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Department of Health Sciences

Mission & Goals

The Master of Health Sciences Physician Assistant Studies program is housed within the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine in the Department of Health Sciences.

School of Medicine Mission Statement

We are proud to support the mission of the UNC School of Medicine, and grateful to serve the people of North Carolina.

Goals Measures and Outcomes

1 UNC-CH classifies non-traditional status to applicants who are >26 years of age at time of application.
2 UNC specifically recruits veterans who served in a medical capacity.

Measures of Success 1: Recruitment events for non-traditional and veteran applicants

Benchmark: Minimum of 2 events annually with a focus for nontraditional and military/veteran applicants

Outcomes: 2025: One PAEA admissions fair and one programmatic admission informational session.

Measures of Success 2: Applicants who are nontraditional or military/veteran

Benchmark: 25% of all applicants

Outcomes:

  • 2021: 31% of all applicants
  • 2022: 27% of all applicants
  • 2023: 25% of all applicants
  • 2024: 23% of all applicants
  • 2025: 26% of all applicants

Measures of Success 1: Engagement of students with optional interprofessional experiences

Benchmark: >50% attendance or participation

Outcomes:

  • 2024: 30% of the preclinical cohort volunteered at interprofessional SHAC clinic.
    • The program’s goal of >50% was not met. Several students volunteered multiple times, however, fewer than 50% of the preclinical students volunteered with this clinic. The program faculty, as a result, increased encouragement of participation with the clinic.

Measures of Success 2: Graduate survey

Benchmark: ≥3.5 on Likert scale

Outcomes: Graduates in the class of 2024 agreed (4.4/5 with 42% response rate) they were well-prepared to practice in interprofessional patient-centered teams.

Measures of Success 1: 5-year first-time test taker PANCE performance

Benchmark: At national average

Outcomes: First-time test-taker PANCE pass rate is 100% for the classes of 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024 with the national average at 93%, 92%, 92%, and 92% respectively.

Measures of Success 2: All-time PANCE performance

Benchmark: At national average

Outcomes:

  • 100% all-time PANCE pass rate from 2021-2024
  • National all-time PANCE pass rate of 91%, 89%, 89% and 89% for 2021-2024

Measures of Success 3: Graduate and alumni surveys

Benchmark: Likert scale3 ≥3.5

Outcomes: Graduates in the class of 2024 agreed (4.8/5 with 42% response rate) the program provided them with a strong foundation for generalist practice.

3 Likert Scale: 1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree

Measures of Success 1: Clinical experience opportunities

Benchmark: Develop and maintain at least 2 clinical experience opportunities in medically under resourced communities.

Outcomes:

  • Offered 29 rotation spots in medically under resourced communities4 for academic year 2024 and 74 rotation spots in academic year 2025.
  • Continued PA student volunteer presence at SHAC clinic.

Measures of Success 2: Graduate survey

Benchmark: ≥3.5 Likert scale3

Outcomes: Graduates in the class of 2024 agree (4.4/5 with 42% response rate) the program prepared them for practice in underresourced communities.4

3 Likert Scale: 1 – Strongly Disagree to 5 – Strongly Agree
4 Under resourced communities defined by a NC Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) score ≥14, patients served by any county health department and/or any Federally Qualified Health Center.