Physician Assistant

Mission Statement 

The York College Physician Assistant program seeks to recruit and educate students from the diverse surrounding communities to become highly competent, compassionate, and culturally aware providers of excellent medical care to underserved urban areas. Incorporated in our mission is a priority on increasing access to medical professional education for racial and ethnic minorities, financially disadvantaged students, and first-generation college graduates. Our program is committed to providing strong supports so that we may also expect high performance from our students. All students successfully completing the program are eligible to sit for the national PA board examination administered by NCCPA and will have completed a didactic and clinical curriculum emphasizing urban medical care.  

Major Program Goals 

1. Recruit applicants who reflect the diversity of the CUNY student population and communities surrounding York College, demonstrated by a level of ethnic, racial, and linguistic diversity exceeding national averages amongst physician assistant programs. 

2. Serve as an engine of social and economic mobility for financially disadvantaged students by maintaining an affordable tuition and fee structure. 

3. Provide strong support for all students through a combination of advisement, academic coaching, and electronic textbooks/resources. 

4. Graduate physician assistants who have demonstrated professionalism, including good interpersonal and interprofessional collaboration skills, cultural competence, and self-reflective, systems-based practice. 

5. Graduate physician assistants with a fund of medical knowledge and medical practice skill sets sufficient to assess, diagnose and manage patients (with physician supervision). 

6. Graduate physician assistants who will help address the healthcare needs of the NYC metro communities (5 boroughs of NYC, Long Island, Westchester, and the surrounding cities of New Jersey, and Connecticut). 

Career Description 

The Physician Assistant (PA) is a health professional licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Physician assistants are qualified by graduation from an accredited physician assistant training program and by certification of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. Within the collaborative physician/PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision-making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The clinical role of physician assistants includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical settings working in both rural and urban areas. Physician Assistant practice is centered on patient care and may include educational, research and administrative activities. The PA elicits medical histories, performs complete physical examinations, performs and interprets various diagnostic tests and formulates diagnosis and treatment plans. The physician assistant functions within the scope of practice of the supervising physician and within the level of experience and training achieved. An important component of PA practice is patient counseling and patient education. Physician Assistants practice in varied settings, including private medical offices, hospitals, clinics and community health centers. Physician assistants practicing in New York State may write prescriptions for medications, including certain classes of controlled substances. Physician assistants provide services in various medical and surgical disciplines including, but not limited to: family practice, pediatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, geriatrics, orthopedics, psychiatry and emergency medicine. The physician assistant role requires the application of intelligence, compassion, sound judgment, critical reasoning, dedication to patients, and good interpersonal skills. 

Accreditation and Credentials 

1. The ARC-PA has granted Continued Accreditation to the Physician Assistant Program sponsored by York College/CUNY. Continued accreditation is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards. Continued Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next comprehensive review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2028. 

2. The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies is conferred when the Physician Assistant Program requirements are fulfilled, including successful completion of all Physician Assistant Major Discipline requirements. 

3. Certification: Upon completion of all requirements and approval by the PA program, the graduate is permitted to sit for the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants examination. 

4. Licensure: Upon completion of all requirements, the graduate is permitted to apply to New York State for limited permit licensure as a physician assistant. The PA can apply for a full license upon taking and passing the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) examination.