Mission Statement
The mission of the Marietta College Physician Assistant Program is to help meet the need for qualified health care providers. The program accomplishes this by selecting individuals who have the academic, clinical and interpersonal aptitudes necessary for education as physician assistants.

Program Goals
To design a curriculum that builds the cognitive, clinical, interpersonal and professional skills needed for the supervised practice of medicine as physician assistants.

To provide the educational tools so that graduates will be able to identify, analyze and manage clinical problems, and provide effective, efficient and humane patient care with physician supervision.

Program General Objectives
Marietta College Physician Assistant Program is designed to provide the students with the skills and activities that enhance their professional and personal growth as physician assistants through course objectives which cover three areas of learning: Cognitive Skills (knowledge base), Psychomotor Skills (manipulative and motor skills), and Affective Skills (attitudes and values). The graduates will be able to demonstrate:

1. The knowledge of the structures of the human body and how they function at the biochemical and physiological level.
2. An understanding of the common pathophysiological disturbances that occur in each of the organ systems, neoplastic disorders, and those disease processes in human beings resulting from immunological disorders or from infectious organisms.
3. The knowledge of the principles of drug absorption, distribution, action, toxicity and elimination.
4. A practical, working knowledge of commonly prescribed drugs.
5. The knowledge and the application of the use of the clinical laboratory in the diagnosis and management of disease states.
6. An understanding of the health care and social service systems, coding/reimbursement, billing, and the role of the PA/Physician Team within those systems.
7. The knowledge, appreciation, and applicant of legal and ethical concepts related to medical care.
8. An understanding of the PA profession, its origin and development.
9. The application of the scientific method to the solution of medical problems.
10. The knowledge and ability to perform the skills necessary for prevention, patient evaluation, monitoring, diagnosis/differential diagnosis, therapeutics, counseling, rehabilitation, and appropriate referral.
11. The ability to effectively communicate with patients, patients' families, physicians, and various other professional associates.
12. An understanding of the principles of scientific inquiry and research design, so that they will be able to apply those principles to critically interpret medical literature and enhance their ability to provide quality health care.
13. The attitudes and skills, which show a commitment to personal growth and sensitivity to cultural and individual differences throughout a diverse patient population.
14. The attitudes and skills, which show a commitment to professional behaviors and respect for self and others.