First School of Physician Assistant Studies in Orange County at Marshall B. Ketchum University

Marshall B. Ketchum University provides the highest quality physician assistant education through excellence in teaching, patient care, research and public service. The School of Physician Assistant Studies offers a 27-month, post-baccalaureate program leading to the degree, Master of Medical Science (M.M.S.). The PA program is nine quarters in duration.

The didactic phase of the physician assistant curriculum provides the foundation for clinical practice with instruction in applied medical sciences, patient assessment, clinical medicine and pharmacotherapeutics. The curriculum is organized into systems-based modified blocks which incorporate anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, clinical medicine, clinical skills, patient assessment, diagnostic testing, and pharmacotherapeutics taught in an organized and integrated sequence with a strong emphasis on active learning. Other courses include medical ethics, PA professional practice issues, and population health. Students will also participate in interprofessional education courses, and will experience supervised patient interactions.

The clinical phase of the physician assistant curriculum focuses on direct patient care in the various clinics, hospitals and health centers. The program offers a vast array of clinical opportunities with diverse and challenging patient encounters. In order to graduate, students must successfully complete all of their clinical rotation blocks, the clinical phase courses including the Master’s Capstone Project, as well as summative evaluations.

"The changing health-care landscape has created a high demand for PAs who provide frontline medical care and MBKU is pleased to take the lead in establishing a quality educational program in Orange County," said MBKU President Kevin L. Alexander, O.D., Ph.D. "The need to cut health-care expenses, to treat an aging population, and to fight costly chronic conditions such as obesity and diabetes fuels the demand for PAs as does the shortage of general physicians.”

For more information about the physician assistant program at Marshall B. Ketchum University contact MBKU's School of Physician Assistant Studies Admissions Office at 714.992.7808 or email PAadmissions@ketchum.edu.

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation - Provisional status to the School of Physician Assistant Studies sponsored by Marshall B. Ketchum University.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource 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 complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.