The UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program is committed to providing a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students. If you believe you have experienced any form of harassment, we encourage you to complete the online reporting form below. To ensure confidentiality and proper action, this form will be directed to the UAB School of Health Profession’s Office of Academic and Faculty Affairs. Reporting may be anonymous but, when possible, the individual completing the form should identify themselves so appropriate follow-up can be assured.
Below are helpful FAQs for UAB Preceptors. If you still have questions after reading, please contact
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What are the requirements to precept?
Any board certified MD/DO or licensed Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner may serve as a preceptor.
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What is expected of me as a preceptor?
- Orient students at the onset of the rotation with practice/facility policies and review your expectations of the student and rotation-specific objectives provided by the PA program
- Supervise, demonstrate, teach, and observe clinical activities to aid in the development of clinical skills and ensure proper patient care
- Provide students with an appropriate learning environment in which they will have a variety of patient encounters and learning experiences
- Direct students toward patients with problems and illnesses common to the community and within the realm of Physician Assistant practice
- Delegate to the student increasing levels of responsibility for clinical assessment and management as appropriate to the student’s experience and expertise
- Participate in the evaluation of clinical skills and medical knowledge through the following:
- Direct supervision, observation, and teaching in the clinical setting
- Evaluation of both oral presentations and written documentation
- Assignment of outside readings and research to promote further learning
- Provide ongoing, constructive feedback to the student regarding their clinical performance
- Complete a final evaluation of the student’s performance and promptly return the end-of-rotation evaluations to the program
- Dialogue with faculty during site visits to evaluate student progress and promptly notify the PA program of any circumstances that might interfere with the accomplishment of the above goals or diminish the overall training experience
- Avoid placing students in a position of authority or responsibility that exceeds their level of knowledge or skill
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What is expected of the student?
- Ensure attendance is timely
- Attend clinical rotations as scheduled by the preceptor, in addition to grand rounds, lectures, and conferences, if made available to the student
- Obtain detailed histories and physical exams, develop a differential diagnosis, formulate an assessment and plan through discussion with the preceptor, present findings through oral presentations, and document findings in the EMR
- Contribute to the efficiency and effectiveness of the preceptor’s clinical practice by performing all delegated tasks in a timely and competent manner
- Display professional behavior that enhances the preceptor’s practice and reflects positively on the Physician Assistant profession
- Inform preceptors in a timely manner of individual needs, concerns, or problems that have the potential of interfering with the delivery of patient care or the effectiveness of the preceptor’s practice
- Maintain an open line of communication and meaningful dialogue between fellow students, program faculty, preceptors, and members of the medical team
- To be sensitive to the demands placed on clinical preceptors, including complicated aspects of patient care, continuing education, community service, research, and the training of a wide range of students
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What is expected of the PA program and faculty?
- Orient preceptors and students to the policies and procedures of the clinical year
- Develop and maintain clinical rotation sites that affords students a quality educational experience
- Evaluate student rotations through regular site visits and open communication with clinical preceptors
- Provide malpractice coverage for students during rotations
- Attempt to anticipate student problems before they arise, and provide support, guidance, and encouragement to students throughout the clinical year
- Provide seminars that augment clinical experiences and increase the student’s medical and surgical knowledge and technical skills
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What is the process for scheduling clinical rotations?
The UAB PA clinical faculty will contact all interested preceptors to discuss the potential clinical rotation experience and obtain the necessary paperwork needed to secure the preceptor and clinical site. We will also review the clinical schedule and, along with the preceptor, determine the best rotation dates to host students. The preceptor will be able to communicate directly with the clinical faculty at all times regarding any questions or concerns.
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How will site visits be scheduled and conducted?
UAB PA clinical faculty will contact the dedicated contact person for each clinical site/preceptor, to schedule an annual site visit. Site visits may be conducted in person, virtually, or via telephone. The purpose of the sit visit is to learn more about the students’ experiences at the clinical site, allow preceptors the opportunity to provide feedback about their experiences with the students, and tour the facilities, if needed.
The UAB Physician Assistant Studies’ Preceptors will guide learners in various settings in regards to clinical reasoning skills, history taking, physical examination, effective communication, physical diagnosis, documentation, presenting patients, and development of patient-centered assessments and plans.
Those who can serve as preceptors include PA-C, Board-Certified M.D. or D.O., and CRNP.
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Why should I serve as a preceptor?
