A student examines a patient under faculty supervision

Mission Statement

The AdventHealth University Physician Assistant Program’s mission is to educate knowledgeable and compassionate individuals as spiritually cognizant healthcare providers who embrace a mission of service to others.

Mission Supported Goals

Measure of SuccessOutcomes

Student Exit Survey Benchmark:
Graduating students are expected to report satisfaction with the nurturing and spiritually supportive environment created by the program (mean score ≥4.0 on a 5-point Likert scale). 

Students rated the nurturing and spiritually supportive environment of the program as follows:
  • Class of 2025 – 4.28
  • Class of 2024 – 4.5

Student-to-Faculty Ratio Benchmark:
The program will maintain a student-to-faculty ratio at or below the national average for private PA programs (≤12.8:1), as reported in the PAEA Program Report 36. 

AHU maintains a low student-to-faculty ratio:
  • AHU PA Program (2025-2026) student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
  • National Mean (all programs) student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
Academic Coursework Supporting Goal:
Curriculum ensures that all students are enrolled in academic courses that address the role of spirituality in healthcare, consistent with the program and institutional mission.		PA students are required to take two courses that address the role of spirituality in healthcare:
  • Identity and Mission in Faith-Based Healthcare
  • Role Fidelity and the Exercise of Power
Student Exit Survey Benchmark:
Graduating students are expected to report satisfaction with the spiritual focus of the program (mean score ≥4.0 on a 5-point Likert scale).		Students rated satisfaction with the spiritual focus of the program as follows:
  • Class of 2025 – 4.21
  • Class of 2024 – 4.32

PANCE Performance Benchmark

Measure of Success: PANCE All-time Performance Benchmark
The program seeks a 100% all-time pass rate on PANCE.

Outcomes: PANCE All-time Performance
Graduating ClassAHU's All-time Pass Rate
Class of 2021100%
Class of 2022100%
Class of 202396%*
Class of 2024100%
Class of 2025100%

*Students who have not yet passed the PANCE are registered to retake the exam.

PANCE Performance Benchmark:

Measure of Success: PANCE First-time Performance Benchmark
The program's 5-year first-time PANCE pass rate will meet or surpass the national average.

Outcomes: PANCE First-time Performance
Graduating ClassAHU's First-time Pass RateNational Average
Class of 202193%93%
Class of 202293%92%
Class of 202385%92%
Class of 202496%92%
Class of 202593%91%
5-year Average92%92%

Measure of Success: Student volunteer hours Benchmark

The program seeks 100% completion of the required 40 hours of service-learning for each student (as defined in the AHU PA Program Policy Manual)

Outcomes:

Completion and verification of 40 hours of required service-learning for each student, documented and assessed through approved reflection and program verification processes.

  • Class of 2025 – 100%
  • Class of 2024 – 100%
  • Class of 2023 – 100%

 

Measure of Success and BenchmarksOutcomes
 Matriculated Students (Classes of 2025 - 2027)

Student demographic data represents a diverse student body: program data will be comparable to or exceed the national data as reported and published annually by the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA).

Physician Assistant Education Association, By the Numbers: Program Report 36: Data from the 2021 Program Survey, Washington, DC: PAEA; 2023. doi: 10.17538/PR36.2021.

Age

AHU: 
Average 25 (ranging from 20 to 40 at the time of admission)

National: 
Average 24.9

GPA

AHU:
Average 3.63 overall GPA (3.12 – 4.0) 
Average 3.57 overall science GPA (3.07 - 4.0)

National:
Average  3.60 overall GPA
Average 3.50 overall science GPA

Gender

AHU: 
80% female and 20% male

National: 
76% female and 23.9% male

Race

AHU: 
76% White, 9% Asian, 13% Black or African American, and 2% American Indian or 
Alaskan Native

National: 
69.8% White, 10.5% Asian, 4.9% Black or African American, 0.5% American Indian or Alaskan Native

Ethnicity

AHU: 
29% Hispanic

National: 
9.5% Hispanic

Clinical Experience

AHU: 
4901 average hours of patient contact  experience (12 - 15,960)

National: 
3,235 average hours of patient contact experience

Student Exit Survey Benchmarks:

Graduating students are expected to report satisfaction with the diversity of the student body (mean score ≥4.0 on a 5-point Likert scale).

Graduating students rated their satisfaction with the diversity of the student body as follows: 

  • Class of 2025 – 4.24
  • Class of 2024 – 4.43

Alumni Survey:

Alumni are expected to report satisfaction with the diversity of the student body (mean score ≥4.0 on a 5-point Likert scale).

Alumni rated their satisfaction with the diversity of the student body as follows: 

  • Class of 2025 – 4.24
  • Class of 2024 – 4.72

Summative Assessment:

The program expects 100% of the students to achieve a passing score on the Summative OSCE, demonstrating competence in the provision of whole-person care during the summative phase of the curriculum.

100 % of the CO2024 and CO2025 received a passing score on their Summative OSCE Evaluation:  Whole Person Care Competency Assessment.