Master of Physician Assistant Studies Hybrid Program

Information for pierce preceptors

Franklin Pierce is a private, non-profit, regionally accredited University where every student can discover their passion and greatest potential. Frank S. DiPietro, who founded the college in 1962 and served as Pierce’s first president, maintained the perspective that “only the small college can provide the intimate relationships between those who learn and those who teach.”

Now celebrating our 60th anniversary, the University remains committed to this vision. With an environment that fosters intellectual curiosity and a sense of place, the community of educators at Pierce prepares every graduate for life on the other side of a degree through a combination of personalized and experiential teaching.

In 2007, the first Franklin Pierce PA program was established in New Hampshire. The new Hybrid PA Program in Goodyear, AZ will matriculate its first cohort of students in November 2022. Our 24-month PA program awards the Master of PA Studies degree and assists student preparation for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) and state licensure.

The first-year pre-clinical curriculum involves a technology-rich distance learning experience including online classes, video-based course work, and patient simulation. Four scheduled on-campus immersion weeks throughout the program allow students to interact with their peers and faculty, attend workshops and seminars, practice skills testing, and practice with standardized patients.

The second year provides hands-on opportunities for supervised clinical practice experience under the guidance of well-practiced preceptors and the support of faculty and subject matter experts. The clinical year takes students from the theoretical classroom setting to an active, hands-on learning environment.
Preceptors are an integral part of the teaching program.

YOU ARE THE KEY to successful supervised clinical practice experiences for the student. The PA student will work closely with YOU, learning from your advice and example. With your guidance and supervision, the student will progressively develop and demonstrate the professional behaviors, clinical reasoning, judgement, and skills necessary to practice medicine as a competent member of a collaborative medical team.

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