research in learning theory, this curriculum is designed to support learner mastery of the complex concepts of patient care. In addition to our extensive adult curriculum and integrated clinical training across all three years, we offer expanded training in pediatric medicine as well as several track options.

We are proud of our program and fortunate to be at the heart of a vibrant and growing health sciences center. The Anschutz Medical Campus has state-of-the-art hospitals, research centers, and nationally recognized health professional schools. Our campus was also built with a vision of interprofessional education; through our longitudinal interprofessional training curriculum, we are working together to prepare all our learners for team-based practice models of the future.

Thanks for your interest and I hope to see you on campus.

Jonathan Bowser
CHA/PA Program Director
Associate Dean of Physician Assistant Studies
Associate Professor, Section Head of Pediatrics

Would you like to receive our newsletter? It is sent quarterly to all those interested in CHA/PA. E-mail PA-info@ucdenver.edu to sign up.

Welcome, Prospective Students!

The Physician Assistant program at the CU School of Medicine is a graduate-level program awarding a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) upon completion. The 35-month, full-time curriculum provides comprehensive physician assistant education in primary care across the lifespan, with expanded training in pediatrics and care of the medically underserved.

One class of 44 students is enrolled in the summer semester each year through a competitive admissions process. Please read on for details on how to apply, prerequisites, and much more!

Admissions Procedures

How do I apply? Information on deadlines, the CASPA application, the supplemental application, and CASPer.

Admissions process - An overview of requirements, application processing, and interviews.

Admissions Timeline - Table outlining the admission's timeline from application to orientation.

Prerequisites and Program Requirements

Information on prerequisites, including minimum GPAs, courses required before applying, courses required before matriculation, and coursework taken outside the U.S. You can find a Prerequisite Worksheet on this page to help you determine what prerequisite coursework you still have outstanding, as well as a list of advisors at local institutions.

CHAPA Technical Standards - Outlines the technical standards required for admission, promotion, and graduation.

Questions?

Information Sessions - Attend an information session to get an overview of the CHA/PA program and prerequisites. Following the presentation, current students will answer your questions and give you a tour of the campus!

Frequently Asked Questions - Review for commonly asked questions about the program, applications, and courses.

Interprofessional Education and Tracks

Educational content is enhanced through the applications of family-centered care, behavioral and psychosocial perspectives as well as social and community initiatives for health and wellness. The program has integrated content in public health, oral health, professionalism, and interprofessional education. Students with a personal area of interest may also have the opportunity to participate in specialized tracks to enhance learning such as Rural Health and Pediatric Critical and Acute Care.

Clinical Experience and Affiliates

The curriculum includes a fully integrated clinical curriculum across all three years with clinical rotations in the hospital and community settings. During clinical experiences, students participate in history-taking, physical examination and assessment, development of a differential diagnosis and clinical decision-making and planning of treatments and interventions. Students work closely with preceptors and other members of the health care team and are evaluated on skills and competencies required for patient care.

As a part of the University of Colorado School of Medicine, the faculty of the entire school of medicine and affiliates contribute greatly to the quality of the learning experiences provided at the CHA/PA Program. Affiliations with the University of Colorado Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and Denver Health and Hospitals in addition to community centers and clinics provide a network of clinical rotations to enhance the training of students. The faculty within the departments of Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Surgery, and others regularly participate in both classroom and clinical training of the CHA/PA Program students.

Degree

The University of Colorado PA Program has gained national recognition for its curriculum in primary care medicine. The Program confers a Professional Master’s Degree (MPAS). In accordance with the mission of the program, the CHA/PA Program curriculum provides comprehensive physician assistant education in primary medical care with additional training in pediatrics and the need for service to disadvantaged, at risk and medically underserved populations. There are specific requirements that all students must complete to receive the MPAS degree from our fully accredited PA Program. Graduates are well prepared to perform in primary care practice with patients across the lifespan. Historically our students have performed above the national average in score and passing rate on the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) examinations.

Graduation and awarding of the Masters of Physician Assistant Studies is based upon the following requirements:

Successful completion of all coursework and rotations of the University of Colorado PA Program
Exhibiting professionalism throughout the course of study
Successful completion of the Comprehensive Clinical Knowledge and Clinical Skills Examinations

Degree Requirements

Year 1

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Summer		Hours
MPAS 5000	Summer Immersion	10
	Hours	10
	Total Hours	10

