DeSales University Physician Assistant Program: A Comprehensive Overview

DeSales University offers a comprehensive Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPAS) program designed to cultivate competent and compassionate healthcare providers. Rooted in the enduring Christian Humanistic traditions of the university, the program emphasizes the total well-being of the patient, ethical principles, and service to diverse populations. This article provides an in-depth look at the program's mission, curriculum, admission requirements, and other key aspects.

Mission and Philosophy

The mission of the DeSales University Physician Assistant Program is to graduate physician assistants who dedicate themselves to the total well-being of the patient. This mission aligns with the Christian humanistic philosophy of the University. Graduates are expected to deliver competent and compassionate healthcare, including preventative services and wellness education, to patients of diverse populations in a variety of settings. They will consider the patient holistically in the context of family, community, and society, and incorporate ethical principles into a patient-focused practice. The program aims to provide experiences with diverse and vulnerable populations to reinforce compassionate and ethical medical care, as illustrated by the Christian humanism of St. Francis de Sales.

Program Structure and Curriculum

The graduate program in PA Studies is designed to be completed in 24 months of full-time study, consisting of 12 months of didactic (classroom) instruction and 12 months of clinical rotations. Courses typically meet daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.

The MSPAS curriculum integrates clinical medicine, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. The program has been designed to develop generalists with an emphasis on primary care medicine. History and physical examination courses develop familiarity with obtaining pertinent and concise examinations as they relate to disease entities. Students gain practical knowledge by performing clinical procedures and by ordering and interpreting diagnostic images and electrocardiograms. As you earn your Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, you’ll have opportunities for hands-on learning. First Year Clinical Experiences start early in the first (didactic) year, giving you broad clinical experience. You will also gain experience at the DeSales Free Clinic, a student-run clinic located in the Allentown Rescue Mission, where MSPAS students provide culturally competent, cost-effective care.

All MSPAS students follow a 24-month curriculum that includes classroom instruction and experiential learning. The curriculum integrates clinical medicine, pathophysiology, and pharmacology. As part of the training, students are given the opportunity for clinical experience. Participants in clinical experiences must act professionally at all times, maintaining patient and practice confidentiality. Breaches of professional conduct may result in dismissal from the program and/or University.

Read also: DeSales University Employment

The clinical year includes nine, five-week rotations. Our team of dedicated faculty allows for clinical rotations to be arranged for students.

Consistent with Accreditation Review Commission for Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) Standards, the University provides a summative experience following completion of the program. The successful completion of the one week long summative experience is a graduation requirement.

Admission Requirements

Selection for a place in the physician assistant program is very competitive. Admission is based on academic achievement, high quality performance in science and/or healthcare related courses, demonstrated motivation and professional potential, and strong interpersonal skills.

In order to be considered for admission in the next academic year, an applicant’s file must ordinarily be completed no later than December 1. Experience with underserved or vulnerable populations receives consideration in keeping with DeSales University’s mission of Christian Humanism. Advanced placement in the physician assistant program is not possible. All Applicants must apply and submit required forms and documentation via CASPA (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants: www.caspaonline.org).

Here's a breakdown of the specific requirements:

Bachelor's Degree: A bachelor’s degree from a college or university accredited by one of the six regional accrediting bodies (Middle States, New England, North Central, Northwest, Southern, and Western Association of Schools and Colleges). An applicant who possesses a degree from an accredited institution outside of the US may also be considered for admission.
Prerequisite Courses: Completed all required classes before matriculation in the program. Students may apply before the completion of these courses but should inform the University as to when and where the needed course(s) will be taken. All prerequisite coursework must be completed before matriculation into the program. You may submit your application while completing prerequisite courses; however, only two outstanding courses can be completed after the deadline. Three courses must have been taken within five years of applying. Our ten prerequisite courses must be a minimum of 3 credits each. Courses include English Composition I, English Composition II, General or Introduction to Psychology, Statistics, General Biology, General (Inorganic) Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Microbiology, Human Anatomy & Physiology I and II, or one semester of Human Anatomy and one semester of Human Physiology. *Writing-intensive courses will be considered to satisfy the requirement if English Composition was not required for your curriculum.
Graduate Record Examination (GRE): Taken and submitted the test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Scores should be received by December 1.
Healthcare Experience: Completed a minimum of 500 hours of health care experience (paid or volunteer). The experience should be completed within the United States due to the wide variety of health care delivery systems around the world. The 500 hour requirement must be completed before matriculation into the program and does not need to be completed by the time of the application.
Transcripts: Submitted all transcripts of studies completed outside of the United States by December 1.
Background Checks and Clearances: A criminal background check, fingerprinting, child abuse clearance, and immunizations are required for matriculation into the program.
Language Skills: Language skills assessment and other exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis by the admissions committee.
CASPA Application: Application may be requested from www.caspaonline.org (Centralized Application Service for Physician Assistants) or by calling CASPA at 240.497.1895.
Interview: Selected applicants will be interviewed by the faculty. Ordinarily this will be done through a personal visit. Following the interview candidates are evaluated by the Admission Committee to assess their acceptability to the program.

Academic Standards and Probation

Students are required to maintain a semester GPA of at least 3.0 having no grade lower than “C” during each semester. The first instance failing to reach the above requirement, the student will be placed on P.A. program academic probation. These students will be notified of their probationary status in writing. The second occurrence during the PA program will result in PA program academic dismissal. Students academically dismissed may appeal in writing to the medical director of the program who serves as chair of the PA Academic Appeals Committee. Students who fail to achieve a “C” (C- is not acceptable) in any course during the PA program are required to repeat the course.