In a general survey we asked: What aspects of clinical precepting did you find most valuable? Our preceptors cited many valuable experiences such as strengthening their own skills as a provider, giving back to the PA community, and answering thought provoking questions from the students. Please see the following quotes from some of our current preceptors:
- “Teaching is important to me, it gives me a chance to give back”
- “Having students encourages us to continually learn, think about things in new ways, and stay up-to-date with evidence-based medicine”
- “Precepting not only allows one to keep up their knowledge base through teaching, but is a wonderful way to give back to the PA community”
- “I always learn something valuable while precepting. It encourages me to stay abreast of research-based practices”
- “Developing students’ confidence and clinical decision making skills”
The UAB PA program values our preceptors and the time dedicated to our PA students’ clinical education. Thank you for being a part of our team. As always, if you have feedback, we would like to hear from you.
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Benefits of serving as a preceptor
- Opportunities for guest lecturing during the didactic and/or clinical year
- Category 1 CME Credits for PA preceptors
- Category 2 CME Credits for MD, NP preceptors
- Documentation of weeks/hours served as a preceptor may be provided to obtain Category 2 CME credits
- Please refer to the appropriate accrediting body for further information
- Annual Preceptor of the Year Award
- Annual Preceptor Appreciation Mixer
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Featured Preceptors
- 2020 Preceptor of the Year: Dr. Brandon White, Internal Medicine/Hospitalist, UAB West
- Dr. White is a 2007 graduate of the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and received his Bachelor of Science degree from West Virginia State University in 2000. Dr. White currently practices as a Hospitalist at UAB West in Bessemer, Alabama, and he is also the current Medical Director for Alabama Hospice Care in Birmingham. In March 2020, he started BHMcares, a charity that hires local restaurants to feed healthcare workers battling the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. White came on board as a full-time preceptor in 2018 and is always excited to host students on his service.
- When asked to provide his thought on serving as a UAB PA preceptor, here is what Dr. White had to say:
- “I remember how much it meant to me as a student to have a preceptor that seemed happy with me being there and took time out of their schedule to make sure I was included and learning. It seemed special at the time and I really appreciated it, and now being on the other side of that relationship, I realize how much extra effort it is to really engage with the students and I appreciate it even more. It's very rewarding to teach them and see the light bulb go on over their head, when they wrap their mind around a concept.”
- 2019 Preceptor of the Year: Dr. Ray Browne, Mayfair Internal Medicine
- Dr. Browne is a 1985 graduate of George Washington University School of Medicine. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from State University of New York at Albany and his Masters of Public Health from the University of Michigan. He has practiced as an Internal Medicine Physician in Birmingham since 1989 and has served as a UAB PA preceptor for over 10 years.
- When asked to provide his thought on serving as a UAB PA preceptor, here is what Dr. Browne had to say:
- “It has been one of the best decisions I've made regarding my practice of medicine. I really enjoy the interaction with the students. I am so impressed with their preparation before they start their clinical rotations. In addition, the politeness and enthusiasm the students display is not lost on my patients. Often when I enter a room without a student - a patient will ask "where is your student?” There is no greater compliment to your program than this.”
- 2020 Preceptor of the Year: Dr. Brandon White, Internal Medicine/Hospitalist, UAB West
Become a Preceptor Today
To invest in the future of health care and tomorrow’s PA leaders, please fill out this quick, simple form and we will be in touch soon to discuss next steps.
Contact Us
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Below are helpful links to materials for UAB Preceptors. If you have questions about the materials please contact
Downloadable Materials
Handbooks and Syllabi
Rotation Specific Objectives
- Emergency Medicine
- Family Medicine
- Internal Medicine
- General Surgery
- Pediatrics
- Psychiatry
- Women's Health
- Surgical Electives
- Non-surgical Electives
PAEA One-Pagers
These can also be accessed on the PAEA website under Preceptors and under Faculty Resources
Introducing a PA Student to Patient Care
Evaluation and Teaching Strategies
Providing Effective Feedback
Thank you for your commitment to PA education. Your dedication to the medical learners at UAB is truly an investment in the future of healthcare. Patient encounters and clinical experiences that students are exposed to in your area of expertise are essential to their successful transition from didactic education, to practicing clinicians in the medical field.
As a clinical preceptor, you have tremendous influence on the learners that you welcome to your medical team. Your supervision and instruction play an irreplaceable role as each learner develops the skills and clinical judgment necessary to become champions of quality patient care.
The UAB PA program values our preceptors and the time and effort dedicated to our students’ clinical education. Thank you for being a part of our team!
