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Education Research: Neurologic Education in Physician Assistant Programs
Daniel S Harrison1, Margaret Naclerio1, Kathryn Swider1
1From the Harvard Medical School (D.S.H., L.L., C.D.); Department of Neurology (D.S.H., M.N., A.B., L.L., C.D.), Brigham and Women's Hospital; Department of Neurology (D.S.H., K.S., L.L.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Department of Physician Assistant Studies (C.G.), Dominican University of California, San Rafael; and Department of Neurology (A.T.Y.), University of California San Francisco Medical Center.
Neurologic education in physician assistant (PA) programs often lacks dedicated neuroscience courses and required clinical rotations. Enhancing these areas can better prepare advanced practice providers (APPs) for neurology careers.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Neurology Training
- Advanced Practice Providers
Background:
- Increasing number of Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) entering neurology.
- Neurologic education in APP programs is not well-defined.
- Need to tailor educational initiatives for APPs in neurology.
Purpose of the Study:
- Describe neurologic education in physician assistant (PA) programs.
- Inform and improve neurologic training for APPs.
- Identify opportunities to enhance neurology education in PA curricula.
Main Methods:
- Adapted 2018 American Academy of Neurology survey for PA program directors.
- Distributed survey in Fall 2021 and Spring 2022.
- Systematically reviewed websites of accredited PA programs for neurologic content.
Main Results:
- 60 of 255 PA program directors responded (23.5%).
- Most programs include preclinical neuroscience topics; dedicated courses are less common (20.8% of websites).
- Clinical neurology rotations are rarely required (0.4%-1.7%), though electives are common (85.0%).
Conclusions:
- Preclinical neuroscience topics are generally covered, but dedicated courses and clinical neurology rotations are infrequent.
- Opportunities exist to increase required clinical neurology rotations and exposure to practicing neurology APPs.
- Findings can guide postgraduate educational initiatives for APPs in neurology.
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