Plan of Study Grid
Year 1
Fall		Hours
MPAS 5001	Hematology, Infection, Inflammation and Malignancy I	4
MPAS 5002	Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary and Renal I	5
MPAS 5003	Cardiovascular and Pulmonary I	5
MPAS 5020	Clinical Skills I	3
MPAS 5030	Foundations in Prevention, Advocacy and Prof Practice I	2
MPAS 5050	Clinical Experiences I	4
	Hours	23
Spring
MPAS 5004	Dermatology and HEENT I	4
MPAS 5005	Musculoskeletal and Neurology I	4
MPAS 5006	Endocrinology and Reproduction I	4
MPAS 5007	Psychiatry I	3
MPAS 5021	Clinical Skills II	3
MPAS 5031	Foundations in Prevention, Advocacy and Prof Practice II	2
MPAS 5051 or MPAS 5911 or MPAS 5944	Community Clinic I or Pediatric Critical and Acute Care --1st year or Care of Hospitalized Adults - 1st Year	2
IPCP 5000	Interprofessional Collaborative Practice	1
	Hours	23
	Total Hours	46

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
PCACLE Track
MPAS 5911	Pediatric Critical and Acute Care --1st year	2
CHANGE Track
MPAS 5944	Care of Hospitalized Adults - 1st Year	2
Global Track
MPAS 5983 & MPAS 5984	Global Health Track Elective I - 1st Year and Global Health Track Elective II - 1st Year	2
Rural Track
MPAS 5985 & MPAS 5986	Rural Health Track Elective I - 1st Year and Rural Health Track Elective II - 1st year	2

Year 2

Plan of Study Grid
Year 2
Summer		Hours
MPAS 6051	Community Clinic I	2
MPAS 6052	Community Clinic II	2
	Hours	4
	Total Hours	4

Plan of Study Grid
Year 2
Fall		Hours
MPAS 6001	Hematology, Infection, Inflammation and Malignancy II	4
MPAS 6002	Gastrointestinal, Genitourinary, and Renal II	5
MPAS 6003	Cardiovascular and Pulmonary II	5
MPAS 6020	Clinical Skills III	3
MPAS 6030	Foundations in Prevention, Advocacy and Prof Practice III	2
MPAS 6053 or MPAS 6612 or MPAS 6644	Community Clinic III or Pediatric Critical and Acute Care —2nd year or Care of Hospitalized Adults - 2nd Year	2
IPHE 6000	IPE Healthcare Ethics & Health Equity	1
	Hours	22
Spring
MPAS 6004	Dermatology and HEENT II	4
MPAS 6005	Musculoskeletal and Neurology II	4
MPAS 6006	Endocrinology and Reproduction II	4
MPAS 6007	Psychiatry II	3
MPAS 6021	Clinical Skills IV	3
MPAS 6031	Foundations in Prevention, Advocacy and Prof Practice IV	2
MPAS 6054 or MPAS 6612 or MPAS 6644	Community Clinic IV or Pediatric Critical and Acute Care —2nd year or Care of Hospitalized Adults - 2nd Year	2
	Hours	22
	Total Hours	44

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Electives:
MPAS 6640	Emergency Medicine Preceptorship	2
MPAS 6670	Women's Health Preceptorship	2
MPAS 6671	Guatemala Clinical Immersion Experience I (Summer Only)	2
PCACLE Track
MPAS 6612	Pediatric Critical and Acute Care —2nd year	2
CHANGE Track
MPAS 6644	Care of Hospitalized Adults - 2nd Year	4
Global Track
MPAS 6672	Guatemala Immersion I for Global Health Track (Summer Only)	2
Rural Track
MPAS 6675 & MPAS 6676	Rural Health Track Elective I - 2nd Year and Rural Health Track Elective II - 2nd Year	2

Year 3

Course List
Code	Title	Hours
Total credit hours for year 3 are 42
Required:
MPAS 6905	Surgery	4
MPAS 6930	Primary Care I	4
MPAS 6940	Primary Care II	4
MPAS 6947	Primary Care III	4
MPAS 6948	Emergency Medicine	4
MPAS 6974	Primary Care IV	4
MPAS 6978	Clinical Connections I (Fall Only)	1
MPAS 6979	Clinical Connections II (Spring Only)	1
Electives:
MPAS 6932	Academic Inpatient Pediatric Medicine	4
or MPAS 6942	Inpatient Adult Medicine
MPAS 6970	Adult Elective II - 4-week Rotation (Sec I, II, III, IV)	4
or MPAS 6936	Pediatric Elective II - Four Week Rotation (Sec I, II, III, IV)
MPAS 6920	Neonatology	4
MPAS 6938	Adolescent Medicine	4
MPAS 6975	Behavioral & Mental Health	4
MPAS 6971	Guatemala Clinical Immersion Experience II (Summer Only)	4

PCACLE Track
MPAS 6913	Pediatric Critical and Acute Care—3rd year	4
CHANGE Track
MPAS 6944	Care of Hospitalized Adults - 3rd Year	4
Rural Track
MPAS 6952	Rural Community Medicine (Sec I, II, III)	4
Global Track
MPAS 6972	Guatemala Immersion II for Global Health Track (Summer Only)	4
MPAS 6983	Global Health Track Elective I - 3rd Year	4
MPAS 6985	Global Health & Disasters	2

LICENSE is a mnemonic for highlighting the vision and goals of the Colorado Curriculum.

