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 is unique, Calvin does not offer a standardized pre-PA track.  Instead, you'll work alongside your academic advisor, a Calvin professor, to tailor a program for the graduate school you're interested in.

Careers in Pre-Physicians Assistant

• 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 2012-13

Pre-Physician Assistant

 

Each graduate school determines the prerequisite courses necessary for its Physicians Assistant program; due to the variability amongst these schools, 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 clinical training programs.

Scholarships

Dollar amounts reflect awards given for the 2012-13 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 of Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 335 cea3@calvin.edu (616) 526-6343 Eric Arnoys Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 233 earnoys@calvin.edu (616) 526-6051 David Benson Associate Professor of Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 303 deb22@calvin.edu (616) 526-7699 Ronald Blankespoor Professor of Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 227 blan@calvin.edu (616) 526-6174 Roger DeKock Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 301 dekock@calvin.edu (616) 526-6344 Herbert Fynewever Associate Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 229 hrf3@calvin.edu (616) 526-7711 Arlene Hoogewerf Professor Department of Biology DH 105 ahoogewe@calvin.edu (616) 526-8668 Rich Nyhof Professor Department of Biology DH 111 nyhr@calvin.edu (616) 526-6347

Anding Shen Associate Professor, on leave fall 2012 Department of Biology DH 209 as28@calvin.edu (616) 526-6025 Kumar Sinniah Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 225 ksinniah@calvin.edu (616) 526-6058 Chad Tatko Assistant Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 307 cdt2@calvin.edu (616) 526-7584 Peter Tigchelaar Professor Department of Biology DH 107 ptigch@calvin.edu (616) 526-6346 John Ubels Professor Department of Biology DH 213 jubels@calvin.edu (616) 526-6219 Douglas Vander Griend Associate Professor Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry DH 231 dav4@calvin.edu (616) 526-8729 John Wertz Assistant Professor Department of Biology DH 131 jwertz59@calvin.edu (616) 526-7621 Amy Wilstermann Associate Professor Department of Biology DH 129 amw26@calvin.edu (616) 526-7620