Competency-based education allows for an outcome approach to curriculum delivery that directly addresses and assesses student preparation for clinical practice, patient navigation, and resource application.
PA education programs are focused on preparing a medical generalist that can adapt to any clinical environment, including primary health care, specialty practice, consulting, or hospital-based roles (i.e., Internal Medicine, Surgery, Emergency Medicine, et al.). In these roles, the PA develops specific competencies and knowledge relating to their primary practice area, thus mirroring their physicians' scope of practice. A PA will develop an increased knowledge of a medical or surgical specialty over time and may practice in more than one specialty during their career. However, core knowledge provides a foundation for professional growth.
With the experience and feedback gathered from PA-program leadership, previous accreditation cycles, and practicing PAs, Canadian PA educators are proposing an updated competency framework reflecting competency-based medical education. This presentation and panel will address Questions and provide Answers to the proposed "Canadian Physician Assistant Competency Framework 2021 (Canadian EPA-PA)".
Leslie Nickell is an Associate Professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of Toronto, and has been a Faculty member since 1993. She was a full time Family Physician at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre for over 20 years and then served as the Medical Lead for Caregiver Support Services at the Bridgepoint site of Sinai Health System from 2013-2020. Throughout her career, Dr. Nickell has been involved in many aspects of medical education, in undergraduate and postgraduate domains. In September 2018, Dr. Nickell began in her role as Medical Director of the Physician Assistant Bachelor of Science Program at the University of Toronto. From 2009 – 2017, she served as the Associate Dean, Health Professions Student Affairs, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto. Dr. Nickell holds a Masters of Social Work degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, completed her undergraduate medical degree at McMaster University and her Family Medicine residency at University of Toronto. Her academic and clinical interests include PA and medical education, career transitions, the learning environment, physician/student wellness and resiliency, generalism, interprofessional education and care, complexity care, caregiver well-being and supporting health care systems.
Ian W Jones, MPAS, CCPA, PA-C, is an Assistant Professor of the University of Manitoba, and the Managing Editor of the Journal of Canada’s Physician Assistants (JCANPA). Professor Jones is the author of over 20 peer reviewed published articles.
Dr. Kristen Burrows is the Assistant Dean of the McMaster Physician Assistant Education Program and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine. Kristen’s clinical work includes internal medicine and dermatology. Her research interests focus on medical education, health policy, and health human resources with a focus on PA integration. In addition to her academic role, she consults for Hamilton Health Sciences and St. Josephs Hospital regarding PA health workforce planning.