An analysis of the selection criteria for postgraduate physician assistant residency and fellowship programs in the United States

Abstract Background This study aims to investigate the admission criteria used by physician assistant postgraduate education programs in selecting licensed PA applicants for postgraduate training in the United States. To our knowledge, there have been no previously published reports on selection criteria and/or other factors influencing postgraduate PA admission decisions. Method A non-experimental, descriptive research study was designed to obtain information from members of the Association of Postgraduate Physician Assistant Programs (APPAP). Results Twenty-three out of 73 postgraduate programs (35%) responded to the survey. The study reported that applicant PAs and NPs are largely selected on the basis of several factors. The most heavily weighted factor is the interview itself; other selection criteria perceived to be extremely/very important included board certification/eligibility, letters of recommendation, advanced degree, and personal essay. Survey data suggest that publications, undergraduate transcripts, and class rankings are not considered to be of high importance in applicant selection. The number of PA applicants applying to each postgraduate training program averages around 26 and total number of enrollees is about 3.6 per program. Additionally, some programs reported furloughing of trainees (temporary suspension of didactic and clinical training) during the pandemic, whereas the vast majority of postgraduate PA programs remained operational and some even experienced an increase in application volume. The total cost of training a PA resident or fellow in postgraduate programs is currently $93,000 whereas the average cost of training a categorical physician resident is estimated at $150,000 per year when considering both salary and benefits. Conclusions This novel study examined criteria and other factors used by postgraduate PA programs in selecting candidates for admission. Results can be used by postgraduate programs to improve or modify current selection criteria to enhance the quality of trainee selection. Further research is needed to examine correlations between applicant attributes, selection criteria, and trainee success in completing postgraduate training.

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An Analysis of the Selection Criteria for Postgraduate Physician Assistant Residency and Fellowship Programs in the United States

10.21203/rs.3.rs-904917/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Vasco Deon Kidd ◽

Sarah Vanderlinden ◽

Jennifer M Spisak

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Selection Criteria ◽

Postgraduate Training ◽

Physician Assistant ◽

Postgraduate Education ◽

The United States ◽

Advanced Degree ◽

Education Programs ◽

Postgraduate Training Program ◽

Weighted Factor

Abstract BackgroundThis study aims to investigate the admission criteria used by PA postgraduate education programs in selecting licensed PA applicants for postgraduate training in the United States. To our knowledge, there have been no previously published reports on selection criteria and/or other factors influencing postgraduate PA admission decisions. This study both draws on and builds upon previous research conducted by Vasco Deon Kidd et. al in exploring the characteristics of PA postgraduate education programs in the United States.Method A non-experimental, descriptive research study was designed to obtain information from members of the Association of Postgraduate Physician Assistant Programs (APPAP). ResultsTwenty-three out of 73 postgraduate programs (35.1%) responded to the survey; the low response rate in our survey may have been attributed to the resurgence of COVID-19 fueled by the delta variant. Nevertheless, the study reported that applicant PAs and NPs are largely selected on the basis of several factors. The most heavily weighted factor is the interview itself; other selection criteria perceived to be extremely/very important included board certification/eligibility, letters of recommendation, advanced degree, and personal essay. Survey data suggest that publications, undergraduate transcripts, and class rankings are not considered to be of high importance in applicant selection. The total cost of training a PA resident or fellow in postgraduate programs is currently $93,000 whereas the average cost of training a categorical physician resident is estimated at $150,000 per year when considering both salary and benefits. The number of PA applicants applying to each postgraduate training program averages around 26 and total number of enrollees is 3.6 per program.ConclusionsThis is the first study to examine criteria and others factors used by postgraduate PA programs in selecting candidates for admission. Results can be used by postgraduate programs for quality improvement initiatives related to including additional or modifying current selection criteria to improve the quality of trainee selection. Further research is needed to examine correlations between applicant attributes, selection criteria, and trainee success in completing postgraduate training.