UAB PA Preceptor Form
This is an opportunity for you to learn more about becoming a UAB PA Preceptor and for us to learn more about you and your clinical practice. We thank you in advance for taking the time to fill out our form and we look forward to discussing this with you further soon.
ASPAW
Welcome to the UAB Advanced Surgical Physician Assistant Workshop!
There is great demand in our health care system for highly skilled surgical PAs. The mission of the program is to provide qualified individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in both their clinical rotations and prepare them for a career in surgery.
*Please Note: The application window opens on September 15th of every year and closes the 3rd Sunday in October. Please revisit the site during that window and complete the online application.*
About the ASPAW
The program is made possible by an educational grant funded by the UAB Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences Department. This highly selective program is delivered free of charge to all participants.
- Who is eligible? The ASPAW is open to PA students in either the didactic or clinical phase of training.
- When is it? The workshop is offered annually during the 3rd week of December.
- Where is it? The ASPAW will be held at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, located in the heart of downtown Birmingham, Alabama.
- What costs are covered? All supplies, equipment, training materials, housing and meals are provided to participants at no cost.
- What costs are not covered? Travel to the event and personal expenses are not covered by the ASPAW.
Testimonials
Overview of the UAB ASPAW
Advice from ASPAW Alumni
Alumni Discuss Their New Confidence
Who is Program Director Dina DeMarco?
Alumni Talk About Skills Learned
Alumni Describe their ASPAW Experience
UAB ASPAW Brochure Video
About the Training
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Lectures
Covers aseptic technique, principals of surgical assisting, tissue handling, documentation, wound closure techniques, surgical instrumentation/equipment, principals of laparoscopy, ultrasound basics, local anesthetics and performing minor surgeries
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Classroom Lab
Includes hands-on instruction in surgical knot tying and suturing, performing minor surgeries under local anesthetic, vessel ligations, utilization of negative pressure wound therapy, and inserting central lines under ultrasound guidance.
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Live Animal Lab
Dedicated operating room experience as a 1st surgical assistant during open and laparoscopic procedures on live, anesthetized pigs, insertion of chest tubes and surgical drains, insertion of trocars and closure of lap port sites, laparoscopic trainers and dexterity challenges.
About the UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program
Founded in 1967, the UAB PA program is the second oldest Physician Assistant Studies program in the country and one of very few programs with a focused surgical curriculum. The UAB PA program is located in the School of Health Professions (SHP), in the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences (CDS) and is an integral part of the UAB medical and academic community.
Because of all this, we are able to offer attendees direct, hands-on access to state-of-the art learning.
Questions? Email Dina DeMarco, MSPAS, PA-C
Physician Assistant Studies
Please click on a link below to open a PDF version of the program handbook that corresponds with the chosen year.
2024 - 2025
2023 - 2024
2022 - 2023
The PA program is a self-contained graduate program that follows the UAB academic schedule. The final schedule for each class will be posted in the course syllabus, found in the course shell, on the first day of class for the semester.
Students attend classes on the UAB campus during the first four semesters of enrollment. This didactic phase of the curriculum consists of both biological sciences and clinically related courses. All courses are required and must be successfully completed with a minimum grade of a “C” (70%) in all PA didactic courses AND an overall cumulative 3.0 GPA in all PA program course work prior to beginning the clinical phase of training.
Please check the Graduate Catalog for the course descriptions.
Didactic Phase
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First Year - Fall (18 hours)
- CDS 505 - Professional Development (1 hour)
- PA 601 - Human Gross Anatomy and Lab (4 hours)
- PA 602 - Medical Physiology (4 hours)
- PA 605 - Clinical Pathology (4 hours)
- PA 610 - Clinical Laboratory Medicine (3 hours)
- PA 615 - Introduction to the Profession (1 hour)
- GC 535 - Medical Genetics Across the Lifespan (1 hour)
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First Year - Spring (16 hours)
- PA 603 - Pharmacology I (3 hours)
- PA 606 - Clinical Medicine I (6 hours)
- PA 608 - Surgical Disease I (3 hours)
- PA 611 - History & Physical Examination (3 hours)
- PA 616 - Electrocardiography (1 hour)
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First Year - Summer (18 hours)
- PA 604 - Pharmacology II (3 hours)
- PA 607 - Clinical Medicine II (6 hours)
- PA 609 - Surgical Disease II (3 hours)
- PA 613 - Surgical Techniques (3 hours)
- PA 618 - Risk Management (1 hour)
- PA 619 - Fundamentals of Clinical Research (2 hours)
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Second Year - Fall (13 hours)
- PA 614 - Operating Room Techniques (2 hours)
- PA 617 - Applied Behavioral Medicine (3 hours)
- PA 620 - Analysis of Professional Literature (2 hours)
- PA 633 - Navigating Healthcare Delivery and Reimbursement Systems for Physician Assistants (2 hours)
- PA 634 - Simulated Clinical Concepts (2 hours)
- PA 635 - Special Populations in Medicine (2 hours)
Prerequisites
Students should be aware that the PA program has a set (lock step) course schedule for each semester. This means that enrollment in each semester’s PA courses requires successful completion of the preceding semester’s courses.
