Physician Associate Studies PgDip/2015
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elcome to St George’s, W University of London.
St George’s, University of London is the UK’s only university dedicated to medical and health sciences education, training and research. Sharing a clinical environment with a major London teaching hospital, our innovative approach to education results in well-rounded, highly skilled clinicians, scientists, and health and social care professionals. We have more than 250 years of excellence and innovation in research and education. Alumni include John Hunter, also known as the father of modern surgery, and Edward Jenner, creator of the first smallpox vaccine. In the fields of infection and immunity, cardiovascular and cell sciences our aim is still to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease. We also work to deepen understanding of population health and the social care sciences. The SGUL Graduate School is a thriving community of students, undertaking Taught or Research Degrees through various modes of study. All postgraduate students have 24 hour access to our dedicated ‘Graduate Centre’. Our compact size lends a genuine sense of community, and allows our postgraduate students to access a rich and varied academic culture ranging from patient care to research laboratories and overseas. Through interprofessional education, students from all disciplines come together to learn as an integrated team. St George’s is a five minute walk from Tooting Broadway tube station, and it takes 25 minutes to get into central London. One of the world’s most exciting cities is right on our doorstep. If you want to get involved in student life, our Students’ Union delivers hours of oncampus entertainment. Whether you start your own club or society or just become a member, it’s a great way to make friends, pursue your favourite sport, or try a new activity; whatever it takes to make the most of your time at St George’s.
Postgraduate Diploma Physician Associate Studies
Two years, full time Apply direct to St George’s, University of London
Degree Structure The course is designed to cover all aspects of the Competence and Curriculum Framework for the Physician Assistant (DH 2006, updated 2012) to ensure that graduates are able to succeed on the National Examination at the end of the course and work as physician associates in primary or secondary care. Full details of the framework can be found at http://www.ukapa.co.uk/
Application submission opens on 30 November 2014 Applications deadline on 01 May 2015 olling applications and interviews, from January – July 2015. R Application deadline three weeks prior to each selection day UK, EU and internationals citizens may apply T his course aims to equip students with the relevant skills and knowledge required to support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients. You will be trained how to: take medical histories; perform physical examinations; request and analyse test results; diagnose illnesses; and develop treatment and management plans. Highlights
> Course awarded ‘Best Postgraduate Teaching Team’ in 2013 for Science, Engineering and Technology by Prospects Postgraduate Awards. Teams are nominated by their students
> Shared campus with one of the largest teaching hospitals in the UK
> Clinical placements from year one
> Graduates have the opportunity to become future leaders in this new and exciting profession
> Access to postgraduate learning centre
> Longest running Physician Associate course in the UK
> 100% pass rate on the Physician Associate National Examination
Learning Teaching is delivered through a variety of methods such as lectures, problem based learning, self-directed learning, small group discussions, clinical & community placements, role playing and presentations. Problem based learning (PBL) Given a clinical problem, you use self-directed research to make a diagnosis and suggest an appropriate course of action. PBL encourages learning in context, self-motivation, and deep rather than surface understanding. I n first year, lectures are complemented by small group work which is designed to develop clinical and communication skills. Students are allocated a Clinical Supervisor, who in all cases is a General Practitioner (GP) and will provide clinical skills development support throughout your GP placement in both years. I n second year, students will continue their community placements as well as rotate through a number of clinical placements in acute trusts. Placements include:
> general medicine
> general surgery
Year One
The first year is dedicated to ensuring all students have a good grounding in the sciences underpinning health care. Communication and clinical examination skills are a key part of the first year curriculum. You will spend four days a week on campus and one day on clinical placements, which will be organised in a GP practice
Weeks Theme 3 Introduction 4 Cardiovascular 4 Respiratory 3 Gastrointestinal 2 ENT/ Ophthal 2 Neurology 2 Female Health 1 Male Health 1 Sexual Health 2 Renal & GU 2 Endocrine 2 Haeme/ONC 2 Musculoskeletal 2 Care of the elderly 2 Mental Health 3 Paediatrics 2 Infectious Disease 2 Dermatology
Modules
Personal and Professional Development Foundations in Clinical Medicine Applied Pharmacology, Research Methods Personal and Professional Development Foundations in Clinical Medicine Applied Pharmacology Evidence Based Practice in Healthcare
Personal and Professional Development Foundations in Clinical Medicine Applied Pharmacology
Year Two In the second year you will begin with Special Topics weeks before beginning your hospital placements. You will then be on campus one day every three weeks as the emphasis shifts towards clinical work and placements with 40 weeks being spent in hospital and six weeks being spent on a GP placement.
Modules covering all themes addressed in year 1
Personal and Professional Development; 40 weeks Foundations in Clinical Medicine; Hospital and six weeks General Practice
> paediatrics > obstetrics and gynaecology > accident and emergency > mental health
Placements
Modules The modules for this course are integrated; your learning throughout one module will significantly inform and influence your learning in another module. The course consists of five modules totalling 120 credits.
