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Medical Experience

The statements that follow are generalities; they cannot cover all aspects of each individual application. They are meant to give you some insight into MEDEX values and priorities as we select each class for training. Bear in mind that we do not expect to find “perfect” candidates--- weaknesses in some areas can be countered by strengths in others. Our aim is to come to a fair judgment about your application as a whole and your readiness for PA training in our program. Please use the following information to self-assess your application to determine ways to present yourself with the strongest application. Below are a few frequent questions:

Q: What do you look for in an applicant?

A: We look for:

• Evidence of significant patient care responsibility in your previous paid positions adding up to a total of 4000 hours or more.
• We prefer broad-based primary care experience over experience that is highly specialized or technical in nature. VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE DOES NOT QUALIFY toward initial two-year-experience prerequisite.
• If your clinical experience is considered to be specialized, we then look at volunteer experience as a way of supplementing and strengthening your clinical experience background. Volunteer hours will not replace any paid experience.

Q: What do you mean by recent patient care experience?

A: Generally within the last year, but definitely within the last two years.

Q: I do not have any patient care experience. How do I get into your program?

A: The MEDEX Program is designed to train people with prior health experience who desire a new profession as a Physician Assistant. We are not a program designed to train people for their first experience in health care. The strongest Physician Assistant applicants are those who have a variety of skills, experience and academics. Use the resources available to you through the AAPA website to find the PA program that is most consistent with your background and goals.

Q: If I am an internationally-trained medical doctor (IMG) can I apply to the MEDEX program?

A: Yes, but you must meet all the same academic and clinical experience prerequisites as any other applicant. Prior training and education will not substitute for completing all MEDEX courses. Understanding the similarities and differences in the MD vs. PA role is critical.

Q: Does volunteer service or time spent shadowing a PA count towards clinical experience?

A: Yes, but will not count as part of the initial 4000 hours

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Academics

We look for evidence of ability to succeed in an intense, scientific, graduate-level curriculum. Good grades in college science courses taken within the last five years are helpful, particularly in human anatomy and physiology, chemistry, biology or microbiology.

Each prerequisite course must have a minimum B- grade regardless of the degree option applying for.
Basic written communication skills are essential. The required college level English courses for applying to the Bachelor’s option must be taken at an accredited community college or university in the United States, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United Kingdom. Remember that at least one of the English courses must be a basic composition above a 100 level course

Remember to include all of the academic history you have beginning with your first college course to the most recent course taken. MEDEX requires that a full academic history be completed in the CASPA application and all transcripts from each college attended be submitted directly to CASPA.

The depth and length of formal medical training, such as nursing, military corps school, etc., is also reviewed here as well as under medical experience. Here are a couple of frequently asked questions:

Q: How old can my prerequisite courses be?

A: We strongly recommend that your A&P and science courses be taken within the last five years. By taking recent academics, you are refreshing your memory, study habits, and time management, which will contribute to your success in the program. Otherwise, there is no expiration date for prerequisite coursework.

Q: What is considered an Anatomy and Physiology course?

A: Courses that will satisfy the Anatomy and Physiology requirement must specifically focus on Human Anatomy and Physiology. Courses such as Invertebrate Zoology or Mammalian A&P do not fulfill this requirement.

Q: What GPA do you require? What is the average GPA for incoming students?

A: Applicants applying to the Bachelor’s of Clinical Health Services degree option will not have a cumulative GPA minimum requirement. For Applicants applying to the Master’s of Clinical Health Service degree option we require a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher in the last 90 credits (60 semester credits)

Regardless of the degree option you are applying for each prerequisite course must have a grade of B- (2.7) or better. We are also interested in an applicant’s ability to satisfactorily master the forum and complexity of graduate level courses. Grades received in prior coursework can be an indicator of a student’s ability to be successful in the MEDEX Program. The average combined overall GPA of incoming students for 2008 is 3.16.

Q: When do the prerequisite courses need to be complete?

A: All MEDEX prerequisite course work should be completed by the October 1st deadline. This applies to all applicants applying to either the Bachelor’s or Master’s degree option. Prerequisite courses taken Fall Quarter, completed after October 1st, 2008 will not be considered when evaluating prerequisites. Your application can not be reviewed for an interview until we have a complete application packet. The later an application is completed the fewer interview slots
will be available. Applicants applying to the Master’s degree option must complete their bachelor’s degree by December 31st, 2008 to qualify for applying to the UW Graduate School. Coursework planned for Spring or Summer quarter of the upcoming year will not be accepted.

Q: Do you accept CLEP credits?

A: No

Q: Are DANTES credits accepted?

A: Yes

Q: Can I take an online course to satisfy prerequisites?

A: Yes, but if you have no recent “in classroom” experience it may benefit you to take a traditional course rather than an online course. If you choose to take a course on-line, please remember that the class must be completed through an accredited community college or university for a grade. Courses that have been audited or taken for Pass/Fail grades will not satisfy the minimum grade requirement per class of B- or better.

Q: Does my military training count for A&P?

A: Yes, but we need to see a document from the appropriate service indicating either the recommended credit equivalent or a total number of hours in a particular subject. Ten hours of training satisfies one quarter-credit hour.
To fulfill the entire A&P prerequisite, you will need 100 hours. We must see the credits or hours documented as well
as the grade earned.

