11/19/2023

PA Program Spotlight: Mount Saint Joseph University

Newsletter Article - January 2023

Dr. Darla Vale, the Dean of the MSJ School of Health Sciences, was the first at the University to plant the vision of the PA program. Her advocacy lead to the hiring of Chair and Program Director, Patrick Cafferty, who was instrumental in the ARC-PA accreditation process and developing the mission and vision of the program. The University welcomed their first cohort in January 2018, and have since graduated 3 cohorts of students. We are proud to announce that continuing accreditation status was received from the ARC-PA in March 2022.

In November of 2022, the Class of 2024 received their white coats just prior to their transition to clinicals. These 28 students recently underwent a clinical orientation that reinforced many skills acquired throughout their didactic year including surgical techniques and case presentation practice. These activities enhanced confidence as they embarked on their first clinical rotation. This year we are excited to be implementing a new special populations elective which will allow students opportunities to complete rotations with populations that may require special care considerations including geriatrics, palliative care, homeless medicine, underinsured/uninsured, etc.

In May, the graduating Class of 2022 (comprised of 24 students) entered the workforce in various specialty positions throughout the greater Cincinnati region and across the country. We are so proud of the care that all of our alumni are providing to their patients. The students from the Class of 2023 are finishing up their final rotations, preparing for summative, and eagerly awaiting to sit for their PANCE this spring.

During their didactic year, the class of 2024 has worked endlessly to fundraise and volunteer with multiple organizations. An Amazon Wishlist was created, and many donations were delivered to the emergency shelter of Northern Kentucky for those who are experiencing homelessness. A donation was also made to Beacon Orthopedics on behalf of the MSJ PA program to support its academic teaching center, which provides cadaver orthopedic simulations and learning opportunities for high school and college students in the Cincinnati region.

This year, the program has started a Journal club as a means to enhance our student relations. Our inaugural event was held this January and led by one of our new faculty, Mara Prickett, PA-C. The event allows for collaboration between alumni and current students as they discuss evidence-based literature that informs current trends in medicine. In response to last year’s success, our second iteration of The Healer’s Art program will be starting in February 2023 for our newest cohort of students. This course focuses on introducing aspects of medicine that are not traditional to medical training. The students explore various themes such as grief and loss though story-telling and self-reflection to discover how to connect with patients on a humanistic level. Students are also looking ahead to summer events as we are eagerly preparing to host PA Olympics as the current PA Olympic Champions

Finally, the MSJ PA Program would like to thank our chair and program director, Patrick Cafferty MPAS, PA-C, DFAAPA, who will be retiring at the end of June. The work that he has put into creating this program deserves much appreciation and we are looking forward to building upon his legacy.