Foundations of Clinical Medicine
This module runs throughout both years and covers integrated body systems, pathology, differential diagnosis skills, models of decisionmaking and applications of the underpinning sciences to patient conditions, including overviews of the clinically relevant elements of human anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, immunology, genetics and pathology.
Applied Pharmacology
This module lays the basis for future prescribing activity and ensures that students have a good understanding of common drugs and their effects.
> Competence and Curriculum Framework for the Physician Assistant
> Matrix Specification of Core Clinical Conditions for the Physician Assistant
> UK Association of Physician Associates
> American Academy of Physician Assistants
All physician associates are strongly recommended to register on the PA Managed Voluntary Register (PAMVR) until such time that the profession achieves statutory regulation.
Evidence Based Practice in Health Care
This module enables students to locate and evaluate evidence underpinning decision-making in health care and to develop their skills in critically appraising this evidence.
For further information about the physician associate role please see the following links:
Entry Requirements
If you meet the minimum entry requirements set out below, you may be considered for interview. All qualifications must be complete within a five-year period including year of application.
Research Methods
This module aims to familiarise students with quantitative and qualitative approaches to research and to enable students to improve their understanding of medical and healthcare literature. It will also equip students with appropriate methods in order to conduct their own research.
Undergraduate degree or equivalent
+
English language if first language is not English
+
Other essential criteria > Work experience > Personal statement > Reference > Health/police screening > Professional registration
Personal and Professional Development for Physician Associates This module runs throughout both years and documents students’ achievement of core clinical competencies, procedural skills and work with specific clinical conditions. A significant amount of time is spent developing both communication and clinical exam skills. Regular developmental reviews support the practical learning achieved during this module. Assessing your progress Assessments are designed to prepare you for a career as a healthcare professional, as well as for the Physician Associate National Examination. Assessments will be a mixture of written papers, written examinations and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations. A portfolio of your development of the core clinical skills and competencies is monitored throughout both years for the Personal and Professional Development module, and submitted for final assessment at the end of the course. Written coursework assignments and/or presentations are set for the modules in Evidence Based Practice in Healthcare, Research Methods, Personal and Professional Development and Foundations of Clinical Medicine. Your future This role is relatively new in the UK but well-established in the US. Approximately 200 UK-trained PAs and some US-qualified PAs are working in the UK in acute and community settings. St George’s Healthcare Trust Hospital is the largest single employer of qualified PAs, with nearly 30 PAs working in the Trust. Many of these PAs provide mentorship for students on placement in the Trust. All of our graduates have found roles working as PAs in GP or Hospital settings across the UK with several taking on leadership roles in the profession. The demand for PAs significantly outweighs the supply, and doctors and the medical community continue to express a keen interest. The NHS is also supporting the programmes and encouraging the creation of PAs in the UK. So, driven by their determination to act as passionate ambassadors for the role, we expect our graduates to secure challenging positions in GP practices and acute trusts throughout the UK.
Undergraduate degree or equivalent*
Undergraduate degree
Grade
2:2 honours minimum
Subject
Standard entry
Life science or other health related subjects
*Must be completed, awarded and certified by 1 August 2015. Failure to comply with this may result in withdrawal of offer by St George’s. Non-standard entry Alternative professional qualifications may be considered and applicants may be required to submit supplementary details such as transcripts and asked to complete a short qualifying essay. International qualifications 1. Determine the UK equivalent of your qualification by visiting UK NARIC website (ecctis.co.uk/naric/) 2. If your qualification meets our entry requirements you are eligible to apply.
3. Provide a copy of your qualifications and a copy of the UK NARIC certificate of comparability at application.
4. If your undergraduate degree contains non-science classes, please request the science class GPA calculator from pgadmiss@sgul.ac.uk, complete the spreadsheet, and submit it with your application.
If you would like an Admissions Officer to review your qualification, please send a copy of your qualification to pgadmiss@sgul.ac.uk. Please ensure that the qualification is translated into English (if not already in English), by a certified translator.
English language criteria
English language tests are valid for only two years, as English language ability changes from year to year. If you have completed a test which is now considered to be out of date, you may be required to complete another. Please note that applicants are only permitted a maximum of two test attempts within a one year period. IELTS
IELTS overall 7.0, with no less than 7.0 in the sub-test components
TOEFL Test: TOEFL overall minimum score 105 with at least the following component scores: 22 in Listening, 24 in Reading, 24 in Writing, 25 in Speaking TOEIC: TOEIC with 490 in Listening, 455 in Reading, 180 in Writing, 180 in Speaking. (All four components must be tested) Pearson test: Pearson (PTE Academic) Test overall 67 with 67 in Listening, 67 in Reading, 67 in Writing, 67 in Speaking Cambridge English Advanced: Cambridge English Advanced (Certificate in Advanced English) (Certificate in Advanced English): with a minimum score of 185 and no less than 185 in each section Cambridge English: Proficiency Cambridge English: Proficiency (Certificate of Proficiency in English) (also known as Certificate of with a minimum score of 185 and no less than 185 in each section Proficiency in English): Exceptions to this requirement can be found on our English language web pages.
