PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT STUDIES

Kathleen Roche, RN, FNP, RPA-C, MPA

Welcome to the Pace University-Lenox Hill Hospital Physician Assistant Program.

Physician Assistants practice as members of physician-directed teams. The American Academy of Physician Assistants defines the PA as “a health professional licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision.” In clinical practice, the PA complements the practice style of the supervising physician or physicians. The physician-physician assistant relationship defines the PA role in health care.  PAs provide medical care to patients within the scope of practice of their supervising physician by effectively collecting essential medical data (through medical history-taking, physical examination, and ordering and interpreting necessary  diagnostic testing); diagnosing patients by assessing the available patient, medical data; and providing patients with specific therapies, including the prescribing of medications, counseling, and patient education appropriate to the patients’ conditions.

The Pace University-Lenox Hill Hospital Physician Assistant Program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), and is a member of the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA).  The program is registered by the New York State Department of Education.

As noted in the program’s mission statement, we commit to creating an academic environment that will produce superior physician assistants who possess the requisite skills, knowledge and understanding to function in diverse communities designated as health professional shortage areas, and to treat all patients with dignity, respect and compassion.  The program attracts faculty, staff and students who are dedicated to providing quality and culturally sensitive medical care.

I wish you every success in the pursuit of your chosen career and thank you for considering the Pace University-Lenox Hill Hospital Physician Assistant Program as a partner in your professional preparation.

Kathleen T. Roche, RN, FNP, RPA-C, MPA
Program Director