UNMC Mission

We are Nebraska Medicine and UNMC.
Our mission is to lead the world in transforming lives to create a healthy future for all individuals and communities through premier educational programs, innovative research and extraordinary patient care.

Division of PA Education Mission Statement

We will be innovative leaders in physician assistant education, developing diverse clinicians who practice evidence-based medicine and provide exceptional, team-based care to all individuals and communities.

History

The University of Nebraska Medical Center Physician Assistant Program was established as a result of a mandate from the Nebraska State Legislature in November of 1971. The purpose of the PA Program was to provide primary care providers for rural and underserved areas of Nebraska.

The first students graduated from the Program in 1975 with a bachelor's degree. In 1993, the Program began awarding a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree and at the time, was one of the first PA programs nationally to offer a master's degree.

As the demand for a master's degree level of physician assistant education increased, in September of 1996, the PA Program established the Distance Learning Program. This Program allowed practicing PAs with a bachelor's degree earn master's degree while continuing to their PA practice.

The Principal Goals of the UNMC Physician Assistant Program Starting with class of 2020 (outcomes to be measured):

1. To develop exceptional clinicians.
2. To prepare professional graduates.
3. To achieve student satisfaction in their educational experience.
4. To prepare graduates to achieve 100% first-time pass rate on the PANCE.
5. To meet evolving health care workforce needs.
   1. Determine national trends of health care workforce needs
   2. Measure percent of graduates who practice in health care area and geographic location to meet workforce needs
   3. Foster a culture of caring for the underserved
6. Recruit and graduate students who will add to the diversity of the PA profession.
7. To foster a culture of leadership.
8. To develop clinicians who practice effectively in a team-based environment.
9. To develop clinicians engaged in on-going evidence-based medicine practices.

Previous Measured Goals:

To provide a comprehensive and relevant medical educational experience for students.
The most recent graduate survey (Class of 2012) shows that UNMC continues to provide an outstanding experience for students:

• 100% believe they received good or excellent training on the Role of the PA.
• 96% believe they received good or excellent training in the Knowledge of Primary Care Medicine.
• 100% believe they received good or excellent training on the Ability to Perform the Physical Examination.
• 96% believe they received good or excellent training in Counseling Patients.
• 100% believe they received good or excellent training in the Professional Responsibility as a PA.

To provide the means and support for every entering student to graduate.

• Five year graduation rate of 98.6% from 2009-2013.

To prepare students to provide the highest quality, evidence-based and safe care for all patients.

• Results from recent physician employer surveys indicate graduates are well accepted by patients, providing excellent care (Supervising physician survey, 2006-2011).

To prepare exceptional, clinically competent graduates.

• 100% of employers of graduates rated the UNMC PA Program overall as good to excellent (Supervising physician survey: 2006-2011).
• Five year NCCPA first-time PA National Certifying Exam pass rate of 98%.

To prepare graduates with exceptional professionalism.

• 100% satisfactory rating on clinical rotations assessed by preceptors.

To prepare graduates to achieve 100% first-time pass rate on the PANCE.

• Five year NCCPA first-time PANCE pass rate of 98%.

To prepare graduates to meet primary care workforce needs.

• 32% of graduates (2010-12) practice in a primary care setting.
• 30% of graduates (2010-12) practice in rural or underserved areas.

To prepare graduates to improve access to medical care in Nebraska, especially its underserved populations.

• 68% of the UNMC PA graduates (2012-13) practice in Nebraska.