About the Program

OFFICE INFORMATION
113 Monroe Lecture Center
Phone: (516) 463-4074
Fax: (516) 463-5177
E-mail

Program Director
Professor Theresa Horvath
113 Monroe Lecture Hall
Phone: (516) 463-4804
Fax: (516) 463-5177
E-mail

CHAIR
Professor Robert Seagull
130 Gittleson Hall
Phone: (516) 463-5267
Fax: (516) 463-5122
E-mail

Welcome to the Physician Assistant Studies Program website.

The Hofstra University Program in Physician Assistant Studies trains students to practice as physician assistants at an entry level. Physician assistants are health professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Physician assistants perform a wide array of medical duties and work in a variety of medical settings, ranging from primary care to sub-specialties. Physician assistants are qualified to first assist in surgery, attend medical emergencies, or care for their own panel of patients in outpatient internal medicine, pediatrics or family medicine

Hofstra's program is designed to accommodate both students who are  working toward their undergraduate degree and those who are post-baccalaureate.  Undergraduate students first complete  the pre-professional phase, consisting of two years of collegiate instruction including all  prerequisite courses. Students apply to the program during the second year of the pre-professional phase, and if successful in gaining admission, enroll in the twenty- eight month professional phase. The professional phase is divided into four semesters of didactic instruction and three semesters of clinical clerkships. Students follow a defined curriculum, progressing from basic science to the study of clinical medicine and its application. During the clinical phase students rotate through clinical clerkships in internal medicine, surgery, emergency medicine, obstetrics gynecology, psychiatry, long term care and pediatrics services within healthcare settings such as hospitals, doctor's offices, clinics and long term care facilities. The clinical phase may require students to attend during nights (on-call) and weekends.  Due to rigor of the program, even part time work is not possible  in most cases.

Upon successful completion of the program, candidates are eligible to sit for the National Certification Examination for Physician Assistants (PANCE Exam). Students who have already been awarded a bachelor's degree receive a Certificate of Completion. Those students having completed all Hofstra University degree requirements as a component of prerequisite course work will receive both a Certificate of Completion and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Physician Assistant Studies.  Students have the option to continue their studies in a 30 credit master’s degree program to earn a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies.