The OU-TU School of Community Medicine Physician Assistant Program is proud to offer an outstanding and innovative educational experience for future PAs who are committed to primary care and the underserved in Oklahoma. The program provides one of the strongest primary care PA programs in the country.
During the first semester of the program, students are exposed to foundational concepts of community medicine as part of the Concepts of Community Medicine course. This unique course integrates principles of public health and the broad determinants that shape the health of community populations. The course prepares students to grasp the many factors that impact health outcomes. At the beginning of the second semester, students participate in the Summer Institute. This week-long event is the hallmark of the OU Tulsa School of Community Medicine's innovative education program. The immersive experience engages participants in a curriculum of reflective, experiential service learning. Participants serve in an interdisciplinary group of both students and faculty representing colleges from across the Tulsa campus. Participants interact with community members including patients, healthcare providers and community agencies to gain an understanding of the intricacies of the healthcare community within the Tulsa area. As part of the Summer Institute, participants also experience a poverty simulation designed to create an understanding of the challenges facing many members of our community.
During the second year, students attend Student Academy which is comprised of monthly interdisciplinary seminars over chronic disease management with emphasis on evidence-based treatment algorithms and hands-on clinical skill development. Students then integrate this learning into Bedlam L, a year-long twice-monthly longitudinal clinic for uninsured patients at OU Physicians Family Medicine. This student clinic allows students to manage their own panel of patients, providing a continuous care experience for chronic disease management. Additionally, students provide patient care to patients in the Bedlam E clinic, held on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Both PA and MD students, alongside nursing and social work students, provide care in the Bedlam Clinics under the supervision of faculty clinicians. The clinics deliver direct experience in the practice of community medicine, teaching students not only patient care skills but also exposing them to the challenges faced by uninsured individuals.
Thank you for your interest in the OU-TU School of Community Medicine Physician Assistant program. We invite you to learn more about the unique aspects of our program on this website. Like us on Facebook: OU-Tulsa Physician Assistant Program.
