At Pacific University, we believe the practice of medicine is an honor and a privilege.
We are Dedicated to Our Mission
Our Mission—Your Education Our goal is to prepare you to become a clinician who treats all patients with respect, embraces an understanding of their culture and advocates for quality in their healthcare.
Your education will be grounded in primary care medicine delivered via a community-based model. Our curriculum utilizes innovative educational methods to foster critical thinking and integrates evidence-based concepts to encourage lifelong learning. At the same time, physician assistants are members of interprofessional teams, and an essential part of our program is learning to work with other healthcare professionals.
Innovative, Effective Learning The Clinical Medicine module series is a comprehensive and integrated approach to learning medicine by organ systems. There is a strong emphasis on clinical integration, problem solving, case-based learning and evidence-based clinical practice.
Life Outside of Class Our PA program is demanding, which makes life balance critical to your success. The school is housed at the Hillsboro, Oregon campus, minutes from Portland. Students have access to Portland’s cultural vitality and to the Pacific Northwest trails, beaches and mountains with opportunities for hiking, biking, snow and water sports.
27
MONTHS / 7 SEMESTERS
(Program Length)
96%
PANCE
5-year average 1st time pass rate
60
Students
(Average Class Size)
75
PERCENT
(Minimum Passing Score per Module)
Commitment to the Underserved The School offers diverse opportunities to engage both academically and in service with underserved populations. PA students participate in student-driven community service projects throughout the didactic phase especially during National PA Week.
Students have the option to participate in The Rural and Underserved Service Track (TRUST). This track combines additional didactic work with clinical rotations allowing students to have an emphasis in the medical care of underrepresented populations.
During the clinical phase, students have the opportunity to be placed at clinical sites that focus on rural and urban underrepresented communities throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The school partners with multiple Community Health Centers for student placement that focus on vulnerable populations.
International Opportunities The School has always emphasized the importance and the value of international education. The School is committed to providing international learning opportunities that are ethical, high quality and offer both clinical experiences, language and cultural immersion.
Evidence-based Clinical Practice The PA school is dedicated to integrating the concepts of evidence-based medicine (EBM) into the curriculum at every level. From the first summer semester through the preparation of the clinical graduate project, students are prepared to critically appraise the medical literature and apply those standards to clinical decisions.
Pacific students are passionate, empathetic, and service-oriented. These interpersonal qualities are just as important to us as your academic profile. We want to learn about these qualities in addition to your academic preparation.
