Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) to Physician Assistant (PA) Priority Admission Pathway
The SIUE School of Pharmacy has collaborated with the SIU School of Medicine to offer a priority admission pathway, allowing a selective number of SIUE PharmD graduates admission into the highly competitive SIU Physician Assistant Program upon PharmD graduation.
Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Physician Assistant (PA) each have their own unique roles and responsibilities, but also have some overlap in education and training. Pharmacists (PharmD) are experts in medication management, drug information, and clinical pharmacy patient care. Physician Assistants are healthcare professionals that provide medical care, including patient evaluation and physical assessment, disease diagnosis, prescribing treatments, and performing medical procedures.
Benefits of Combined PharmD and PA Degrees
- More in-depth training in physical assessment and diagnostic skills
- Broadened clinical experiences in various practice settings
- Expanded scope of practice, direct patient interactions, and clinical decision-making
- Increased marketability and competitiveness in niche clinical practices
Curriculum
This priority admission pathway is not a concurrent or dual degree program. Students will complete the PharmD degree prior to matriculating into the PA program. Please refer to the individual program for a sample curriculum.
Eligibility
- Currently enrolled in the PharmD program at SIUE
- PharmD GPA ≥ 3.5
- Have earned a GPA of 3.2 (on a 4.0 scale) or higher, on the following pre-pharmacy and pharmacy coursework collectively:
- Overall coursework and science coursework as calculated by CASPA
- PA program prerequisites as calculated by SIU
- Completed three didactic years of the PharmD program and is on-track for PharmD degree conferral in the following year prior to matriculation into the PA program
How to Apply
PharmD graduates considering a PA degree should carefully assess their career goals, interests, and the type of patient care they wish to provide to determine if this transition aligns with their aspirations in healthcare.
April 15 of P-3 year: Priority admission pathway opens for the PA admission cycle. PharmD students may begin applying to the pathway by submitting a letter of intent to the SOP Office of Academic Affairs (SOP OAA) that indicates they would like to apply to the SIU PA program through the priority admission pathway.
May 1 of P-3 year: PharmD students may begin their official application to the PA program through CASPA.
October 15 of P-4 year (same calendar year): Final deadline for all the letters of intent to the SOP OAA and application in CASPA. SOP OAA will send a list of PharmD students applying through the priority admission pathway to the Director of the PA program. The PA program will begin reviewing applications from these PharmD students.
Please note: Once the applicant is invited by the program for an interview, they must then apply to the SIU Graduate School and pay the non-refundable application fee. Create an account and login to the online application system, select 'MSPA' and the appropriate summer semester before you enter information. Do not upload transcripts, essays, personal statements, resumes, or reference letters to this supplemental application. Those should be submitted to CASPA.
December 1 of P-4 year: PharmD students will be notified of the decision from the PA program regarding an interview date and their admission application.
Application Checklist
- Transcripts from pre-pharmacy studies and SIUE PharmD
- A personal statement
- Curriculum Vitae
- Three (3) letters of recommendation (preferred to be from faculty, employer, and a PharmD rotation preceptor)
Contacts
SIUE School of Pharmacy
Phone: 618.650.5131
Email: sopacademicaffairs@siue.edu
SIU School of Medicine PA program
Phone: 618.453.8850
Email: paadvisement-L@listserv.siu.edu
https://www.siumed.edu/paprogram/contact-us
