Physician Assistant Program
Master of Science
in Physician Assistant
Study for your Master of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies at Elizabethtown College. We offer two entry options for incoming students to the program; a combined BS/MS degree over five and a half years for incoming first-year E-town students or a standalone master’s degree over 25 months for students with a bachelor’s degree from E-town or another institution. Learn more about how you can earn your MS in Physician Assistant Studies.
2 Pathways, 1 Program:
Accelerated Pre-Physician Assistant Program
Graduate Program
What does a Physician Assistant do?
- Ordering diagnostic tests including laboratory and x-ray studies.
- Performing medical procedures such as preparing casts or splints and suturing small wounds.
- Interpreting medical results, diagnosing illnesses and preparing treatment plans, including prescribing medications.
- Assisting doctors and surgeons with advanced medical techniques and procedures.
Program Summary
The Physician Assistant (PA) program will provide you with an education that is centered on service and integrates interdisciplinary learning, ensuring that you have experience in a range of primary care and specialized healthcare settings.
At the culmination of the program, students will sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE). After successful completion of the exam, graduates will be able to work as a physician assistant in medical facilities across the nation in specialized areas of clinical practice, as well as in research occupations or academia.
At the culmination of the program, students will sit for the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE). After successful completion of the exam, graduates will be able to work as a physician assistant in medical facilities across the nation in specialized areas of clinical practice, as well as in research occupations or academia.
Meet the Staff
Dr. Lynn Eckrote,
EdD, MPAS, PA-C
Founding PA Program Director
Lynn Eckrote began at Elizabethtown College in August 2018. She earned her bachelor of science degree in biology from Pennsylvania State University, her master in physician assistant studies from King’s College, and her doctorate in education from the University of New England. Lynn worked the majority of her clinical career in Internal Medicine and Psychiatry prior to entering academia. She had been in both a clinical director and program director position prior to founding the Elizabethtown Physician Assistant Program.
Dedicated to providing healthcare education to future providers and ensuring that Elizabethtown’s mission of Educate for Service continues in the physician assistant program, Lynn maintains a focus of looking for motivation, empathy, and critical thinking skills in her students. Lynn is committed to providing students with an education that is centered on service and integrates interdisciplinary learning.
Larissa D Whitney,
MHS, PA-C
Clinical Coordinator and Faculty Instructor
Larissa Whitney joined the Elizabethtown College Physician Assistant Program in 2019 and serves as the program’s clinical coordinator.
Larissa is a 2010 magna cum laude graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Technology Physician Assistant Program and honors graduate of Nova Southeastern University’s Master of Health Science Program. She has worked in higher education since 2015, and has co-authored chapters in two medical education textbooks. Larissa continues to maintain her clinical skills in trauma and acute care surgery.
Committed to educating compassionate and competent students, Larissa is eager to fulfill Elizabethtown’s mission of educate for service. Her clinical and teaching interests include clinical medicine, clinical procedures, diagnostic and imaging studies, critical care medicine, and end of life care.
Are you ready to elevate your career? Get started now with an M.S. in Physician Assistant from Elizabethtown College.
Career Outlook
Top 5 Practice Settings
Job Postings Nationally:
106,200 (2016)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics ©
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics ©
Median pay (annual):
$108,610 USD (2018)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics ©
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics ©
Median pay (hourly):
$52.22 USD USD (2018)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics ©
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics ©
Projected 10-year growth:
37% (2016)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics ©
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics ©
Program Timeline
Timeline for Accelerated Students:
-
November 2019
Application due to the ARC-PA -
Fall/Winter 2019
Break ground on new PA building -
Fall/Winter 2019
Interviews for accelerated students -
February 2020
Initial Site Visit -
August 2020
First cohort of accelerated students enters the undergraduate Bachelor of Science Biology/Allied Health Concentration curriculum -
October 2020
PA program building is ready for move-in -
July 2022
Second Provisional Site Visit -
December 2023
First cohort of accelerated students begins the PA program -
May 2024
First cohort of accelerated students receive their Bachelor of Science Biology/Allied Health Concentration degree -
January 2024-July 2024
Final Provisional Site Visit -
January 2025
First cohort of accelerated students enters the clinical year of the PA program -
December 2025
First cohort of accelerated students graduates with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Timeline for Graduate Students:
-
October/November 2019
CASPA Application opens -
November 2019
Application due to the ARC-PA -
Fall/Winter 2019
Break ground on new PA building -
February 2020
Initial Site Visit -
May/June 2020
Interviews for first PA program cohort -
October 2020
PA program building is ready for move-in -
December 2020
First PA program cohort begins didactic curriculum -
January 2022
First PA program cohort begins clinical year -
July 2022
Second provisional site visit -
December 2022
First PA program cohort graduates with a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies -
January 2024-July 2024
Final Provisional Site Visit
Professional Accreditation
Elizabethtown College has applied for Accreditation-Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Elizabethtown College anticipates matriculating its first class in December 2020, pending achieving Accreditation-Provisional status at the June 2020 ARC-PA meeting. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resources 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 with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.
717-361-1000One Alpha Drive
Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2298© 2019 Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown, PA 17022-2298© 2019 Elizabethtown College
Elizabethtown College does not discriminate on the basis of gender, race, color, religion, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, genetic information, possession of a general education development certificate as compared to a high school diploma, or any other legally protected status. This commitment applies but is not limited to decisions made with respect to hiring and promotion, the administration educational programs and policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic or other College administered programs. Discrimination or harassment of any kind is strictly forbidden.