Physician assistant program goals and outcomes

Goals, Benchmarks and Outcomes

Goal 1: Provide an academic program that allows graduates to attain the essential knowledge for entry-level practice as a competent clinician.

Benchmark

1. The program mean score in the EOC exam will be within 10% of the national mean score
2. 80% of students will pass the EOR exams on the first try
3. 90% of graduating students will achieve a 78% or higher on the Summative OSCE

Outcomes

Outcome 1:

Outcome 2: Over the past four years, the PA program students pass rate in the EOR exam has exceeded the program's benchmark.

Outcome 3:

Goal 2: Educate and prepare students to practice in rural or medically underserved areas.

Benchmark

1. 95% of students participate in at least one Underserved or Rural clinical rotations.
2. 50% of students participates in both; Underserved and Rural clinical rotation.

Outcomes

Outcomes 1 and 2: Over the past three years, PA program student participation in underserved and rural clinical rotations has exceeded the program’s benchmark.

Goal 3: Attract and retain qualified applicants from unique backgrounds and experiences who complete PA education.

Benchmark

1. Success is defined as the Matriculated % being equal to or greater than the Applicant % in at least 6 of the 8 (75%) tracked categories annually.
2. Attrition is 10% or less.
3. Students will rate their experience as a 3.5, indicating that they felt valued, included, and respected during their time at the program.

Outcomes

Outcomes 1: Over the past five years, PA program efforts in attracting qualified applicants from unique backgrounds* has exceeded the program’s benchmark.

*Variables include: First Generation Enrollment, Family Receives Public Assistance, Medically Underserved, Contribute overall family income, Health Professional Shortage Area and Economically Disadvantaged.

Outcome 2: Over the past three years, the PA program has exceeded the program’s benchmark.

Outcomes 3: Over the past three years, the PA program has exceeded the program’s benchmark.

Goal 4: Support faculty members in participating in teaching, service, and scholarship.

Benchmark

1. 100% of faculty will have a PAEA membership.
2. 80% of principal faculty will participate in state or national conferences.
3. 80% of principal faculty participate in scholarly activity to include podium presentations, publications, book chapters (scholarly work as defined by UC Davis) within 2 years.
4. 80% of principal faculty serve on committees at School of Nursing, UC Davis and/or UC Davis Health.

Outcomes

Outcomes 1: During the 2026–2027 academic year, the PA program exceeded its established benchmark.

Outcomes 2: Outcomes are expected at the end of Academic Year 2026-27.

Outcomes 3: Outcomes are expected at the end of Academic Year 2026-27.

Outcomes 4: Outcome 4: Over the past three years, the PA program has exceeded the program’s benchmark.

5-Year PANCE Rate Report

Goal: 90% of PA students will pass the PANCE within nine months of program graduation.

The mission of the UC Davis PA program is to educate health care professionals to deliver care as members of interprofessional health care teams and to improve the availability of culturally relevant primary health care to underserved populations throughout California.

The program met this goal in each of the past five years (2020-2024). The school strives to support student success throughout the program and ensure that graduates pass the PANCE within nine months following graduation.

Read the complete PANCE report