Technical Standards

The technical standards for the DeSales University Physician Assistant Program have been established to ensure than students have the ability to demonstrate academic mastery, perform clinical skills, and communicate clinical information. These standards are aimed to ensure that each student has the academic and physical ability to acquire competencies defined by the National Commission on Accreditation of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), the Accreditation Review Commission for Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), and the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). These technical standards also ensure that each student can participate in competency activities prescribed by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). These activities include patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice. These technical standards are required for admission and must be maintained throughout a student’s progress through the Physician Assistant Program. If an applicant states she/he is unable to meet the technical standards without accommodation, the University will determine whether the student can meet the technical standards with reasonable accommodation. This includes a review of whether the accommodations requested are reasonable, taking into account whether the accommodation would jeopardize patient safety or the educational process of the student or the institution, including all coursework and internships deemed essential to graduation.

Financial Aid

Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Be sure to designate DeSales University by the school code. If you wish, you may file the FAFSA online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. DeSales University utilizes criteria from methodology created by the Federal government to determine need for financial assistance. Your Official Award Letter is based on the information provided on the FAFSA and your enrollment. If this is the first time you will be applying for a William D. Ford Federal Direct Loan at DeSales, you must complete an electronic Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling. You can complete these forms on line at www.studentloans.gov. Under the unsubsidized Federal Direct loan, a student may choose to make quarterly interest payments on this loan while enrolled in a degree program or add the accruing interest to the principal until repayment. DeSales University offers the Graduate Direct PLUS loan. A student may borrow up to the cost of attendance minus any other financial aid that the student has been awarded. If you use a portion of your financial aid for living expenses, you may be eligible to receive a refund (of your credit balance) after the drop/add period based on the semester’s time table. There will be NO refunds issued unless there is a credit balance on your account. If you have received a refund based on your enrollment and you change your enrollment status. Direct costs plus indirect costs are referred to as your Cost of Attendance. Indirect costs are estimated additional expenses incurred. Costs are determined on a yearly basis by the University’s Board of Trustees.

Program Faculty

The Physician Assistant Program boasts a dedicated faculty with diverse backgrounds and expertise:

JEFF MIDGLEY: Program Director/Clinical Assistant Professor of PA Studies.
STEPHEN KATZ: Medical Director of PA Studies.
ERIN MCLAUGHLIN: Assistant Medical Director/Clinical Assistant Professor.
CHRISTOPHER BARELA: Clinical Assistant Professor of PA Studies.
JESSICA FERRIAOLO: Clinical Assistant Professor of PA Studies.
SHIRLEY FLETCHER-HALL: Clinical Assistant Professor/Clinical Coordinator of PA Studies.
PADMAVATI GARVEY: Clinical Assistant Professor of PA Studies.
MICHAEL LACROIX-FRALISH: Clinical Assistant Professor of PA Studies.
JENNIFER WINUS-ROBINSON: Clinical Assistant Professor/Clinical Coordinator of PA Studies.

Accreditation and Performance

DeSales University’s physician assistant program has a longstanding history of excellent performance of its graduates on the national certifying examination (PANCE). Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards. 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 validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be June 2027. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy. Our graduates of the MSPAS program have a near perfect first-time PANCE rate since the program inception in 1997.

Read also: DeSales University Sports

Additional Graduate Programs at DeSales University

Each graduate degree program has specific admission requirements and procedures. Upon receipt and review of all required admissions materials, applicants are notified of their admissions status. To assist in graduate school research, you are welcome to schedule an appointment to learn more about opportunities for graduate study at the University.

DeSales University offers an online doctorate designed for leadership, education, and innovation in healthcare. Choose from three specialized tracks-Executive Leadership, Medical Education, or Advanced Professional Practice-to align your doctoral experience with your career goals. Benefit from personalized mentorship, robust networking, and guidance from experienced faculty. Designed for working professionals, the DMSc is 100% online and asynchronous, allowing you to balance work, life, and doctoral study on your own schedule. Proof of current board certification (e.g.

Doctor of Physical Therapy students at DeSales University presented original research projects during the 2025 DPT Research Symposium, highlighting innovation in patient care, rehabilitation, and healthcare education. More than 200 guests attended the event celebrating clinical research and collaboration. The DeSales DPT program prepares future physical therapists to combine science, compassion, and Salesian values in practice.

Undergraduate Medical Studies Major

DeSales’ medical studies major is a dynamic undergraduate major with the goal of the accelerated program that fast-tracks your journey to becoming a physician assistant. Lead patient care with skill and heart. DeSales University’s program in medical studies focuses on ethics, compassion, and excellence in care. The medical studies curriculum blends in-depth scientific study, practical clinical training, and a commitment to ethical practices. You’ll gain comprehensive understanding of the medical field. At DeSales, we believe in learning by doing. As a medical studies major, you will have many opportunities to apply what you learn in the classroom to real-world settings. The medical studies major is rooted in Salesian values. Classroom learning also focuses on the importance of compassion, ethics, and service. In the medical studies major, you will explore subjects like anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and medical ethics.

tags: #desales #university #physician #assistant #program #requirements