Grand Rapids Physician Assistant Surgical Residency Program

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital Physician Assistant Residency

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY:

Having provided clinical education for PA students for many years, Butterworth Hospital in 1990, established a post-graduate Physician Assistant Surgical Residency in conjunction with the Western Michigan University PA Program.

In 1998, Butterworth Hospital merged operations with Blodgett Memorial Medical Center, another allopathic teaching hospital in Grand Rapids, to form Spectrum Health. This has further expanded teaching/educational resources available to the PA Surgical Residency.

In 2000, a consortium was formed sponsored by Spectrum Health, Saint Mary's Mercy Medical Center, Michigan State University, and Grand Valley State University. The Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center for Health Professions (MERC) will be coordinating all of the education and research programs for residents, PA's and nurse practitioners in the Grand Rapids community. This collaboration will offer numerous opportunities in medical education.

CURRICULUM:

DIDACTIC:
A "core content" didactic phase occupies the first month of the program. Lectures on basic surgical principles as well as specific areas of General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Cardiovascular Surgery, Pediatric Surgery, Anesthesia, Surgical Critical Care and other topics are presented. Lab courses include Gross Human Anatomy taught from a surgical perspective and Basic Surgical Skills. Teaching Rounds, Fundamentals of Basic Science in Surgery Lectures, Morbidity and Mortality Conferences, Textbook Review and Visiting Professor Lectures are didactic components of the curriculum that continue for the entire twelve-month program. PA Surgical Residents are given the opportunity to attend a course on the Fundamentals of Surgical Critical Care and to audit ATLS as well.

CLINICAL:
Clinical Clerkships occupy eleven months. Required rotations are two months in General Surgery; two months in Surgical Critical Care; two months in Cardiothoracic Surgery; one month in Urologic Surgery; one month in Neurosurgery; one month in Orthopaedic Surgery; two weeks in Anesthesia; and two weeks in Surgical Nutrition. The elective month can be chosen from a wide variety of surgical subspecialties including Pediatric Surgery; Hand Surgery; Trauma; Vascular Surgery; and others.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: January 1

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• Must have graduated from a CAAHEP accredited Primary Care Physician Assistant Program.
• Must be NCCPA eligible or certified. New graduates accepted into the program are required to pass the NCCPA certification examination in either April or October of the year in which they are admitted to the program.
• Must be eligible for, or licensed by, the State of Michigan as a physician assistant.
• Must hold current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Certification.

CREDENTIAL AWARDED: Certificate

ESTIMATED EXPENSES:

• Tuition and fees - None.
• Salary - $36,000 for the twelve month program.
• Paid vacation and sick leave.
• Medical, dental, life, disability and malpractice insurance are provided.
• White coats, parking privileges and complimentary meals in the hospital are provided while on duty.

UNIVERSITY AND INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

The Grand Rapids Physician Assistant Surgical Residency is affiliated with three major medical centers in the Grand Rapids metropolitan area: Spectrum Health - Downtown Campus; Spectrum Health - East Campus; and Saint Mary's mercy Medical Center. Spectrum Health and Saint Mary's are teaching hospitals which offer several physician residency programs involving over 100 physician residents. The Spectrum Health - Downtown Campus employs more PA's than any other hospital in Western Michigan.

The PA Residency is also affiliated with Grand Valley State university, which offers a masters program in physician assistant studies. The GVSU Physician Assistant Program has been in existence since 1995.

FINANCIAL AID:

Student loan deferment is available.

INFORMATION:

For further information, contact the Program as previously indicated.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES:

The information provided is subject to change based on program needs. Please confirm information by contacting the program.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY:

The postgraduate residency program for PAs in Cardiothoracic surgery is offered by St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in conjunction with Michigan Heart & Vascular Institute and Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgeons of Ann Arbor, P.C. The program provides the graduate physician assistant with an opportunity to obtain advanced training in cardiothoracic surgery.

Established in 2001, the residency program is a 12-month didactic and clinical training program for licensed, board-certified PAs who wish to specialize in cardiothoracic surgery. It expands upon the basic training of the PA in diagnosis and management of conditions common to cardiothoracic surgery patients. The PA resident participates in all phases of care of the cardiothoracic surgical patient, including assisting in the operating room.

INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

St. Joseph Mercy Hospital is a 581-bed, award-winning academic teaching hospital and tertiary care center providing specialized care not typically available at community hospitals. Located near Ann Arbor, Michigan, it is one of several large teaching institutions in the suburban Detroit area, participating in the education of PA students, medical students and physician residents.

Cardiac & Thoracic Surgeons of Ann Arbor, P.C. is a private surgical practice affiliated with St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and the Michigan Heart & Vascular Institute.

Michigan Heart & Vascular Institute, a premier cardiovascular program affiliated with St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, is a multidisciplinary collaboration between cardiologists, cardiac surgeons and vascular medicine & surgery.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants must be graduates of an ARC-PA accredited physician assistant program and be eligible for (or have passed) the NCCPA board exam. Residents must obtain a Michigan PA license upon acceptance into the program and undergo a pre-employment background check.

CURRICULUM:

The didactic & clinical portions of the program are integrated. The residents attend 3-5 hours per week of didactic sessions, including lectures, conferences and grand rounds.

Clinical training includes intensive care unit orientation and rotation, daily patient rounds in the ICU and step-down units, training in invasive procedures, surgical skills lab, and progressive levels of involvement in cardiac and thoracic surgical cases to the point of independent conduit harvesting, wound closure and first assisting. Residents will experience call duty with service PAs for surgical emergencies and weekend rounds with attending staff.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

• Salary/Stipend: $40,000 for the year
  
• Benefits: flexible benefits program including personal & family health plan, dental & vision plans, professional liability
  
• Equipment: custom-made surgical loupes, lab coats with laundry service, some text books and access to reference sources (medical library, computer/internet access) are all provided by the program
  
• Travel: interview-related expenses are the responsibility of each candidate
  
• Housing: relocation and housing costs are the responsibility of each PA resident

PROGRAM CALENDAR:

APPLICATION COMPONENTS:

• Completed Application Form (available from Program Office or Web Site)
  
• Application Fee ($25, Non-Refundable)
  
• Passport or Similar-Sized Photo (to aid interview identification)
  
• Personal Statement - 1 page in length, expressing career goals and source of interest in cardiothoracic surgery
  
• Curriculum Vitae
  
• 3 Letters of Recommendation: For Recent Graduates, 1 must be from PA Program Director. (If not a recent graduate, 1 letter must be from current or recent employer.)
  
• Official PA Program Transcripts

SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Work and Life Experience (Surgical experience is not required, but some prior exposure to cardiothoracic surgery is considered important.)
  
• Education / Academic Records
  
• Letters of Recommendation
  
• Personal Statement
  
• Communication / Interpersonal Skills
  
• Completion & Submission of all Application Components
  
• Personal Interview (Applicants will be screened for a limited number of interview slots based on materials submitted.)

CREDENTIAL AWARDED:

Upon completion of the residency program, the PA resident is awarded a certificate of training signed by department and program directors.

The SJMH PA Residency in Cardiothoracic Surgery is approved for maximum CME credit (50 hours) by the American Academy of Physician Assistants.

NOTICE:

Information provided in this listing is current as of April 1, 2001 and is subject to change. To verify information contact Diane Jones, PA-C, Program Director, (734) 712-7202 or via e-mail at djones@ctpa2b.com.