Mission
The mission of Brenau’s Department of Physician Assistant Studies is to produce extraordinary physician assistants prepared to collaboratively practice with integrity and compassion in a variety of clinical and cultural settings.
Incorporating the values of liberal arts education throughout their education, our graduates prepare for their careers and professional lives through the college’s four pillars: evidence-based and reflective practice, contemporary scientific inquiry, clinical proficiency, and humanitarian altruism.
Vision
The Department of Physician Assistant Studies, in line with the mission of the Ivester College of Health Sciences, is thoughtful, intentional and strategic as it prepares its graduates to live extraordinary lives. The department will provide an inclusive learning environment and seek to recruit a diverse student body, providing opportunities for each student’s individual development as well as the advancement of physician assistant practice and the profession. Our culture will engender excellence, scholarship, altruism, integrity, collaboration and a sense of purpose in each of our students.
Goals
- To provide an inclusive environment that promotes the recruitment, retention and graduation of highly qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds.
- To deliver a student-centered, innovative curriculum that facilitates the successful achievement of established learning outcomes and expected competencies for entry into PA practice.
- To educate Physician Assistant students in a generalist model who will be prepared to practice in a variety of health care settings and disciplines with a solid foundation in behavioral/mental health and clinical experience in rural/medically underserved communities.
- To develop the students’ ability to conduct and effectively communicate a systematic evaluation of clinical research to improve clinical decision making and patient outcomes.
- Promote opportunities for faculty and students to engage in active and on-going professional, scholarly, and community service activities.
Physician Assistant Studies CORE Competencies
NCCPA PANCE Pass Rates and Attrition
The table below is published to provide prospective students with information regarding attrition in the Brenau University Department of PA Studies. This table will be updated as each cohort matriculates and/or graduates.
| GRADUATED CLASSES | |||
| CLASS OF 2023 | CLASS OF 2024 | CLASS OF 2025 | |
| Maximum entering class size (as approved by ARC-PA) | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| Entering class size | 33 | 33 | 33 |
| Graduates | 31 | 33 | # |
| *Attrition rate | 6% | 0% | # |
| **Graduation rate | 94% | 100% | # |
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*Attrition rate calculation: Number of students who attritted from cohort divided by the entering class. **Graduation rate: Number of cohort graduates divided by the entering class size. ARC-PA Student Attrition (PDF) |
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Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination Exam Performance Summary Report
| Class | Class Graduation Year | Group | Number of Candidates who took PANCE | Number of Exam Attempts | Number of Exams Passed | Program Exam Pass Rate | National Exam Pass Rate for the Class Graduation Year | % of Candidates Who Ultimately Passed PANCE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class of 2023 | 2023 | All Takers | 31 | 36 | 31 | 86% | 89% | 100% |
| First Time Takers | 31 | 31 | 27 | 87% | 92% | 100% | ||
| Class of 2024 | 2024 | All Takers | 33 | 36 | 32 | 89% | 90% | 97% |
| First Time Takers | 33 | 33 | 30 | 91% | 93% | 97% |
NCCPA Exam Performance Summary Report (PDF)
Program Goals
- To provide an inclusive environment that promotes the recruitment, retention and graduation of highly qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds.
- To deliver a student-centered, innovative curriculum that facilitates the successful achievement of established learning outcomes and expected competencies for entry into PA practice.
- To educate Physician Assistant students in a generalist model who will be prepared to practice in a variety of health care settings and disciplines with a solid foundation in behavioral/mental health and clinical experience in rural/medically underserved communities.
- To develop the students’ ability to conduct and effectively communicate a systematic evaluation of clinical research to improve clinical decision making and patient outcomes.
- Promote opportunities for faculty and students to engage in active and on-going professional, scholarly, and community service activities.
