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ORLANDO, Fla., March 27, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Adventist University of Health Sciences' (ADU) Physician Assistant Program recently received an Accreditation-Provisional status from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

"The Accreditation-Provisional status is essential to the program, as the Physician Assistant national board requires candidates to hold degrees from accredited programs," states Dr. Mark Payne, chair of ADU's department of Physician Assistant Studies. He adds, "It is a testament to our curriculum and holistic education that goes beyond textbooks and coursework. We are excited and ready to launch."

The Physician Assistant graduate program will welcome its inaugural class of 25 students in May from more than 350 applicants.  The PA program at ADU will be a 27-month, full-time master's program designed to educate knowledgeable, compassionate, and spiritually uplifting healthcare professionals.  

ADU has secured high quality faculty and staff with decades of experience to prepare graduates to handle real-world situations with a human-touch while providing the highest quality of care.

"Through coursework, lab sessions, and clinical rotations, our program will teach students how to treat patients on all levels while giving the best possible care," adds Payne.

"All students who graduate from ADU's PA program under the Provisional Accreditation will be considered by accrediting, government, and medical organizations as having received a fully accredited PA degree," Payne explains. 

"The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional to the Adventist University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Adventist University of Health Sciences. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program's ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class."

About ADU – Adventist University of Health Sciences (ADU) is a Seventh-day Adventist institution that specializes in healthcare education.  ADU offers undergraduate and graduate programs including:  Biomedical Sciences, Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Health Sciences, Radiography, Nuclear Medicine Technology, Nursing (BSN), Nurse Anesthesia, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Master of Healthcare Administration, Master of Occupational Therapy, Physician Assistant and Physical Therapy. The college is associated with Florida Hospital and the Adventist Health System. 

SOURCE Adventist University of Health Sciences