Application Applications open 30 November 2014 and close on 01 May 2015. Applications will be reviewed as they are received. Application deadlines will be three weeks prior to each selection date. Applications received after the deadline will be considered for the next selection date. The application form for 2015/16 entry is available to download from our website. The application form and supporting documentation should be returned to:
Postgraduate Admissions Officer Admissions, Registry St George’s, University of London Cranmer Terrace London SW17 0RE
Or, emailed directly to: pgadmiss@sgul.ac.uk
Applicants will be required to submit additional documents to support their application form, without which, the application will be considered incomplete. Documents are highlighted in the document check list, which can be downloaded from our website. International applicants
Other essential criteria
pplicants should be aware that qualifying as PAs in the UK A does not entitle graduates to work as PAs outside of the UK. Applicants applying from outside of the UK and EU should visit the following link for further application advice, including guidance on: immigration, English language requirements, accommodation, UK fees and finance and international student support http://www.sgul.ac.uk/international
Work experience Applicants should demonstrate evidence of relevant work experience within healthcare or allied healthcare professions and/ or environments. Work experience should be dated within the last three years (from date of application). The relevance of your work experience will be assessed during the admissions process.
Selection Selection events for the course will take place from January through and early July 2015. Successful applicants will be invited to attend either a morning or afternoon selection event based at St George’s.
Personal statement
Applicants will engage with a number of different selection activities, designed to explore the following five competencies:
Applicants will be required to attach a written statement which addresses the following two questions;
> Describe how you think the role of the physician associate fits into the UK healthcare system. > Explain what motivates you to become a physician associate, highlighting details of the experience, qualifications and personal qualities you will bring to the course. Reference Applicants will be expected to provide two satisfactory references to support their application, both dated within the last year (from date of application). One of these must be a recent academic reference and the other should be either a second academic reference or a relevant professional/employer reference. References from family or friends are not accepted. Health screening
Satisfactory health clearance and an agreement to undergo appropriate blood tests and immunisations against Hepatitis B, MMR, Meningitis, TB and Chicken Pox.
Police screening
All applicants will be required to have an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (formally a Criminal Records Bureau check)
Professional registration
If you are or have been a member of a registered professional body please provide details at interview.
> Professionalism
> Working in a team
> Interpersonal communication
> Decision making
> Self-awareness
Admissions Timeline 30 November 2014
Applications open
9 December 2014
Open evening
January 2015
Open evening dates published online
January 2015
Selection Day; Some offers issued See website for date and application deadline
February 2015
Selection Day; Some offers issued See website for date and application deadline
March 2015
Selection Day; Some offers issued See website for date and application deadline
April 2015
Selection Day; Some offers issued See website for date and application deadline
20 April 2015 Application reminder; refer to Physician Associate Studies Postgraduate Diploma document checklist and Reference Request Form 01 May 2015 Applications close June/July 2015
Selection events held
Early July 2015
Final offers issued
September 2015
Semester starts
Fees
Please consult the website for the latest fee information.
Applicants may also be eligible for career development loans administered by banks. For further information visit: www.prospects.ac.uk/funding_postgraduate_study_bank_loans www.gov.uk/career-development-loans/overview
*2015 entry fees are subject to annual review and change
Notes
PG open events sgul.ac.uk We hope this brochure opens a window onto who we are and what we do. In short, you can undertake a specialist postgraduate qualification, on a hospital site in a thriving London location, leading to an extraordinary future as a Physician Associate. The best way to get a real sense of the culture at St George’s, its proximity to the Hospital and how that will positively impact on your learning is to come to one of our Postgraduate open events. We will do our best to: > Tell you about our courses of interest > Give you a tour of the facilities > Give you some insight into student life > Offer advice on finance > Give you a chance to question current students and academic staff For more information and to register onto an open event please visit www.sgul.ac.uk/visitus E study@sgul.ac.uk T +44 (0)20 8725 2333
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The material contained in this brochure is a guide only. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that its content is correct and up-to-date at the time of printing, St George’s, University of London reserves the right, without prior notice, to cease to offer programmes of study, or to amend curricula, methods and modes of teaching and assessment, entry requirements and any other details. St George’s, University of London confirms its commitment to a comprehensive policy of equal opportunities and endeavours to avoid discrimination against any person on the grounds of religion, race, sex, sexual orientation, marital or parental status or politics. We strive to ensure that all members of the institution behave with courtesy towards each other and that students and staff can work in an atmosphere of mutual respect. We encourage applications from members of groups that are currently under-represented.