Overview

As a physician assistant, you will be trained and licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician. Because each graduate program requires different prerequisite courses, Calvin does not offer a standardized track of courses just for students wanting to apply to physician's assistant schools. You should work with the pre-physician's assistant program advisor to create a program that fulfills the requirements of graduate programs you're interested in. You may also need to gain hours of direct patient care in preparation for graduate study.

Careers in Pre-Physicians Assistant

As a graduate of this program, you might find work as a:

• Nursing Home PA
• Private Practice PA
• Hospital PA
• Pediatric PA
• More

See job placement rates for Calvin grads.

Student involvement

Volunteer at local schools, hospitals and senior centers; Get hands-on experience as a personal trainer for a faculty or staff member; Join a varsity or intramural team; Help Calvin host the Special Olympics.

Course Requirements 2011-12

Pre-Physician Assistant

Students who would like to practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician should consider becoming a physician assistant (PA). A physician assistant can record medical histories, perform physical examinations, make diagnoses, counsel patients, order and administer laboratory tests, assist in surgery, set fractures, and prescribe drugs.

Each graduate program determines their prerequisite courses, and since there is so much variability from one program to another, Calvin does not offer a specific program for students who want to prepare for a career of Christian service as a physician assistant. Rather, students can major in any discipline so long as they complete the prerequisite courses for the graduate program to which they intend to apply. Students who desire to pursue a career as a physician assistant should contact R. Nyhof for advice about preparatory courses and hours of direct patient care required by particular clinical training programs.

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2010-11 academic year.

Dr. Paul and Mrs. Doris Dirkse Health Care Scholarship

• award amount: $1,900
• junior or senior
• good academic record
• financial need considered; Christian character; motivation; potential for service
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Keuning Scholarship

• amount of award: N/A
• junior or senior
• GPA 2.5+
• financial need considered; receiving services from office of services to students with disabilities
• apply through the Calvin Portal

Steven M. Zifferblatt Memorial Scholarship

• award amount: $4,700
• senior
• GPA of 3.0+
• financial need not required; pursuing a career in a health care profession
• apply through the Calvin Portal

View all scholarship opportunities

Faculty

Carolyn Anderson Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry cea3@calvin.edu (616) 526-6343 Eric Arnoys Associate Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry earnoys@calvin.edu (616) 526-6051 David Benson Associate Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry deb22@calvin.edu (616) 526-7699 Ronald Blankespoor Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry blan@calvin.edu (616) 526-6174 Roger DeKock Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry dekock@calvin.edu (616) 526-6344 Herbert Fynewever Associate Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry hrf3@calvin.edu (616) 526-7711 Arlene Hoogewerf Professor, Department Chair Department of Biology ahoogewe@calvin.edu (616) 526-8668 Rich Nyhof Professor Department of Biology nyhr@calvin.edu (616) 526-6347

Anding Shen Assistant Professor Department of Biology as28@calvin.edu (616) 526-6025 Kumar Sinniah Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry ksinniah@calvin.edu (616) 526-6058 Chad Tatko Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry cdt2@calvin.edu (616) 526-7584 Peter Tigchelaar Professor Department of Biology ptigch@calvin.edu (616) 526-6346 John Ubels Professor Department of Biology jubels@calvin.edu (616) 526-6219 Douglas Vander Griend Associate Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry dav4@calvin.edu (616) 526-8729 John Wertz Assistant Professor Department of Biology jwertz59@calvin.edu (616) 526-7621 Amy Wilstermann Associate Professor Department of Biology amw26@calvin.edu (616) 526-7620