New York Tech PA Studies Goals

The program offers a robust curriculum to achieve this goal. For example:

1. Advanced Anatomy (PHAS 601) is taught using cadavers and includes full dissection. These formal laboratory hours amount to a total of 90 hours (3 credits) in a semester (6 hours/week for 15 weeks).
2. Formal laboratory hours that train the PA student in clinical skills (PHAS 622, 623 and 627) account for 135 hours (4 credits) over the didactic years. Students have the opportunity to work with standardized patients in the Institute for Clinical Competence throughout the didactic phase to reinforce these skills.
3. Pharmacology (PHAS 620 and 621) has six (6) dedicated credits, which equals 90 hours in this subject. In addition to these courses, pharmacotherapeutics is taught in multiple other courses such as Clinical Medicine I, II, and III, Clinical Decision Making, Surgery, Women's Health, Pediatrics, Orthopedics and Rheumatology and others.
4. Clinical rotations are offered in seven disciplines at a variety of clinical sites: Internal Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics/Gynecology, Emergency Medicine, Psychiatry, and Family Medicine. In addition, students choose two electives in areas that correspond to their personal interests.

Indicators of success for this expected program goal:

• Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE)
  Program Benchmark: First time test takers pass the PANCE at or higher than the national first time test takers pass rate.
  Our students over the past five years have passed at or above the national first time taker pass rate.
• Graduate survey response to ‘the program provided the education necessary to meet the program competencies’ using a 5-point Likert scale (5=Strongly Agree; 4=Agree; 3=Undecided; 2=Disagree; 1=Strongly Disagree).
  Program Benchmark: ≥ 4 = Agree.

Question	2020	2021	2022
The program provided the education necessary to meet the program competencies.	4.2	4.5	4.7

Opportunities provided by the program:

1. Throughout the didactic and clinical years, the students have the opportunity to work with standardized patients in the Institute for Clinical Competence (ICC). They are evaluated on their medical knowledge, practical skills, interpersonal and communication skills, and professionalism.
2. Oral and written skills are assessed in multiple didactic courses including, but not limited to, PHAS 660 PA Professions, PHAS 622, 623 and 627 - Clinical Skills courses, PHAS 650 Research I, PHAS 680 Clinical Decision Making and PHAS 690 Health Promotion and Disease Prevention.
3. Both oral and written communication skills are an integral component of the instructional objectives in all clinical rotations, and preceptors and faculty assess these skills regularly.

Indicators of success of this expected program goal:

• Preceptor evaluation of our students' oral and written communication skills using a 5-point Likert scale (5=Excellent; 4=Very Good; 3=Satisfactory; 2=Poor; 1=Very Poor)
  Program Benchmark: ≥ 4 = Very Good

  	2020	2021	2022
  Written and Oral Communication Skills	4.70	4.70	4.70

• Graduate survey response to how well the program prepared them to perform the following using a 5-point Likert scale (5=Strongly Agree; 4=Agree; 3=Undecided; 2=Disagree; 1=Strongly Disagree)
  Program Benchmark: ≥ 4 = Agree

  QUESTION: The program was successful in providing the education necessary to	2020	2021	2022
  Oral presentation of patient	4.1	4.3	4.4
  Develop a thorough patient problem list	4.3	4.5	4.7
  Documents patient information in the medical record	4.5	4.3	4.7
  Able to recognize the roles of other healthcare professionals	4.6	4.6	4.9
  Able to search, critically evaluate, and apply the medical literature during patient care	4.5	4.5	4.6

Opportunities provided by the program

Encouraging Diversity

The program seeks and encourages diversity by admitting a diverse class of students by regional recruitment that organically leads to engagement with some underrepresented groups, such as first generation, low income and minority populations. Those regional areas include the five boroughs in New York City, parts of Nassau and Suffolk counties that serve underrepresented populations, as well as areas in New Jersey and Connecticut. The college typically hosts or participates in well over 500 in-person recruitment activities within these areas, including college fairs, classroom presentations, information sessions and on-site application decision days.