Physician Assistant Studies Program Outcomes
| 1. To provide an inclusive environment that promotes the recruitment, retention and graduation of highly qualified candidates from diverse backgrounds. | |
| Conclusion: With only two classes having graduated to date, the program has been successful in meeting all components of Goal # 1. See all measures of success and supporting data analysis below. | |
| Measure of success: | Data Analysis supporting: |
|
a. End of Didactic Survey results on question related to Goal 1 b. End of Program Survey results on question related to Goal 1 c. Fac & Staff Eval results on question related to Goal 1 |
a. Average score by 1st year students of 3.99 on 5-point Likert scale and met benchmark (at least 3.5) for last two years b. Met benchmark both years to date (average score 3.78) c. Average score of 4.36 over three years and met benchmark every year |
| Attrition rate at or below national average and graduation rate at or above national average per PAEA Annual Report (currently 36th) |
a. Attrition rates are 6% and 0% for the two graduating classes to date. We expect the attrition rate for the Class of 2025 to be 3%. PAEA 36th Annual Report indicates a mean percent graduation on time of 94.2%, which equates to a 5.8% attrition rate. The two students that attrited from the Class of 2023 were withdrawals: one for a medical reason and one for a personal reason. There were no decelerations. This equates to a 3% withdrawal for medical reason and 3% withdrawal for personal reason which is in line with the PAEA 36th Annual Report mean of 3.1% and 3.8% respectively. b. Graduation rates for the two graduating classes to date are 94% and 100%, resulting in an average graduation rate of 97%, which is above the PAEA national average. |
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Cohort Diversity similar to PAEA national averages Demographic Admission Data related to Ethnicity & Race: a. Class of 2023 b. Class of 2024 c. Class of 2025 d. Class of 2026 |
PAEA Averages per 36th Annual Report: Ethnicity: 11% hispanic; 23% students of color a. Ethnicity: 3% Hispanic; Race: 30% students of color b. Ethnicity: 18% Hispanic; Race: 21% students of color c. Ethnicity: 9% Hispanic; Race: 25% students of color d. Ethnicity: 12% Hispanic; Race: 15% students of color |
| Cohort Diversity similar to PAEA national averages |
PAEA Averages per 36th Annual Report: Male: 24%; Female: 76% |
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Demographic Admission Data related to Sex a. Class of 2023 b. Class of 2024 c. Class of 2025 d. Class of 2026 |
a. 39% male; 61% female b. 39% male; 61% female c. 24% male; 76% female d. 21% male; 79% female |
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Demographic Admission Data related to State of permanent residence and/or where majority of childhood spent a. Class of 2023 b. Class of 2024 c. Class of 2025 d. Class of 2026 |
a. 61% from GA with 21% from northeast GA and 42% from north GA; 15% from rural areas and 30% from medically underserved communities b. 52% from GA with 9% from northeast GA and 45% from north GA; 21% from rural areas and 30% from medically underserved communities c. 61% from GA with 15% from northeast GA and 42% from north GA; 15% from rural areas and 30% from medically underserved communities d. 67% from GA with 9% from northeast GA and 36% from north GA; 18% from rural areas and 21% from medically underserved communities |
| 2. To deliver a student-centered, innovative curriculum that facilitates the successful achievement of established learning outcomes and expected competencies for entry into PA practice. | |
| Conclusion: With only two classes having graduated to date, the program has been successful in meeting all components of Goal # 2. See all measures of success and supporting data analysis below. | |
| Measure of success: | Data Analysis supporting: |
|
a. End of Didactic Survey results on question related to Goal 2 b. End of Program Survey results on question related to Goal 2 c. Fac & Staff Eval results on question related to Goal 2 |
a. Average score by 1st year students of 4.09 on 5-point Likert scale over last three years and met benchmark (at least 3.5) for all three years b. Average score by graduating students of 3.89 for last two years and met benchmark both years c. Average score by faculty & staff of 4.44 over last three years and met benchmark for all three years |
| Preceptor Evaluation of Student Preparedness Survey results in response to “overall preparedness compared to other PA students precepted” |
