PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY:

The PA Profession originated at Duke in the mid 1960s. Dr. Eugene A. Stead, Jr., then Chairman of the Department of Medicine, believed that mid-level practitioners could increase consumer access to health services by extending the time and skills of the physician. His vision, guidance, and influence were instrumental in founding the Duke PA Program, which continues to flourish as one of the premier PA training programs in the country. We plan to follow in this rich tradition of excellence with the Duke PA Surgical Residency Program.

The Duke Physician Assistant Surgical Residency is an intensive 12-month program administered by the Department of Surgery at Duke University Medical Center. PA Residents will be members of the surgical team and will be involved in pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative patient care. The residency is designed to provide both advanced didactic education and a focused, surgical clinical experience so that trainees and graduates will have the skills to provide high quality perioperative patient care. The residency is attractive both for new PA Program graduates who are planning a surgical career and for practicing physician assistants who wish to redirect their careers toward one of the surgical specialties or enhance their knowledge and skills through post-graduate education.

CURRICULUM:

Didactic

Lectures, seminars and laboratories have been designed to provide PA Residents with a comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of surgical disease processes. Instruction will cover general surgery and subspecialty topics. Emphasis will be placed on the perioperative management of surgical patients including fluids and electrolytes, hyperalimentation, acid/base balance, surgical emergencies, complications, and evaluation of specific organ systems. Cadaver laboatories will include technical skills instruction and practice time for wound closure, chest tube placement, thoracentesis, endoscopic vein harvesting, placement of peripheral lines, etc. In addition to classroom/laboratory instruction, the didactic curriculum will include weekly Attending Rounds, Grand Rounds, M&M Conference and other conferences organized by the Department of Surgery. The initial didactic curriculum will conclude with preparation for clinical rotations. Time is designated for "rounding" with the surgical team and becoming familiar with the routine of the surgical services before assuming clinical responsibilities

Clinical

Physician Assistant Residents will be assigned a workload and duties similar to those of first year (PGY1) physician surgical residents. Duties will include history & physical examinations, writing patient orders and progress notes in the hospital record, responding to and evaluating patient problems, making rounds, ordering diagnostic studies, assisting in the operating room, and performing invasive procedures with appropriate oversight by the supervising physician. Night call will be assigned on a rotating basis. The PA resident will be assigned first-call responsibilities with appropriate supervision and within the scope of his/her practice parameters. The PA Resident will avail himself/herself of additional direction and/or assistance as needed. As required by state law, the PA Resident's supervising physician will supervise all clinical activities of the PA Resident. Two clinical tracts will be offered, a Cardiothoracic Surgery and General Surgery Training Track. Clinical Rotations make up eleven months of the curriculum.

General Surgery Track:

Cardiothoracic Surgery Track:

UNIVERSITY/INSTITUTION AFFILIATIONS:

Duke University Medical Center is an integral part of Duke University. Duke Hospital, a private nonprofit institution and one of the largest private hospitals in the south, is part of the Medical Center and currently has 1,124 beds. The hospital directs its efforts toward the goals of cutting edge patient care, professional education, and service to the community.

More than 36,000 patients are admitted annually. Surgical facilities include thirty-two operating rooms in which more than 20,000 operative procedures are performed each year. Ambulatory services, including outpatient clinics and the emergency department, register more than 548,000 patient visits each year.

Duke Hospital is fully approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education for internship and residency training and by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations. The Medical Center, its schools, and hospital are located on the West Campus of Duke University.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduation from a PA Training Program approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
• Bachelor's degree
• Must have passed or be eligible to take the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Certification Examination.
• Official transcripts from colleges and PA school
• Copies of BLS and ACLS certification cards
• One page typewritten narrative stating why you are interested in postgraduate surgical training
• Three letters of recommendation
• Official NCCPA Exam scores (if certified)
• Signed copy of the 'Authorization Agreement'
• Current resume
• $25 application fee

TIMELINE:

CREDENTIAL AWARDED:

Certificate of completion will be awarded from Duke University Medical Center and the Department of Surgery

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

• Stipend - $43,872 (2007)
• Professional liability insurance
• $75,000 group term life insurance
• Uniforms
• Exercise facility
• Meals when on-call in the hospital
• Parking provided in adjacent parking garage
• 15 days paid vacation accruing over time
• Medical and Dental Insurance
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Prescription drug program
• Health Care reimbursement account
• Retirement program

INFORMATION:

Detailed information about our Program and all materials necessary for application can be found on our web site:

http://dukesurgery.org

For further information contact the admissions office:

Telephone: (919) 684-2705
Fax: (919) 681-7023
E-mail: cynthia.cayton@duke.edu

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY:

WakeMed Health and Hospitals was founded in 1961 with 380 beds and 90 doctors. The trauma program was initiated in 1987, under the leadership of Dale Oller, MD. In 2002, Osi Udekwu, MD, became chair of the department and enthusiastically pursued expansion and innovation of the program. To date, WakeMed’s Trauma Program has grown and evolved into Wake County’s sole trauma center, as well as being a regional trauma center. In the summer of 2006, WakeMed was awarded a Level One Trauma Center designation after being at level two for many years. The trauma program is run alongside the Department of Surgery at WakeMed.

