The Wake Forest PA program is unique for its emphasis on active learning. We use small group, problem-based learning to inspire and support curiosity, integration, leadership, and self-reflection as students build their knowledge and skill bases. Through small groups, students interact with patient cases based on real-world medical problems, then break to research answers to questions or knowledge gaps identified during the case study. This inquiry-based learning process has been shown to assist with development of clinical reasoning skills necessary for the ever-evolving world of clinical practice. We are one of the few programs in the nation with an educational experience focused on adult and applied learning principles. Our 24-month curriculum prepares students to practice successfully in all areas of medicine, from primary care to sub-specialities and surgery. Two exceptional locations…
Winston-Salem Campus
The PA program’s Winston-Salem campus is located in Wake Forest Innovation Quarter, one of the fastest-growing urban-based districts for innovation in the United States. The Innovation Quarter is home to five leading academic institutions, more than 1,500 degree-seeking students and more than 150 companies. It is a place for education, research and business.
525@Vine, the PA program’s location in Innovation Quarter, is a rehabilitated R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company building that also houses two other School of Medicine departments/degree programs: Nurse Anesthesia and Public Health Sciences. The School of Medicine’s MD program is next door. Outside 525@Vine is Bailey Park, a citywide destination for concerts, movie nights, outdoor yoga, cycling/running races and other events. Also in Innovation Quarter is Bailey Power Plant, a downtown landmark with retail, dining and entertainment venues. Our vibrant home features approximately 800 apartments and condominiums within or close by the Innovation Quarter. Boone Campus
Our Boone campus opened in 2014 and is the most western PA program in the state. The campus is a unique private-public partnership between Wake Forest School of Medicine and Appalachian State University. One objective of the campus is to train primary care PAs to help address the critical need for health care providers in rural and underserved communities of North Carolina. The Boone campus is located in a new state-of-the-art facility, the Beaver College of Health Sciences. Beaver College is adjacent to Watauga Medical Hospital and enables more collaboration and interprofessional education with other health care disciplines. Shared spaces include simulation labs, assessment areas and treatment rooms. These shared spaces reflect current medical practice of having multiple health care providers work together seamlessly for the best patient outcomes. Students on the Boone campus undergo the same education and training as students in Winston-Salem. All students graduate with a Master of Medical Science degree from Wake Forest School of Medicine.
-The Bowman Gray School of Medicine PA Program was founded in 1969.
-One of the first five PA Programs in the country.
-Our first class (8 students) graduated in 1971.
-Installed a new, problem-based learning, master degree curriculum in 2002.
-Became a department (Department of PA Studies) in 2006.
-Consistently ranked as a Top 10 program (US News and World Report).
-95% PANCE pass rate (national certifying exam) over the past 5 years.
-We use small group, problem-based learning to inspire and support curiosity, integration, leadership and self-reflection as students build their knowledge and skill bases.
-Through the small group cases, students interact with patient cases based on real-world medical problems, then break to research answers to questions or knowledge gaps identified during case study.
-This process is called ‘inquiry-based learning’ and has been shown to assist with development of clinical reasoning skills necessary for the ever-evolving world of clinical practice. EMERGING LEADERS PROGRAM
Emerging Leaders Program-Business is a 34-month sequential degree program with the School of Business. Students first complete a 10-month Master of Arts in Management degree before earning a Master in Medical Science in PA Studies. ELP- Business seeks to create leaders for the PA profession who are equipped with high quality patient care skills in addition to business competencies to succeed in a complex health care environment. MMS/PhD DEGREE PROGRAM
The MMS-PhD is a 5- to 7-year sequential degree program that is offered in conjunction with the Wake Forest University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The student earns a Master of Medical Science in PA Studies after completing a PhD in Molecular Medicine and Translational Science (MMTS). This degree program targets students interested in clinical research, community research, and the translation of knowledge into improved human health. Graduates with the MMS-PhD will be basic scientists trained to function successfully in clinical environments and will have considerable professional flexibility. They can work as clinician scientists on teams conducting clinical trials, for example, or they can teach and do research within academic health centers.
