PGDip Physician Associate Studies

Course description

Physician associates first joined the NHS workforce nearly ten years ago and are now employed throughout the UK in increasing numbers.

Physician associates are permanent members of the medical team, responsible for performing physical examinations, ordering and interpreting diagnostic tests and recommending therapy. The role of physician associates is increasingly important within the healthcare workforce and individuals with this qualification are in demand.

Our PGDip/MSc in Physician Associate Studies aims to develop the skills required to become an effective practitioner through a combination of teaching and practical placements.

You will be trained according to the medical model and will work in collaboration with doctors and other healthcare professionals to diagnose and manage a wide range of common and complex diseases. Students registered for the Masters programme will also undertake a clinically relevant research project in their second year of study.

A range of benefits are provided by the University to support your career development:

you may be eligible to receive some financial support during the course;
Year 2 provides you with an elective period and the opportunity to develop your skills through working abroad;
develop your skills with the help of our excellent tutors and state-of-the-art clinical teaching facilities;
integrated training in prescribing safety (in anticipation of prescribing rights for physician associates) and communication skills is provided;
the University will provide iPads with access to a range of online resources, which are essential during placements;
at the end of the course, our 'preparation for practice' placement allows you to specialise in a specialty of your choice.

Aims

You will develop:

• intellectual skills in problem solving and enquiry, critical analysis, logical thinking, clinical reasoning and reflection;
• your knowledge and understanding of relevant principles and practical approaches in the clinical, behavioural and social sciences;
• patient-centred consultation skills;
• advanced clinical skills;
• a detailed knowledge of pharmacology and prescribing safety (in anticipation of changes to legislation to allow physician associates to prescribe).

Career opportunities

The physician associate role was first developed in the United States during the 1960s, and the profession has grown considerably in the last ten years to the point where there are now over 95,000 registered physician associates in the US.

Physician associates first joined the NHS workforce over ten years ago and are now employed throughout the UK in increasing numbers.

The government has set regional targets to increase the number of physician associates working in the sector and there is considerable demand for newly qualified physician associates within the NHS. Some physician associates also undertake work in the private sector.