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Understanding and Promoting Racial Diversity in Healthcare Settings to Address Disparities in Pandemic Crisis Management

Journal of Primary Care & Community Health ◽

10.1177/21501327211018354 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

pp. 215013272110183

Author(s):

Azza Sarfraz ◽

Zouina Sarfraz ◽

Alanna Barrios ◽

Kuchalambal Agadi ◽

Sindhu Thevuthasan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Health Disparities ◽

Racial Discrimination ◽

Clinical Training ◽

Minority Groups ◽

Mental Health Problems ◽

Minority Group ◽

Healthcare Delivery ◽

The United States ◽

Majority Group

Background: Health disparities have become apparent since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. When observing racial discrimination in healthcare, self-reported incidences, and perceptions among minority groups in the United States suggest that, the most socioeconomically underrepresented groups will suffer disproportionately in COVID-19 due to synergistic mechanisms. This study reports racially-stratified data regarding the experiences and impacts of different groups availing the healthcare system to identify disparities in outcomes of minority and majority groups in the United States. Methods: Studies were identified utilizing PubMed, Embase, CINAHL Plus, and PsycINFO search engines without date and language restrictions. The following keywords were used: Healthcare, raci*, ethnic*, discriminant, hosti*, harass*, insur*, education, income, psychiat*, COVID-19, incidence, mortality, mechanical ventilation. Statistical analysis was conducted in Review Manager (RevMan V.5.4). Unadjusted Odds Ratios, P-values, and 95% confidence intervals were presented. Results: Discrimination in the United States is evident among racial groups regarding medical care portraying mental risk behaviors as having serious outcomes in the health of minority groups. The perceived health inequity had a low association to the majority group as compared to the minority group (OR = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.22 to 0.78; P = .007), and the association of mental health problems to the Caucasian-American majority group was low (OR = 0.51; 95% CI = 0.45 to 0.58; P < .001). Conclusion: As the pandemic continues into its next stage, efforts should be taken to address the gaps in clinical training and education, and medical practice to avoid the recurring patterns of racial health disparities that become especially prominent in community health emergencies. A standardized tool to assess racial discrimination and inequity will potentially improve pandemic healthcare delivery.

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COUNTERPOINT: Should the United States Provide Postgraduate Training to International Medical Graduates? No

CHEST Journal ◽

10.1016/j.chest.2016.01.009 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 149 (4) ◽

pp. 895-897 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Jess Mandel

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Postgraduate Training ◽

The United States ◽

International Medical ◽

International Medical Graduates ◽

Medical Graduates

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Imperfect physician assistant and physical therapist admissions processes in the United States

Journal of Educational Evaluation for Health Professions ◽

10.3352/jeehp.2014.11.11 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

pp. 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Phillip Eugene Jones ◽

Susan Simpkins ◽

Jennie Alicea Hocking

Keyword(s):

United States ◽

Physical Therapist ◽

Physician Assistant ◽

Reliability And Validity ◽

Health Professions ◽

The United States ◽

Grade Point Averages ◽

High Stakes ◽

Student Centered ◽

Grade Point

We compared and contrasted physician assistant and physical therapy profession admissions processes based on the similar number of accredited programs in the United States and the co-existence of many programs in the same school of health professions, because both professions conduct similar centralized application procedures administered by the same organization. Many studies are critical of the fallibility and inadequate scientific rigor of the high-stakes nature of health professions admissions decisions, yet typical admission processes remain very similar. Cognitive variables, most notably undergraduate grade point averages, have been shown to be the best predictors of academic achievement in the health professions. The variability of non-cognitive attributes assessed and the methods used to measure them have come under increasing scrutiny in the literature. The variance in health professions students’ performance in the classroom and on certifying examinations remains unexplained, and cognitive considerations vary considerably between and among programs that describe them. One uncertainty resulting from this review is whether or not desired candidate attributes highly sought after by individual programs are more student-centered or graduate-centered. Based on the findings from the literature, we suggest that student success in the classroom versus the clinic is based on a different set of variables. Given the range of positions and general lack of reliability and validity in studies of non-cognitive admissions attributes, we think that health professions admissions processes remain imperfect works in progress.

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