Course | Prerequisite Course Completion |
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PA 604 Pharmacology II | PA 603 Pharmacology I |
PA 606 Clinical Medicine I | PA 601, PA 602, PA 605, PA 610 |
PA 607 Clinical Medicine II | PA 606 Clinical Medicine I |
PA 608 Surgical Disease I | PA 601 Human Gross Anatomy and Lab |
PA 609 Surgical Disease II | PA 608 Surgical Disease I |
PA 613 Surgical Techniques I | PA 601 Human Gross Anatomy and Lab |
PA 614 Operating Room Techniques | PA 613 Surgical Techniques |
PA 620 Literature Evaluation | PA 619 Fundamentals of Clinical Research |
PA 698 Presentation of Research Project | PA 620 Literature Evaluation |
Clinical Phase
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Spring (17 Hours)
- PA 621 - Clinical Service I (4 hours)
- PA 622 - Clinical Service II (4 hours)
- PA 623 - Clinical Service III (4 hours)
- PA 624 - Clinical Service IV (4 hours)
- PA 643 - Senior Seminar I (1 hour)
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Summer (18 Hours)
- PA 625 - Clinical Service V (4 hours)
- PA 626 - Clinical Service VI (4 hours)
- PA 627 - Clinical Service VII (4 hours)
- PA 629 - Clinical Service IX (4 hours)
- PA 698 - Presentation of Research Project (1 hour)
- PA 644 - Senior Seminar II (1 hour)
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Fall (15 Hours)
- PA 630 - Clinical Service X (4 hours)
- PA 631 - Clinical Service XI (4 hours)
- PA 632 - Clinical Service XII (4 hours)
- PA 645 - Senior Seminar III (3 hours)
Clinical Rotations
Students are required to complete eleven, 4-week clinical rotations, which includes 7 core rotations and 4 elective rotations.
- Required Core Rotations – Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, Behavioral Medicine, General Surgery, and Women’s Health.
- Elective Rotations – Surgical subspecialties, medicine subspecialties, trauma subspecialties, etc.
Prerequisites
To enter the clinical year, students must have obtained the following:
- A minimum grade of a “C” in all PA didactic courses AND an overall 3.0 GPA in all PA program course work. No graduate school course work other than that obtained in the PA program will be considered and factored into the GPA.
- Students will not be able to enter the clinical year on academic probation.
- Maintain enrollment in a comprehensive health insurance program while matriculating through the PA program.
- Complete all required immunizations and testing for rubeola, diphtheria, tetanus, and Hepatitis B. A negative test for TB must be documented – either a negative PPD or a negative chest x-ray.
- Must have a current BLS and ACLS certification that does not expire until after graduation.
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Mr. & Mrs. Elbert H. Purser Endowed Scholarship
Established in 1979 and subsequently endowed in 1983 through a gift from the Elbert H. Purser Trust. Applicants must be admitted to or enrolled in the UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program and must be natives or permanent residents of the state of Alabama. Selection is made by a committee of PA program faculty and annual awards are determined based on the availability of funds.
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Bill Parker Endowed Scholarship
Established in 2018. Mr. Parker is a 1972 graduate of the Physician Assistant Studies program who worked as an orthopaedic PA for over 40 years. Applicants must be admitted to or enrolled in the UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program and will be chosen by the faculty.
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Comer Foundation Scholarship
Established in 2021. Applicants must be permanent Alabama residents who are admitted to or enrolled in the UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program and must demonstrate the following: financial need as determined by the Office of financial aid, good academic standing, and plans to live in and practice within Alabama upon completion of their studies.
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William John Gill PA-C Sponsored Scholarship
Established in 2021. Applicants must be admitted to or enrolled in the UAB Physician Assistant Studies Program and must demonstrate an interest in practicing in a rural/underserved or health professional shortage area upon completion of their studies.