, 2009

I.          MISSION, GOALS, AND PRIORITIES

Mission

The mission of the Southern Illinois University Physician Assistant Program is to prepare healthcare professionals to provide primary health care to underserved populations in rural and health professional shortage areas. We will enhance this healthcare by preparing graduates who are interdependent medical providers, dedicated to both community and profession.  The academic setting will foster creative thinking and communication skills in our pursuit of excellence.

Goals of the program include the following:

1.      Educate physician assistants (PAs) to be lifelong learners, proficient in acquiring and applying knowledge to patient problems. 

2.      Provide patients in underserved populations with respectful, ethical, professional, and competent health care clinicians, thus addressing the needs of the rural and health professional shortage areas.

3.      Prepare physician assistants who can effectively interact with physicians, other allied health personnel, and with patients and their families while adhering to the concepts of privilege, confidentiality, and ethical behavior. 

Priorities of the program include:

1.   Provide the highest quality academic programs and clinical teaching that include attention to evidence-based medical education, procedural skills, holistic medicine, health policy, patient education, and prevention. 

2.   Graduate medical professionals interested in obtaining employment and practicing in rural and underserved areas in central and southern Illinois.

3.   Provide service to the citizens of the region, the university, and the medical profession.

4.      Collaborate with other departments in the university forming school-community linkages to advance the mission of the program and the university.

5.      Advance the physician assistant profession and the university through scholarly activity.