About Us
Our Mission
The West Virginia University Division of Physician Assistant Studies is committed to partnering with communities to improve the health and quality of life for individuals within and beyond the state of West Virginia.
The Division is dedicated to addressing health care needs by offering a high-quality academic program that strives for excellence in education and clinical practice.
The Division, through promotion of quality improvement and evidence-based practice, contributes to scholarship in the field.
The program provides a model for addressing health disparity through an understanding of health and health policy, as well as awareness of social drivers of health and quality of life locally and globally.
About the Program
The PA curriculum is designed to provide a foundation in medical sciences, followed by an in-depth study of systems-based clinical medicine. The didactic phase includes courses in clinical reasoning, rural medicine, obstetrics/gynecology and surgery, acute care medicine, and a five-course series in clinical medicine and pharmacotherapeutics. The 12-month clinical phase includes rotations in family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, cardiology, general surgery, emergency medicine, women’s health, behavioral medicine, rural medicine, and two elective rotations. Consistent with our mission, the program has a focus on population health, health disparity, and rural and Appalachian health issues.
Our Values
The Division of Physician Assistant Studies values a respect for diversity, advocacy, integrity, and a patient-centered approach to medical decision making.