Indicators of success of this expected program goal are as follows:

Program benchmark: A student body with > 20% meeting the National Institutes of Health's minority classification of race and ethnicity:

• Class of 2025: 25%
• Class of 2024: 44%
• Class of 2023: 34%
• Class of 2022: 34%

Program benchmark: A student body with > 10% self-classified on their CASPA application as economically disadvantaged:

• Class of 2025: 25%
• Class of 2024: 18%
• Class of 2023: 14%
• Class of 2022: 16%

Program benchmark: A student body with > 10% self-reporting on their CASPA application as “the first generation in my family to attend college”:

• Class of 2025: 12.5%
• Class of 2024: 18%
• Class of 2023: 17%
• Class of 2022: 16%

Cultural Awareness

PHAS 635 Behavioral Medicine includes several topics on how to approach sensitive subject matters during patient encounters, that include but are not limited to, sexually transmitted infections, breaking bad news, dealing with death and dying etc. as well as how to handle a difficult patient. The students role-play case-based scenarios, have the opportunity to work with standardized patients in the Institute for Clinical Competence and are evaluated on their compassion as well as their ability to maintain their professionalism. They work through various exercises that expose them to diverse cultural beliefs and values.

Indicators of success of this expected program goal:

• Preceptor evaluation of our students' interpersonal interactions with patients using a 5-point Likert scale (5=Excellent; 4=Very Good; 3=Satisfactory; 2=Poor; 1=Very Poor)
  Program Benchmark: ≥ 4 = Very Good

  Question	2020	2021	2022
  Interpersonal Interactions with Patients	4.81	4.80	4.74

• Graduate survey response to feeling prepared to recognize and respond to cultural differences, special needs, and vulnerabilities of different populations using a 5-point Likert scale (5=Strongly Agree; 4=Agree; 3=Undecided; 2=Disagree; 1=Strongly Disagree)
  Program Benchmark: ≥ 4 = Agree

  Question	2020	2021	2022
  Feeling prepared to recognize and respond to cultural differences, special needs, and vulnerabilities of different populations	4.3	4.4	4.7

Contribute to the PA profession

The program strongly encourages student involvement in the state and national professional organizations to nurture their involvement in contributing to and advancing the PA profession.

Indicators of success of this expected program goal:

• Membership in state and professional societies.
  Program Benchmark: 100% student membership in AAPA and NYSSPA.
  100% of our students are members in AAPA and NYSSPA.
• Participation in state or professional societies or on a New York Tech committee.
  Program Benchmark: At least one student per class will hold an office in a state or local society or participate on a committee at New York Tech during their second and third years in the program.
• A student from the Class of 2019 represented the program as a delegate on the AAPA House of Delegate (HOD) Student Delegation. The program provides funding for this opportunity.
• A student from the Class of 2019 was elected by the program's student society to represent the program as an Assembly of Representatives (AOR) delegate at the AAPA annual conference. The program provides funding for this opportunity.
• A student from the Class of 2020 was elected student AOR and represented the program at the annual AAPA conference.
• Over the years, several students have been elected to the NYSSPA student board, participating in initiatives, meetings and conferences. The program provides funding for this representative to attend the annual NYSSPA conference.

Contributions to Society

Each year students from all three cohorts are involved in community outreach initiatives. These have included fundraising runs, toy drives, and food donations, promoting a reading initiative, clothing drive for refugees and the homeless, care packages for soldiers and activities with veterans. Students are continuously encouraged to bring forth new initiatives they are passionate about to the program for consideration.

Indicators of success of this expected program goal:

• Professional Enhancement Program
  Program Benchmark: 100% of students must participate in six opportunities each over the course of three years. 100% of students have met this goal over the past five years.
  • All students from the engaged in domiciliary, detached, and peripatetic outreach opportunities with various charities locally, nationally, and internationally.
  • Students volunteer to participate at various medically related events and philanthropic fundraisers.
  • In partnership with the New York Tech Center for Global Health, PA students can join medical service trips to various underprivileged communities both domestic and abroad.

