Why are Preceptors important at Harding?
Preceptors are essential to our clinical phase to mentor and challenge students in real-world experiences needed as they prepare to enter the field. Precepting can be a mutually beneficial experience:
- Influence the next generation of medical providers
- Access program-provided CME resources
- Maintain knowledge of up to date medical practice
- Maintain and potentially increase workplace efficiency
- Students can initiate patient encounters independently - gathering a history, verifying past medical history or medications and performing a physical exam, allowing preceptors to complete charting or orders on previous patients.
- Students can assist with communicating diagnostic test results to patients and developing patient education materials
About the Harding University Physician Assistant Program
The mission of the PA program is to develop caring physician assistants who practice competent, patient-centered primary care in diverse environments.
- Established in 2005 as the first PA program in the state of Arkansas
- Program maintains ARC-PA accreditation
- Students from all over the country are represented in the PA program
- A focus of the program is improving medical care in underserved areas
Complete the Preceptor Interest Form
PA Training Highlights
- 28-month Physician Assistant training program, including a 12-month didactic phase and a 16-month clinical phase
- During the didactic phase, the students receive training in many subjects, including physical exam skills, technical procedures, diagnostic testing interpretation, clinical medicine, medical documentation, cultural competency, and BLS & ACLS training
- Students participate in high-fidelity manikin and standardized patient simulations
Required Rotations | 6 weeks in length
- Family Medicine
- Pediatrics
- Surgery
- Emergency Medicine
- Mental Health
- Internal Medicine
- Women's Health
- Elective I **
- Elective II **
**Examples include Cardiology, Orthopedics, Dermatology, Interventional Radiology, Rheumatology, Hospital Medicine, Urgent Care or a repeat of any of the required rotations.
Preceptor Resources
Interested Preceptor FAQ