Clinical Year

Clinical Rotations

During the clinical year of the curriculum, students complete 12 one-month clinical rotations.

Courses

Rotation/Course name links to course syllabi

All UF School of PA Studies Clinical Year courses are delivered and attended in-person

Summer B & Fall ; Spring & Summer A

• Clinical Year Major Training Areas: Gainesville, Jacksonville

Typical Schedule and Number of Months

• Electives* — 3 months – 9 credits
• *Each student is required to complete a minimum of one “medical specialty” elective
  • Acute and Procedural Care — 1 month – 3 credits
  • Adult Medical Specialty Care — 1 month – 3 credits
  • Pediatric Medical Specialty Care — 1 month – 3 credits
• Emergency Medicine — 1 month – 3 credits
• Intensive Care Medicine — 1 month – 3 credits
• Internal Medicine — 1 month – 3 credits
• Obstetrics/Gynecology — 1 month – 3 credits
• Pediatrics — 1 month – 3 credits
• Primary Care — 2 months – 6 credits
  • Primary Care I
  • Primary Care II
• Psychiatry — 1 month – 3 credits
• General Surgery — 1 month – 3 credits
• Special Topics seminar — 1 credit for each of the four semesters = 4 credit hours
  • Summer B
  • Fall
  • Spring
  • Summer A

TOTAL CLINICAL YEAR SEMESTER HOURS = 40

No advanced placement or advanced standing is granted, nor is transfer credit or credit for experiential learning accepted in lieu of PA courses.

PA classes are open to enrolled PA students only.

All PA students must complete the entire PA curriculum to be considered eligible for graduation and completion of the program.  The UF PA School Curriculum is a 24 month length of study. Students are expected to complete the didactic phase of the curriculum within the prescribed 12 month time frame further delineated by semesters as outlined above. The clinical phase of the curriculum immediately follows the didactic phase, students are expected to complete their rotations in 4 week intervals over the course of a 12 month time period. The clinical phase culminates with graduation.

Any course grade below a “C” (or a failure in a pass/fail course) in either the academic or clinical year of the PA curriculum may be grounds for dismissal for academic reasons, subject to the decision of the School of Physician Assistant Studies’ Professional Standards and Promotions Committee. If a student earning a grade below a “C” is retained in the School, s/he will be placed on probation for the duration of his/her time in the School and will be required to complete any remedial work prescribed by the faculty; this may result in the student’s delayed graduation.

Master’s Capstone Project

Completion of a Master’s capstone project is required of UF PA students in their clinical year. Students work in small groups to answer a clinical question relevant to medical practice. Under the mentorship of a faculty advisor students develop their ideas with the goal to implement original research or develop an in-depth systematic review of the existing literature. Student must demonstrate skills in scientific writing of an abstract and manuscript suitable for publication. The capstone project is introduced in conjunction with the Evidence-Based Medicine (PAS 5013) course at the end of the first year and concludes with presentations at the UF School of PA Studies Poster Session early in the spring semester. Additionally, students are encouraged to submit their posters to the UF College of Medicine’s Annual Research Day.