Physician Associate

Physicians’ Associates are in demand because of a shortfall in the number of doctors. Physician Associates learn vital skills to diagnose, treat and care for patients in a variety of specialist settings. If you have a first degree in life or health sciences, our MSc as a Physicians' Associate will train you in a wide range of clinical skills.

As a physician associate, you’ll fill an important clinical role. You’ll be able to take a patient’s history, perform physical examinations and request and interpret diagnostic test results. You’ll be able to diagnose illnesses; develop treatment and management plans; perform therapeutic procedures; prescribe medication (subject to legislation); and undertake patient education, counselling and health promotion.

Our Masters degree will help you develop a range of skills relating to the cardiovascular, respiratory and gastro-intestinal systems; the eyes, ears, nose and throat; the skin; and the renal, genitourinary, male and female reproductive systems. You’ll learn to become a caring, capable, knowledgeable and research-aware physician’s associate, with high-level clinical and communication skills.

Your study will be divided equally between theory and practice. Besides lectures, tutorials, practical workshops, role play and simulated skills work on campus, you’ll complete a programme of clinical placement rotations in hospital wards, outpatient settings and general practice across the East of England in the following clinical specialties (minimum hours in brackets):

• obstetrics and gynaecology (90 hours)
• paediatrics in an acute setting (90 hours)
• community-based medicine (180 hours)
• general surgery (90 hours)
• general hospital medicine (350 hours)
• mental health (90 hours).

This is an intensive and challenging course – but one which offers its own, significant rewards.

Course Leader: Eqramur Rahman