Methodology Applied by a Physician Assistant Program to Evaluate the New ARC-PA 5 th Edition Diversity and Inclusion Standard

Jenna Rolfs; Joyce Nicholas; Mark E Archambault; Eric Schmidt

doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000466

Methodology Applied by a Physician Assistant Program to Evaluate the New ARC-PA 5 th Edition Diversity and Inclusion Standard

J Physician Assist Educ. 2022 Dec 1;33(4):313-317. doi: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000466.

Authors

Jenna Rolfs^{1

2

3

4}, Joyce Nicholas^{1

2

3

4}, Mark E Archambault^{1

2

3

4}, Eric Schmidt^{1

2

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Jenna Rolfs, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C, is the PA Medicine program director and associate dean for the College of Medical Science, University of Lynchburg, in Lynchburg, Virginia.
² Joyce Nicholas, PhD, is director of evaluation, assessment, and compliance for the College of Medical Science, University of Lynchburg, in Lynchburg, Virginia.
³ Mark E. Archambault, DHSc, PA-C, is a professor and DMSc education concentration coordinator for the College of Medical Science, University of Lynchburg, in Lynchburg, Virginia.
⁴ Eric Schmidt, PhD, is an associate professor for the College of Medical Science, University of Lynchburg, in Lynchburg, Virginia.

PMID: 36409241
DOI: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000466

Abstract

Diversity and inclusion in higher education are a top priority for institutions. In 2020, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), in its 5 th edition of the Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education, implemented a standard specifically designed to require programs to demonstrate their commitment to diversity and inclusion. Through a protocol-driven methodology, consistent with the ARC-PA's 4 key elements of analysis, one PA program demonstrates and explains how it examines ongoing compliance with diversity and inclusion within their program.

MeSH terms

Accreditation
Cultural Diversity
Humans
Physician Assistants* / education