All applicants with prior military experience are required to complete the Military section of the MEDEX Supplemental application. All former service members are required to submit the DD214 to complete the supplemental application. Current active duty service members and reservist are also required to complete the military section of the supplemental application.

Q: How can I acquire my DD-214 to submit with my application?

A: The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) has provided the following website for veterans to gain access to the DD-214 online: vetrecs.archives.gov. NPRC is working to make it easier for veterans with computers and Internet access to obtain copies of documents from their military files. Military veterans and the next of kin of deceased former military members may now use a new online military personnel records system to request documents. Other indiciduals with a need for documents must still complete the Standard Form 180 , which can be downloaded from the online web site. Because the requester will be asked to supply all information essential for NPRC to process the request, delays that normally occur when NPRC has to ask vetereans for additional informaiton will be minimized. The new web-based application was designed to provide better service on these requests by eliminating the records center's mailroom processing time. SOURCE: AFRNS

Q: Can I take the prerequisites at a community college?

A: The prerequisite courses can be taken at any accredited community college or university. If you are not sure of the accreditation status, inquire at the school. We do not give preference to university courses over community college courses. Remember all courses must appear for credit on an official college transcript.

Q: Do I have to have a BA/BS to apply?

A: MEDEX is offering a Master's Program at our training sites in Seattle, WA and Spokane, WA beginning with the 2009 entering class. If applying to the masters option will be required for the 2008 application cycle. Please see the MCHS degree option prerequisites.

MEDEX is offering a Bachelor’s Program at our training site in Yakima, WA and our newest training site in Anchorage, AK. A prior bachelor’s degree will not be required when applying to this option. For details about this option please see the BCHS degree option prerequisites.

If you have a prior bachelor’s degree but still wish to attend classes in Yakima or Anchorage that is fine. You will be admitted to the University of Washington as a 5th year student working on a second undergraduate degree. You will not be able to transfer to the Master’s option.

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References

You need to have submitted to CASPA three recent references from health care professionals who know you well enough to comment upon your qualifications and aptitude for this profession. 

CASPA offers the opportunity for your references to submit electronically. Once you identify the references you would like to use in your CASPA application, CASPA will send a link to the references you have identified. Your references will be asked to completed the form and provide a letter for electronic submission. There will be a space on the reference permission form to enter the date that you will need the reference submitted by. We would encourage you to put the date as being two weeks before the application date to avoid your application being held up for late receipt of this reference.

We ask that you submit references from both a physician and a mid-level provider. We would prefer to have a reference submitted by a PA. Ideally, these should be from people who have worked closely with you in a medical
setting and are able to evaluate your medical skills.

You may submit (not required) one additional paper reference as part of your MEDEX supplemental application. Remember to follow up with your references. This fourth reference form is optional and will need to be sent directly
to MEDEX in paper form as we are unable to process electronic reference letters at this time.

The personal statement is your opportunity to summarize all the factors in your life that have led you to choose a career as a physician assistant.  Your MEDEX supplemental application statement should speak to why you feel you are a good candidate for the MEDEX program specifically. It should be logical, persuasive and personal, and grammatically correct. Your personal statement should tell us something about you as an individual that we cannot see in your transcripts and job summaries.  It must be entered into the on-line supplemental application, not sent separately.

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Geographic Origin/Underrepresented Populations

As a program, we are committed to training physician assistants who will serve where they are most needed.  We give preference to applicants from our service area (Washington, Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Nevada), and from rural or other medically underserved areas.  We look for prior work experience in an area that is medically underserved and give preference to those who seem likely to continue such work.

Community Service and Leadership

Community involvement includes activities outside of college or an applicant’s professional job in which they have participated for the betterment of the community.  Specifically this means volunteer service, i.e. community service organizations such as community councils, grange, PTA, etc.; professional organizations, boards, and committees; and/or any other types of volunteer work.  We used this information to gain a broader view of candidates as potential MEDEX students.  Because PA’s, as primary health providers, are active, integrated members of their communities, evidence of previous community ties and involvement can indicate an interest in continuing that role as PA.

Q: Is it more difficult to get into the program if I am an applicant from outside the WWAMI region?

A: We are a regional training program, and actively recruit students from the Pacific Northwest, WWAMI region and Nevada. Every year we have students from outside the WWAMI region who meet the MEDEX program mission but it is more competitive for these applicants.

Q: Do I have to come to Seattle if I apply for the Anchorage Yakima or Spokane training site?

A: Students are required to be at the Seattle site for 6 weeks during Summer Quarter 2009. This includes a two-week
in-class wrap-up to the online Anatomy and Physiology course and the 4-week Basic Sciences in Clinical Medicine course. Attendance at these courses is required of all MEDEX students. Passing both the Basic Sciences in Clinical Medicine course and Anatomy and Physiology is necessary to proceed in Fall Quarter.

Additionally, Master’s students will be required to be in Seattle for two weeks during the summer between the didactic and clinical year (summer 2010).

In addition to the summer coursework, students will come to Seattle for senior year clinical orientation in August and
mid-year finals in March of their second year.

Q: Where will I do my clinical training?

A: MEDEX has over 600 clinical training sites throughout the WWAMI region plus Nevada and Oregon. There are clinical training opportunities in hospitals, private clinics, prisons, specialty clinics, community health centers, farm worker clinics and Indian Health sites.

All students are expected to travel some during their clinical rotations and each student will have an underserved experience.