St. John’s PA Program History and Mission
Statement
St. John’s University is Catholic, Vincentian and Metropolitan. It
is committed to the pursuit of academic excellence, religious
values, ethics, professionalism and human experience.
- Challenged by the belief that health care is a basic
human right and driven by a similar mission, St. John’s University
PA Program developed an educational program that would reach those
most in need—“the poor, alienated and the aged.”
- Conscious that culturally responsive healthcare is
necessary to practice in diverse neighborhoods we strive to provide
exceptional educational opportunities to men and women of varied
races and socioeconomic backgrounds, so that our institution might
continue its tradition of working as a partner with members of the
local community. In this way, we will empower professionals to
return to their own neighborhoods to promote preventive medicine
and deliver affordable, high quality primary care.
- Committed to excellence in education, we will
collaborate with institutions of higher learning. By combining
institutional expertise, the clinical and academic arms of the
health care profession might further unite to embrace and support
those individuals seeking to become Physician Assistants.
- Confident that we have the resources and the resolve,
we seek to create an educational program where individuals might
learn the art of healing and use their gifts to promote a vision of
health care that encompasses not only the treatment of disease, but
also the avoidance of illness through education and the promotion
of healthy life styles. Thus, St. John’s PA program will
continue its tradition of developing caring and committed health
care professionals dedicated to the alleviation of suffering in our
midst.
Vision Statement
The St. John’s University Physician Assistant program utilizes a
student-centered approach to provide our learners with the
necessary academic, clinical, professional and interpersonal skills
to function competently, confidently, compassionately and
efficiently as primary care practitioners. We aim is to sensitize
students to the diversity of healthcare needs and the impact of
socioeconomic factors on healthcare, to promote non-discrimination
and inspire graduates to provide high quality, cost-effective,
compassionate and accessible care to underserved patients in urban
communities. Our graduates will excel in the competencies and
values required for leadership and service in a rapidly evolving
global community. The St. John’s PA program faculty educators serve
as role models to the student and their interactions with students
influence the direction and growth of our learners. Many faculty
members have practiced in underserved areas of the city.