Master's Project: PA students must complete an original research paper prior to graduation. Their journey begins with a course in Epidemiology and Interpretation of the Medical Literature. This path continues with several other research and critical thinking courses the program offers to reach its goal in preparing students for career of continuous lifelong learning.

Indicators of success of this expected program goal:

• Participation in ALETHEIA
  Program Benchmark: 100% of students will participate in ALETHEIA
  • 100% of the students disseminate their research during ALETHEIA, an interprofessional annual research symposium at New York Tech Long Island. Awards for posters presented during Alethia were won by students in 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023.
  • Several groups of students have also presented their work at the New York State Society of Physician Assistants (NYSSPA) as well as at the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) conferences. Many have been recognized with awards.
• Principal faculty continue to be involved in scholarly activities and serve as role models for the students.
  Program Benchmark: 100% of faculty will be active in scholarly activities:
  • Frank Acevedo, M.S., PA-C, DFAAPA
    • Pursuing a doctoral degree in Higher Education Leadership.
    • Alethia Faculty Advisor on 3rd Place Poster Presentation Winner: Technology/Education. “The Role of Test-Taking Strategies and Study Methods on Examination Performance”. May 2023.
    • New York State Society of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting, Workshop: “Probing” Hypotension with Your Ultrasound Skills”. Saratoga, New York, October 2022.
    • New York State Society of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting, Lecture: “Jump Starting Ultrasound Education for Students and Providers”. Saratoga, New York, October 2022.
    • New York State Society of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting, Lecture: “Wet or Dry? The Controversies in Fluid Resuscitation of the Critically Ill Patient”. Saratoga, New York, October 2022.
    • American Academy of Physician Assistants, National Conference. “Ultrasound Use in Cardiovascular Risk Assessment”. Lecture & Workshop, Indianapolis, Indiana, May 2022.
    • New York State Society of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting, Workshop: “Ultrasound Use in Assessing Cardiovascular Risk in Primary Care”. Saratoga, New York, October 2021.
    • American Academy of Physician Assistants, National Conference. “Why Do Patients Prematurely Terminate Oral Antibiotics”. Poster Presentation, Virtual Conference, May 2021.
    • New York State Society of Physician Assistants Invited President's Lecture “Sepsis in 2020 and COVID-19”. Virtual Presentation, May 2021.
    • Acevedo, F., 2021 Surgical Review Chapter in A Comprehensive Review for the Certification and Recertification Examinations for Physician Assistants: Published in Collaboration with AAPA and PAEA. 7th Edition. Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
    • Danielle Beir, MPAS, Emily Hunter, MPAS, Tiffany Gugliemli, MPAS, Amanda Roy, MPAS, & Frank Acevedo, MS, PA-C, DFAAPA, American Academic of Physician Assistants National Conference 2021, ePoster Presenter
    • New York State Society of Physician Assistants Lecture “Developing a Critical Care Curriculum”. Virtual Presentation; October 2020.
    • Alethia Faculty Advisor on 2nd Place Poster Presentation Winner: Health & Medicine. “Medical Students Knowledge on Capabilities of Physician Assistants”. May 2020.
  • Anoma Zehra Ahmed, M.B.B.S., M.S., PA-C, DFAAPA
    • Wolf, C., Ahmed, A.Z., Schmidt, G. and Winter, S., 2020. Predictors of Attrition Among Accelerated and Traditional Physician Assistant Students. The Journal of Physician Assistant Education, 31(4), pp.204-206.
    • Ahmed Z. & Wolf C. Do Students Honor the Honor Code? Physician Assistant Education Association's Annual Education Forum, October 2020
