Graduate of DeSales Physician Assistant Program Repeat "Top Tier" Performance on National Boards
For the third consecutive year, results from the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE) indicate that scores by graduates of the DeSales University Physician Assistant Program were among the best in the country.
DeSales achieved a 100 percent pass rate for this year's exam, while the national average was 80 percent. In addition, not only did every DeSales student "pass their boards," but their actual scores on the exam placed this class in the top tier for the nation.
According to Christine Bruce, director of the DeSales Physician Assistant (PA) Program at DeSales since 1996, when the entire program's performance is compared against the national mean, graduates of the DeSales program are achieving more than 100 points per student higher than the national average.
"These outstanding results reflect the efforts of the students, who have worked so hard, and the faculty and administration that is so supportive of their hard work," said Bruce. "In fact, the lowest score by a DeSales student achieved results that were significantly higher than the national average."
About 35 students, all graduates of the PA Program at DeSales, took the exam, which was administered last fall. Successful completion of the National Certification Examination is required in order to obtain licensure for the practice of medicine through the United States. Since the inception of the program, DeSales has had better than a 98 percent first-time pass rate on the national certifying examination.
Physician Assistants are licensed medical professionals who work under the supervision of licensed physicians. They practice in both general and specialty medicine and surgery, and perform the routine duties normally reserved for physicians.
In addition to the stellar performance of DeSales physician assistant graduates on the PANCE exams, which has been above all other programs in the country for the last two years, the PA Program at DeSales has attained other notable achievements, since it was established in 1997. They include: the Pennsylvania State Academic Challenge Bowl champions for the last four years, the Northeast Regional Bowl winners for the last two years, and the National Academic Challenge Bowl Champion in 2002.
Physician Assistants are licensed medical professionals who work under the supervision of licensed physicians. They practice in both general and specialty medicine and surgery, and perform the routine duties normally reserved for physicians.
For more information on the Physician Assistant Program at DeSales University, contact Linda Schroeder, Program Secretary, at (610) 282-1100, ext. 1415, or check the DeSales University Web site at www.DeSales.edu/physicianassistant
Press Release: Graduate of DeSales Physician Assistant Program Repeat "Top Tier" Performance on National Boards | Posted on: 3/22/2004
For more info:
Tom McNamara, Executive Director of Communications
DeSales University | 2255 Station Avenue | Center Valley, PA 18034
610.282.1100 x1219 | Tom.McNamara@desales.edu |
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