As the only alternate site for surgical resident education for the University of North Carolina (UNC)-Chapel Hill, we at WakeMed have a proud history of excellence in training physician residents. The first midlevel joined the trauma program in December 2002, and the midlevel program has now grown to be an essential aspect of overall trauma care. Additionally, our program participates in the training of fellow emergency medicine, oral maxillofacial (OMF), and family medicine residents, as well as medical and physician assistant (PA) students. We have now expanded our surgical academic program to include a PA residency program. We will provide an intensive 12-month experience with both didactic and clinical curricula for the management of trauma, surgical critical care, and general surgery patients. Our attending physicians are board certified in the areas of general surgery and trauma, surgical critical care, and pediatrics. With their supervision, PA residents (PA-C/R) will be trained to provide the highest level of trauma care, pre- and postoperative care, and critical care, with a focus on continuity of care. We anticipate accepting two candidates each year for participation in this program.

CURRICULUM   

Didactic Curriculum
The 12-month residency consists of ongoing instruction in both didactic and clinical arenas. The PA-C/R will be engaged in educational and clinical responsibilities similar to those expected of our physician residents. We provide multiple educational opportunities including a weekly rounding conference, tumor board, ICU teaching rounds, resident presentation conferences, as well as a cycling lecture series from orthopedics, radiology, trauma, and continuous quality improvement. A number of courses are also offered to PA-C/Rs including ATLS, Fundamentals of Critical Care Support, and ACLS/BLS/PALS/NRP.

Clinical Curriculum

Individual assessments will be made regarding current clinical competencies and advanced skills. Clinical instruction consists of rotations through the various services we offer: trauma, general surgery, clinic, elective and day surgeries, and critical care. Instruction will be provided by attending trauma/general surgeons, PAs, physician residents, as well as by auxiliary staff for the coordination of care.

PA-C/Rs will function with the same clinical expectations as those for their medical intern counterparts in their first postgraduate year (PGY-1 MDs). Clinical learning is enhanced by the daily assessments, management, and care of patients in coordination with attending staff. Clinical judgment and patient management skills will be fostered by taking call with the attendings.

PA-C/Rs will follow the same work hour guidelines as established on July 1, 2003, by ACGME.

“Surgical residents are limited to 80 hours a week (averaged over 4 weeks). They must have 10 or more hours off after in-house duty. They are limited to 24 consecutive hours plus up to a maximum of 6 hours didactic or patient care. Call cannot exceed every third night. They will leave by noon the day after call and will have one day off within every 7 days.”

At WakeMed, call duties will average no more than every fourth night, and a full weekday off every four-week block will be provided for personal needs.

INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATIONS

WakeMed Raleigh
WakeMed North  

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants who meet the following admission requirements will be evaluated and chosen on a competitive basis: 

• Graduate of an ARC-PA accredited PA program
• Have passed, or eligible to take, the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE)
• Have passed the Physician Assistant National Recertification Examination (PANRE) when applicable
• Licensed to practice as a Physician Assistant in North Carolina
• Completion of the following application requirements:
• Application
• Resume/CV
• Transcripts
• Three letters of references
• PA Program faculty member
• Supervising or precepting physician
• Personal reference
• Personal interview

Anticipated timeline:

The deadline for all application materials is February 15, 2008. Interviews begin after this date, and notification of admission will be by the beginning of April. Residency will commence July 2008. Alternate start date is September 2008.  

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

• Interest in trauma, critical care, and general surgery
• Excellent interpersonal skills as shown from references and personal interview
• Enthusiasm for working with and instruction of surgical physician residents and students
• Enthusiasm for working with a team of physicians, PAs, physician residents, and auxiliary staff
• Sound academic ability as shown by school records
• Strong work ethic and understanding of the rigors of post-graduate training
• Desire to advance the PA profession through leadership, professional development, and positive interactions with medical/surgical team members, patients, and families.   

CREDENTIAL AWARDED:

Upon completion of the residency, the physician assistant resident will earn a certificate of residency completion. 

BENEFITS:

• Stipend:  $43,000 (based on FY 2007)
• Full benefits for PA including medical, prescription, dental, life insurance, accidental death and disability, and malpractice insurance, dependent coverage available
• Mental health and employee assistance program
• Free on-site parking
• Day care center
• On-call meal plan assistance
• Call quarters
• Lab coats and scrubs
• Medical library on-site
• Vacation and holiday schedule
• CME budget
• ATLS, ACLS/BLS/PALS certifications
• Deferment of student loans   

INFORMATION:

For additional information, please contact: 

Gloria Garver, MS, PA-C
Program Director and Lead Physician Assistant WakeMed Health and Hospitals
3024 New Bern Avenue
Raleigh, North Carolina 27610
Phone: 919-350-8729
Email: paresidency@wakemed.org