The Program's overall purpose is to provide the highest quality of academic and clinical training that will prepare our graduates to be certified and licensed to practice as extenders to physicians in a competent and reliable manner.

The mission of the Duquesne University Physician Assistant Program is four-fold:

1) to prepare trainees with the necessary knowledge and skills to reliably perform the role of a physician assistant.

2) to promote a lifelong responsibility for ongoing learning and active participation in a changing health care environment.

3) to instill a professional identity in each student based on the education for the mind, heart and soul that is achieved at Duquesne.

4) to prepare graduates to provide quality primary health care among rural, urban and minority populations.


Duquesne University provides an environment in which we can enrich the mind and the life of the spirit by providing the highest quality of educational and clinical professionalism, and maintaining an atmosphere of inclusion, tolerance and free exchange of ideas that fosters critical thinking and problem-solving. The faculty work with the students in a values-laden environment to achieve this end. The Rangos School, through the Department of Physician Assistant, encourages students to examine the moral and ethical foundations of their thoughts and actions, and to develop their values and ethical commitment as it relates to the provision and delivery of healthcare services.

The Program's overall purpose is to provide the highest quality of academic and clinical training that will prepare our graduates to be certified and licensed to practice as extenders to physicians in a competent and reliable manner. To fulfill this mandate, five departmental goals guide the Program. They include:


        •  to provide an innovative and stimulating course of study through an integrated set of educational         experiences,

        •  to facilitate an understanding of core medical sciences, patient care, cultural values, public policy         issues, and critical thinking that will enable future physician assistants to assume positions of         responsibility,

        •  to graduate a cadre of educated and clinically-competent professionals able to serve the public by         delivering high quality, cost-effective medical services while simultaneously improving access to care,

        •  to engage in meaningful research applicable to the interests and needs of the physician assistant         profession, and

        •  to provide ample opportunities for service learning consistent with the University's Mission.