NC PA Program Highlight | High Point University

by Dakota Griffin, PA-S, High Point University

High point Mayor visits HPU to declare National PA Day ordinance. 

Preparing Students for Healthcare of the Future
High Point University’s PA program was founded in 2014 under the leadership of Linda Sekhon, DHSc, PA-C. The program is one of the newer PA educational programs in North Carolina, with a mission to deliver a student-centered, experiential curriculum grounded in high academic and ethical standards. High Point’s program aims to prepare future PAs for the ever-evolving world of medicine, while focusing on core values, inter-professional collaboration, and supporting local communities.

High Point University’s PA program recently welcomed it’s 5th Cohort of 35 students, as well as received the Accreditation-Continued status from ARC-PA in June 2019. Graduates of the 27-month program (15 months of didactic and 12 months of clinical rotations) earn a Master of Medical Sciences (MMS) degree and maintain a current 98% first time pass rate for the PANCE.

The program’s key focus is students-first, achievable through smaller class sizes and dedicated faculty who encourage, support, and challenge students throughout the rigorous program.

Supporting Communities

Throughout the year, students participate in a wide range of community outreach programs, ranging from checking blood pressures and glucose at the local farmer’s market to collecting essential needs for local shelters. HPA’s PA students believe it is important to be hands on and active in bettering local communities.

Extraordinary Learning Experiences

The new state-of-the-art health sciences building opened in 2016, with all of the necessary tools for optimal success in the healthcare field. Students learn from a variety of ways such as high-fidelity patient simulators that reproduce the experience of a real patient in real time with little distortion, the use of standardized patients, and a cadaver lab for Anatomy and Physiology.

Organization Involvement

PA students at HPU have the opportunity to be involved in multiple organizations to connect with other PAs and PA students across the country. Students are encouraged to get involved in state and local PA organizations and to attend conferences such as the annual NCAPA Student Leadership Retreat and the annual AAPA Conference, which was held in Denver this year.

Social Life
Although PA school can be overwhelming at times, students like to have a little fun. When they aren’t studying for exams or preparing for competencies, you can find them exploring the mountains, traveling to the beach, team-bonding at the adventure center, or dancing the night away at the annual Health Science Ball.