  • Yennie Armand, M.S., PA-C
    • Pursuing a doctoral degree.
    • Kuriakose S., Armand Y. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Patient-Centered, Timely, and Effective Paradigm. Physician Assistant Clinics. 2021 Jul; 6(3).
  • Jaclyn Cotgreave, M.S., PA-C
    • Pursuing a doctoral degree.
    • New York State Society of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting, Workshop: “Ultrasound Use in Assessing Cardiovascular Risk in Primary Care”. Saratoga, New York, October 2021.
    • Presenter, New York State Society of Physician Assistants 2020 CME Conference "Exposing Atrial Fibrillation in Cryptogenic Stroke Patients: Utilizing Insertable Cardiac Monitoring"
    • Co-Presenter, New York State Society of Physician Assistants 2019 CME Conference “Speed Up Your Diagnosis with EFAST (Ultrasound).”
  • Shinu Kuriakose, DHSc, PA-C
    • 2023 Recipient of the PAEA Scholarship for the Harvard Macy Program for Educators in the Health Professions.
    • New York State Society of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting, Lecture: “Mental Health Emergency: An Initial Approach”. Saratoga, New York, November 2023.
    • Alethia Faculty Advisor on 3rd Place Poster Presentation Winner: Health & Medicine. “Lateral Mobility in the Physician Associate Profession and its Effect on Burnout Among PAs”, May 2023.
    • Kuriakose S. Mental Health and Ethics. The Clinical Advisor. January 2023.
    • Kuriakose S, Timko-Swaim L, Loscalzo Carina, L’Eplattenier M. Assessing the Effect of the COVID-19 Outbreak on Didactic Education and Mental Health of Physician Assistant Students in the New York City Region. The Journal of Physician Assistant Education: August 2022 - Volume - Issue - 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000450 doi: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000450
    • Kuriakose S. Health Care Ethics Informed Consent, Quality of Life, and Full Disclosure. J Qual Healthcare Eco 2021, 4(1): 000205.
    • New York State Society of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting, Lecture: Shinu Kuriakose & Carina Loscalzo. “Personality Disorders: A Maladaptive Paradigm”. Saratoga, New York, October 2021.
    • New York State Society of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting, Lecture: Shinu Kuriakose, & Sara Winter. “Mental Health First Aid: CPR for the Soul”. Saratoga, New York, October 2021.
    • New York State Society of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting, Lecture: Shinu Kuriakose, Mark L'Eplattenier, MPAS, Carina Loscalzo, Lynn Timko-Swaim. “The Impact on PA Student Mental Health Among 3 NY PA Programs During the COVID-19 Pandemic”. Saratoga, New York, October 2021.
    • Kuriakose S. Armand Y. Cognitive Behavior Therapy: Patient-Centered, Timely, and Effective Paradigm Physician Assistant Clinics. 2021 Jul; 6(3) 371-379 doi.org/10.1016/j.cpha.2021.02.002
    • Kuriakose, S. Pandemics and Mental Health: An Unfortunate Alliance. SN Compr. Clin.Med. 2, 2197–2201 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42399-020-00501-y
    • Kuriakose S. Global health: Global health diplomacy. Journal of Global Health. 2020;10(2): 020354.doi:10.7189/jogh.10.020354
    • Kuriakose, S. (2020). Case study of first episode schizophrenia. Journal of Medical and Allied Sciences, 10(2), 126-128. doi: 10.5455/jmas.87788
    • Kuriakose S. Telepsychiatry: Opportunities and Challenges. Journal of Healthcare Communications 2020, 5:1 ISSN 2472-1654 doi: 10.36648/2472-1654.5.1.1
    • Kristine Prazak-Davoli, M.S., PA-C
    • Pursuing a doctoral degree.
    • Alethia Faculty Advisor on 2nd Place Poster Presentation Winner: Lifestyle. “The Effect of Personal Independence on Intimate Relationship Satisfaction Among Healthcare Students”, May 2023.
    • Alethia Faculty Advisor on 2nd Place Poster Presentation Winner: Technology/Education. “Impact of Physician Assistant Program Length on First-Time PANCE Pass Rates”, May 2023.
