Academic Catalog - 2024-2025

College of Health and Human Services

Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Physician Assistant Studies - Health Equity, Graduate Certificate


Academic Information

The purpose of Health Equity Certificate is to provide certified Physician Assistants (PAs) with knowledge and competencies to contribute to a patient-centered, equitable and accessible health care system.

PAs will examine structural, economic, systems, and other factors that influence health outcomes; systematically address the complex needs of vulnerable patients, communities, and populations through the critical analysis of current evidence and case studies; and recommend solutions to address inequities in health care.

PAs who complete the certificate program will be prepared to meaningfully contribute to the improvement of health and health care systems as PA leaders and experts in health equity.

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Academic Catalog - 2024-2025

College of Health and Human Services

Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Physician Assistant Studies - Health Equity, Graduate Certificate


Careers

What Can I Do with a Graduate Certificate in Physician Assistant Studies - Health Equity?

The Health Equity Certificate for PAs is a 12-credit online certificate program designed to provide certified PAs with knowledge and competencies to contribute to a patient-centered, equitable, and accessible healthcare system. The program will focus on the role of the PA as a critical member of the healthcare team through coursework in population health, healthcare delivery systems, health policy, and health equity.    

Career opportunities that might be pursued:

Physician Assistants who complete the certificate program will be prepared to meaningfully contribute to the improvement of health and healthcare systems.

With further education, one of these paths is possible:

Graduates will be provided with skills to make them competitive as leaders in healthcare, consulting, and academia.

The certificate programs align with the university's vision of stackable education models. Certificates incorporate the same courses as the Doctor of Medical Science program and credits will ‘stack’ (transfer) into the Doctor of Medical Science program. The doctoral program will expand the pipeline of highly skilled, doctoral-trained Physician Assistants to serve in diverse settings, improve healthcare systems, and advocate for patients and communities.

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Academic Catalog - 2024-2025

College of Health and Human Services

Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Physician Assistant Studies - Health Equity, Graduate Certificate


University Requirements

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Academic Catalog - 2024-2025

College of Health and Human Services

Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Physician Assistant Studies - Health Equity, Graduate Certificate


Overview

Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.

Minimum Units for Completion 12
Additional Admission Requirements

Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.

Some online/blended coursework Required

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the Health Equity Certificate is to provide certified Physician Assistants (PAs) with the knowledge and competencies to contribute to a patient-centered, equitable, and accessible healthcare system.

The program includes coursework in health care systems and practices, improving health care using a health equity lens, policies and practices for social determinants of health, and population health management.

The program provides students with foundational knowledge in health care delivery and payment models and their relationship to health care outcomes. PAs will examine structural, economic, systems, and other factors that influence health outcomes; systematically address the complex needs of vulnerable patients, communities, and populations through the critical analysis of current evidence and case studies; and recommend solutions to address inequities in health care.

PAs who complete the certificate program will be prepared to meaningfully contribute to the improvement of health and healthcare systems as PA leaders and experts in health equity.

Student Learning Outcomes

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Academic Catalog - 2024-2025

College of Health and Human Services

Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Physician Assistant Studies - Health Equity, Graduate Certificate


Details

Graduate Admission Information
Additional Admission Requirements
Certificate Requirements
Additional Information
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Academic Catalog - 2024-2025

College of Health and Human Services

Department of Physician Assistant Studies

Physician Assistant Studies - Health Equity, Graduate Certificate


Campus Availability

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