Average score by preceptors of 4.15 on 5-point Likert scale over last three years and met benchmark for all three years. Consistent qualitative comments by preceptors across all three years is that our students are very well prepared. Examples: “I don’t know exactly what you’re doing, but these are by far the best students I’ve ever worked with in twenty years of medicine.” “I have been extremely impressed with Brenau students so far!” “This was my first PA student from this school, but I was very impressed by how prepared she was for her very first clinical rotation.” “Your students are so superior that I will no longer accept students from other institutions!” “Brenau always produces well prepared and extremely professional students.” “Brenau students seemed to be better prepared and more engaged and seem to have a better structured program compared to students from other institutions I have had the opportunity to precept. I am often surprised by their depth of medical knowledge at this stage of their training. I always look forward to precepting Brenau PA students because they are such a pleasure to work with.” |
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Summative evaluation results: a. Class of 2023 b. Class of 2024 |
100% of students successfully demonstrated achievement of all program core competencies/ expected learning outcomes by time of graduation in both the Class of 2023 and Class of 2024. |
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PANCE Pass Rates for: a. Class of 2023 b. Class of 2024 |
a. 1st time: 87%; Overall: 100% b. 1st time: 91%; overall: not yet available |
| 3. To educate Physician Assistant students in a generalist model who will be prepared to practice in a variety of health care settings and disciplines with a solid foundation in behavioral/mental health and clinical experience in rural/medically underserved communities. | |
| Conclusion: With only two classes having graduated to date, the program has been successful in meeting all components of Goal # 3. See all measures of success and supporting data analysis below. | |
| Measure of success: | Data Analysis supporting: |
|
a. End of Didactic Survey results on question related to Goal 3 b. End of Program Survey results on question related to Goal 3 c. Fac & Staff Eval results on question related to Goal 3 |
a. Average score by 1st year students of 4.21 on 5-point Likert scale over last three years and met benchmark (at least 3.5) for all three years b. Average score by graduating students of 4.50 for last two years and met benchmark both years c. Average score by faculty & staff of 4.48 over last three years and met benchmark for all three years |
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a. End of Didactic Survey in response to “solid foundation in behavioral / mental health” for Goal 3 b. End of Program Survey in response to “solid foundation in behavioral / mental health” for Goal 3 c. Fac & Staff Eval Survey in response to “solid foundation in behavioral / mental health” for Goal 3 |
a. Average score by 1st year students of 3.78 on 5-point Likert scale over last three years and met benchmark (at least 3.5) for the most recent two years b. Average score by graduating students of 3.95 for last two years and met benchmark both years c. Average score by faculty & staff of 4.48 over last three years and met benchmark for all three years |
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a. End of Didactic Survey in response to “clinical experience in rural/medically underserved communities” for Goal 3 b. End of Program Survey in response to “clinical experience in rural/medically underserved communities” for Goal 3 c. Fac & Staff Eval Survey in response to “clinical experience in rural/medically underserved communities” for Goal 3 |
a. Average score by 1st year students of 4.45 on 5-point Likert scale over last three years and met benchmark (at least 3.5) all three years b. Average score by graduating students of 4.47 for last two years and met benchmark both years c. Average score by faculty & staff of 4.63 over last three years and met benchmark for all three years |
| PACKRAT 1 (PR1), PACKRAT 2 (PR2) and PANCE (PA) performance in Psychiatry as percentage of national mean |
Class of 2023: PR1=103.7%; PR2=99.4%; PA=96.3% Class of 2024 PR1=95.2%; PR2=103.9%; PA=94% Class of 2025: PR1=104.4% Class of 2026: no data available yet; take PR1 in April 2025 |
| Psychiatry End of Rotation (EOR) exam scores as compared to national average |
Class of 2023: mean EOR score for psych similar to national average (P=1) Class of 2024: mean EOR scores for psych similar to national average (P=0.37 and 0.26) |
| Clinical Experiences in rural/medically underserved communities | 100% of both graduating classes, the Class of 2023 and Class of 2024, completed at least two of their supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) in rural or medically underserved communities. |
| 4. To develop the students’ ability to conduct and effectively communicate a systematic evaluation of clinical research to improve clinical decision making and patient outcomes. | |