  • Kristine Prazak-Davoli, M.S., PA-C
    • Pursuing a doctoral degree.
    • Alethia Faculty Advisor on 2nd Place Poster Presentation Winner: Lifestyle. “The Effect of Personal Independence on Intimate Relationship Satisfaction Among Healthcare Students”, May 2023.
    • Alethia Faculty Advisor on 2nd Place Poster Presentation Winner: Technology/Education. “Impact of Physician Assistant Program Length on First-Time PANCE Pass Rates”, May 2023.
  • Sara Winter, M.S., PA-C
    • Marshall, S., Winter, S., Capobianco, J.D., 2022. Lymphatic osteopathic manipulative treatment reduces duration of deltoid soreness after Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine. J Osteopath Med; 122(3): 153–157.
    • Women Empowerment Mental Health Partnership. Principal Recipient, Grant Initiative Funding. The National Council and Kate Spade NY Foundation, 2022
    • National Alliance for Mental Illness - New York State - Long Island - 2022-present - Education Coordinator - Lead Instructor End the Silence Program.
    • New York State Society of Physician Assistants Annual Meeting, Workshop: “Ultrasound Use in Assessing Cardiovascular Risk in Primary Care”. Saratoga, New York, October 2021.
    • Society for Point of Care Ultrasound: 2021- present: Train the Trainer Program, curriculum design, events coordinator, pats Director at Large.
    • Simon, E., Ahmed, A.Z., Winter, S., 2021. Protein S Deficiency and Thrombosis: Selected Case Studies. The Clinical Advisor.
    • Wolf, C., Ahmed, A.Z., Schmidt, G. and Winter, S., 2020. Predictors of Attrition Among Accelerated and Traditional Physician Assistant Students. The Journal of Physician Assistant Education, 31(4), pp.204–206.
    • 2020–2023; $10,000+, Principal Investigator, Mental Health First Aid, PA Foundation, IMPACT grant
  • Corri Wolf, Ph.D., M.S., PA-C, R.D.
    • New York State Department of Labor Workforce Development Grant, Principal Investigator, $250,000 2023-2024
    • Completed Ph.D. in Leadership Studies, University of the Cumberlands, 3/2022
    • Wolf C., Steller R. Introduction to the Nutrients and their Association with Common Gastrointestinal Disorders. Physician Assistant Clinics, 2022; 7(4), 599-613. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpha.2022.05.004
    • Wolf, C., Mandel, E., Peniuta, M., Lazure, P., Smith, N. E., Peterson, E. D., & Péloquin, S. Do Physician Assistant Training Programs Adequately Prepare PAs to Address Nutritional Issues in Clinical Practice? The Journal of Physician Assistant Education, 2022; 33(2), 94-100. https://doi.org/10.1097/jpa.0000000000000426
    • Physician Assistant Clinics, Guest Editor Nutrition in Patient Care, Volume 7, Issue 4, October 2022
    • American Academy of Physician Assistants Educational Advisory Board Member-CME Development Chronic Disease and Nutrition: Obesity and Nutrition, 2022
    • Wolf C. PAs’ Clinical Care and Counseling Related to Nutrition may be Limited by Lack of Nutritional Knowledge. American Academy of Physician Assistants Annual Conference, May 2022.
    • Javaid A., Pham C., Rampersaud L., Singh M., Yeung, K., Wolf C. The Relationship Between Perceived Stress and Diet Quality in Physician Assistant Students. New York State Society for Physician Assistants Annual Conference, October 2022.
    • American Academy of Physician Assistants Educational Advisory Board Member-CME Development Surgery: Perioperative Nutrition and Wound Healing, 2021
    • Wolf C. Who, What, When, Where, How & Why FODMAPs. American Academy of Physician Assistants Annual Conference, May 2021.
    • Wolf, C., Ahmed, A.Z., Schmidt, G. and Winter, S., 2020. Predictors of Attrition Among Accelerated and Traditional Physician Assistant Students. The Journal of Physician Assistant Education, 31(4), pp.204-206.
    • Presenter, New York State Society of Physician Assistants 2020 CME Conference: “A Call to Action: Raising Awareness About Nutritional Health.”