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The Master of Medical Science-Physician Assistant program joins a suite of new health science programs at HPU that includes the state's first doctor of physical therapy (DPT) and doctor of occupational therapy (OTD) programs.
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A physical exam practice lab.
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Fully equipped medical exam rooms for clinical skills instruction and formal assessment activities.
HPU has announced the development of the first Master of Medical Science-Physician Assistant (MMS-PA) program delivered out of a Hawaiʻi institution. The groundbreaking initiative is aimed at nurturing future leaders of healthcare and bridging the gaps in medical services across the state. The MMS-PA program joins a suite of new health science programs at HPU that includes the state’s first doctor of physical therapy (DPT) and doctor of occupational therapy (OTD) programs. The MMS-PA program anticipates matriculating its first class in January 2025*.
Applications opened today and can be found here.
Leocadia Conlon.
“HPU’s Master of Medical Science-Physician Assistant program marks a milestone for the University, underscoring our dedication to cultivating the education of future physician assistants destined to make a positive impact in Hawaiʻi,” said HPU Physician Assistant Program Director and Associate Professor Leocadia Pietrowski Conlon, Ph.D., MPH, PA-C. “Our 24-month program is offered in a hybrid format and focuses on equipping graduates for clinical practice with a strong emphasis on patient-centered care, advancing health equity, and addressing the needs of underserved populations.”
Bridging Education to Practice
The HPU MMS-PA program will offer a graduate entry-level education tailored for students holding a baccalaureate degree. Students will have the opportunity to engage in remote and in-person learning that provides daily synchronous and asynchronous engagement with experienced faculty possessing diverse scientific and clinical expertise. In-person sessions require periodic travel to Hawaiʻi, offering immersive one to two week-long experiences on HPU’s urban campus at Waterfront Plaza in Honolulu. These sessions will facilitate hands-on acquisition of physical examination and clinical skills, while assessing competency for clinical rotations.
In their first year, students will study anatomy, core medical sciences, pharmacology, clinical medicine, patient assessment, professional development, biopsychosocial and preventative medicine.
In their second year, students will begin their clinical phase of the program and participate in supervised clinical practice experiences across seven disciplines and an elective specialty. The program culminates in a final on-campus immersion, featuring a comprehensive summative evaluation and preparation for the transition to professional practice as a physician assistant.
Impact on Hawaiʻi’s Healthcare Landscape
The physician assistant (PA) profession is on the rise and projected to grow by over 30% from 2020 to 2030 (NCCPA). In Hawaiʻi, PA practice has surged by 36% from 2016-2020 (AHEC). Nearly 40% of PAs in the state specialize in primary care, addressing critical gaps in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs), surpassing the national average of 24% (NCCPA).
Hawaiʻi faces an unmet need for 732 full-time physicians, emphasizing the vital role of PAs in healthcare who work collaboratively with physicians to expand access to care. Currently, Hawaiʻi has one of the lowest PA workforce percentages nationally, with only 0.03% of over 168,000 certified PAs licensed in the state. Individual PAs in Hawaiʻi manage the care of over 75 patients weekly, underscoring their significant impact on patient care (NCCPA, AHEC).
Elevating Patient-Centered Services
Physician assistants are highly qualified, nationally certified, and state-licensed practitioners, boasting graduate-level education with over 100 credit hours and over 2,000 hours of clinical training. PAs bring their expertise to various medical and surgical specialties and settings, and practice in all clinical settings and practice in all clinical settings. Nationally, PAs deliver care to over 10 million patients per week, establishing their role as a vital part of healthcare delivery.
PAs offer a broad spectrum of patient care services, ranging from accurate diagnosis to effective treatment. Their scope of practice includes ordering and interpreting tests, performing medical procedures, carrying out complete assessments and making diagnoses, prescribing medications, assisting in surgeries, and providing valuable counseling on preventive healthcare, health, and wellness. Additionally, PAs are adept at conducting minor surgeries, monitoring and managing hospital inpatients. Their multifaceted skills contribute significantly to the comprehensive and compassionate delivery of healthcare services.
Prospective Students
HPU’s MMS-PA program utilizes a holistic admissions process that considers the experiences and character of each applicant. The admissions process aims to recruit and matriculate compassionate, diverse individuals who align with the mission and values of the HPU MMS-PA program and are committed to serving their communities and improving healthcare delivery.
Students who are interested in joining the inaugural January 2025 MMS-PA cohort are strongly encouraged to visit the University’s website or contact an admissions representative at paadmissions@hpu.edu.
*The Hawai'i Pacific University (HPU) Master of Medical Science - Physician Assistant (MMS-PA) Program was granted approval by the WASC Senior College and University Commission on 8/25/2021. HPU has applied for Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). The HPU MMS-PA program anticipates matriculating its first class in January 2025, pending achieving Accreditation - Provisional status at the June 2024 ARC-PA meeting. Accreditation - Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding accreditation-provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. The program will not commence in the event that Accreditation-Provisional status from ARC-PA is not received.
