PERSPECTIVES 25th Anniversary - Fall-Winter 2018

50 Nova Southeastern University By Kandee Griffith, M.Ed., M.S., HRM, HPD Admissions Counselor III, and Charlene Bolton, M.S.Ed., M.M.S., PA-C, Program Director Physician Assistant Jacksonville Expanding Clinical Knowledge Through Interprofessional Education THE JACKSONVILLE Physician Assistant (PA) Program opened its doors in May 2009. This was made possible thanks to the guidance of Richard E. Davis, Ed.D., PA-C, dean of the College of Allied Health and Nursing at that time, and others who saw the benefit of starting a PA program in Northeast Florida. The program admitted 40 students initially; however, it currently admits 60 students. Throughout the years, the Jacksonville PA Program has encountered various challenges and claimed numerous achievements. It also continues to make strides toward becoming an exemplary PA program. One of the ways we are accomplishing this is by incorpo- rating interprofessional education (IPE) into the clinical year of the program as part of ongoing simulation activities. The focus of IPE is to provide collaborative learning opportuni- ties among various health care professions. A minimum of two students from different health care professions work alongside each other to promote exposure to other profes- sions—and to learn from and with each other. Since PAs work in a collaborative manner to provide patient care, incorporating IPE into the curriculum gives students an opportunity to interact with other health care professions in a safe environment. The use of IPE also aligns with the pro- gram’s mission statement—to prepare physician assistant students to provide high-quality, patient-centered care. Each year, the NSU Jacksonville PA Program partners with St. Johns River State College in a collaborative simulation activity. Students from the college respiratory therapy (RT), radiology (RAD), licensed practical nursing (LPN), emer- gency medical technician (EMT), and paramedic programs work alongside NSU’s PA students to treat a simulated patient. Faculty members from the six programs plan and facilitate this activity, which takes place at St. Johns River State College. The simulation activity begins with a “call” from the EMT/ paramedic student informing the “Emergency Department” that a “patient” will be transported for emergency treatment. RT, LPN, RAD, and PA students wait in the “emergency bay” until the EMTs/paramedics arrive in an ambulance with the “patient.” Once they arrive, the EMT/paramedic students