Building an Advising Model for Physician Assistant Education

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Higher Education
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Physician assistant (PA) programs are rapidly expanding, leading to increased faculty and evolving accreditation requirements.
• Traditional, standardized advising approaches are insufficient for the complex needs of modern PA education.
• There is a need for innovative advising strategies to ensure student success and competency attainment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel longitudinal advising model for physician assistant education.
• To integrate diverse advising strategies into a cohesive framework.
• To align advising practices with the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) Competencies for the New Graduate.

Main Methods:

• The proposed model synthesizes elements from proactive advising, appreciative advising, and the GROW (Goal, Reality, Options, Will) coaching model.
• It emphasizes a continuous, individualized approach to student support throughout the PA program.
• Focus is placed on developing a framework that facilitates the achievement of specific PAEA competencies.

Main Results:

• The longitudinal model offers a structured yet flexible approach to advising in PA programs.
• Integration of various strategies provides a comprehensive support system for students.
• The model is designed to enhance student progress and preparedness for new graduate competencies.

Conclusions:

• A longitudinal, integrated advising model is essential for addressing the challenges in contemporary PA education.
• This approach supports faculty in guiding students toward achieving critical competencies.
• Adoption of such models can improve student outcomes and program effectiveness.