| Conclusion: With only two classes having graduated to date, the program has been successful in meeting all components of Goal # 4. See all measures of success and supporting data analysis below. | |
| Measure of success: | Data Analysis supporting: |
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d. End of Didactic Survey results on question related to Goal 4 e. End of Program Survey results on question related to Goal 4 f. Fac & Staff Eval results on question related to Goal 4 |
d. Average score by 1st year students of 4.09 on 5-point Likert scale over last three years and met benchmark (at least 3.5) for all three years e. Average score by graduating students of 4.25 for last two years and met benchmark both years f. Average score by faculty & staff of 4.56 over last three years and met benchmark for all three years |
| Conducting novel research in the form of a master’s thesis (capstone project) | 100% of students from both graduating classes, the Class of 2023 and Class of 2024, wrote a systematic review on a previously novel topic. |
| Dissemination / communication of novel research as it relates to clinical practice | 100% of both graduating classes, the Class of 2023 and Class of 2024, presented their novel research, along with its clinical implications, at Brenau’s annual Research Symposium |
| 5. Promote opportunities for faculty and students to engage in active and on-going professional, scholarly, and community service activities. | |
| Conclusion: With only two classes having graduated to date, the program has been successful in meeting all components of Goal # 5. See all measures of success and supporting data analysis below. | |
| Measure of success: | Data Analysis supporting: |
|
a. End of Didactic Survey results on question related to Goal 5 b. End of Program Survey results on question related to Goal 5 c. Fac & Staff Eval results on question related to Goal 5 |
a. Average score by 1st year students of 3.88 on 5-point Likert scale over last three years and met benchmark (at least 3.5) for all three years b. Average score by graduating students of 4.22 for last two years and met benchmark both years. 100% of the Class of 2023 and 89% of the Class of 2024 “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” that the DPAS promotes opportunities for faculty & students to engage in active and ongoing professional, scholarly and community service activities. c. Average score by faculty & staff of 4.38 over last three years and met benchmark for all three years. Over 90% of the faculty & staff “Strongly Agree” or “Agree” that the DPAS promotes opportunities for faculty & students to engage in active and ongoing professional, scholarly and community service activities for the years 2022, 2023 and 2024 (100%, 100% and 91%, respectively). |
| Conference attendance opportunities for students and faculty |
Both graduating classes to date (class of 2023 and 2024) had student representatives attend GAPA and AAPA annual conferences with department funding. Record high attendance at GAPA for the class of 2026, as well as Challenge Bowl participation, funded by department. Faculty are supported to attend a conference annually through PAEA and/or GAPA. |
| Community Service Opportunities |
All students from classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025 attended weekly service learning at local free clinics. All students from the class of 2026 attended inter-professional service learning experiences alongside PT and OT students. |
Program Goal #1
The data reflects admissions profiles of the four admitted classes and mid and end of didactic survey results.
As outlined on the admissions and tuition page, we are successful at admitting a diverse student body, as we are comparable or show better diversity than the averages reported by the PAEA Student Report 4. We are attempting to increase our Hispanic matriculants to better represent the demographics of the county where the university is located.
| Demographic measure | PAEA average percentage of matriculated students | Brenau DPAS average percentage of matriculated students | Hall County Georgia average demographics* | Northeast Georgia Demographics |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||||
| Male | 23.9% | 30% | 50% | 50% |
| Female | 76% | 70% | 50% | 50% |
| Ethnicity | ||||
| Non-Hispanic | 90% | 90% | 71% | 85% |
| Race | ||||
| White | 83% | 75% | 85% | 84% |
| Black / African American | 5% | 14% | 9% | 11% |
| Asian | 14% | 8% | 3% | 2% |
| American Indian / AN | 1% | 2% | 1% | 1% |
| From rural area | ||||
| Yes | 7 | 18 | Most of NE GA is classified as rural | |
| No | 93 | 82 | ||
¥ Demographics of the first-year students before attrition
* Mean values reported for first-year class in PAEA Student Report v5. Data from 2021.
** Estimates are for the 15 counties represented in NE Georgia, current as of July 2023, from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/hallcountygeorgia