Longitudinal

The Colorado Curriculum is a 3‐year, spiral‐design curriculum that progresses from foundational concepts to more complex topics and skills in a developmentally appropriate manner.

Integrated

The Colorado Curriculum integrates basic science, clinical medicine, and professional practice in didactic and active learning sessions for each clinical presentation.

Clinical Presentations

The Colorado Curriculum is anchored in over 70 clinical presentations arranged in 7 body system blocks, and drives learning through a case‐based approach.

Entry Ready

The Colorado Curriculum prepares students to meet all professional competencies to practice in primary care medicine, including interprofessional team practice, meeting the needs of the profession and the communities it serves.

Needs-Based

The Colorado Curriculum uses continuous quality improvement measures and assessments to monitor and respond to all stakeholder needs, including learners, faculty, patients, preceptors, and the community.

Student/Learner Centered

The Colorado Curriculum places learners/students at its center, encouraging reflective practice and wellness as they grow to be lifelong learners.

Experiential

The Colorado Curriculum grounds all learning in the context of the clinical encounter, using 4 threads to integrate and apply content to specific cases, patient populations and clinical settings.

CHA/PA Core Competencies

COMPETENCIES REQUIRED OF CHA/PA PROGRAM STUDENTS UPON GRADUATION

GRADUATE CORE COMPETENCIES

Upon graduation CHA/PA students are expected to demonstrate competencies in specific areas. Performance should be commensurate with that of a new practitioner. The CHA/PA program provides educational experiences to support student development of requisite knowledge, skills and attitudes.

I. PATIENT CARE

CHA/PA graduates must be able to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate and effective for health promotion, disease prevention and the treatment of health problems. Graduates are expected to:

A. Communicate effectively and demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients and their families

B. Elicit a detailed and accurate history from their patients

C. Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence, and clinical judgment

D. Perform competently all diagnostic and therapeutic procedures considered essential for the area of practice, including an appropriate physical exam

E. Develop and implement patient management plans and health care services, including plans for health promotion, disease prevention, and medical and surgical conditions

F. Provide education and counseling to patients and families regarding health care management

G. Use information technology to support patient care decisions and patient education

H. Work under the supervision of a physician and with other health care professionals from other disciplines to provide patient-focused care

II. MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE

CHA/PA graduates must demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical information (including epidemiological and socialbehavioral sciences) and demonstrate the application of that knowledge to patient care. Graduates are expected to:

A. Demonstrate an investigatory and analytical approach to clinical problem-solving

B. Know and apply basic science and clinical knowledge appropriate to their clinical practice

III. PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT

CHA/PA graduates must be able to evaluate their practice in the context of current scientific evidence. Graduates must be able to access, critically evaluate and apply this evidence to improve patient care.

A. Analyze current practice and identify areas for practice improvement

B. Identify, locate and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to their patients’ health

C. Obtain and use information to benefit their own patient population

D. Apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of studies and other information on diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness

E. Use information technology to manage information, access on-line information; and support their own continued learning

IV. INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS

CHA/PA graduates must be able to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their patients families, and professional colleagues from a variety of disciplines. Graduates are expected to:

A. Create and sustain a therapeutic and ethically sound relationship with patients

B. Use effective listening skills and elicit and provide information using effective nonverbal, explanatory questioning and writing skills

C. Work effectively with others as a team member or leader of a health care team or other professional group, under the supervision of a physician

D. Use effective communication skills to refer patients to other health care providers or systems

V. PROFESSIONALISM

CHA/PA graduates must demonstrate commitment to professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to diverse patient populations. Graduates are expected to:

A. Demonstrate respect, compassion, and integrity; responsiveness to the needs of patients and society that supersedes self-interest; accountability to patients, society and the profession; and commitment to excellence and on-going professional development

B. Demonstrate a commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, informed consent and business practices

C. Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to patients’ culture, age, gender and disabilities

VI. SYSTEM-BASED PRACTICE

CHA/PA graduates must demonstrate awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value. Graduates are expected to:

A. Understand how their patient care and professional practices affect other health care professionals in the health care organization, the larger society and how these elements of the system affect their own practice

B. Know how medical practice and delivery systems differ from one another, including methods of controlling health care costs and allocating resources

C. Practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation that does not compromise quality of care

D. Advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with system complexities

E. Know how to partner with health care managers and providers to assess, coordinate and improve health care and know how these activities can affect system performance.

Courses

MPAS 5000 - Summer Immersion (10 Credits)

This first year course is designed to introduce learners to the Anschutz Medical Campus, fundamentals of learning strategies, PA professional roles, wellness and resilience and the clinical presentation curriculum.