Department of Family Medicine

Return to: Keck School of Medicine of USC

Division of Physician Assistant Studies
Primary Care Physician Assistant Program
1000 South Fremont Avenue
Unit 7, Building A11, Room 11-150
Alhambra, CA 91803
(626) 457-4240
FAX: (626) 457-4245
Email: uscpa@usc.edu
usc.edu/pa
Program Director: Kevin Lohenry, PhD, PA-C

Medical Director: Ignacio DeArtola, MD

Faculty

Professor of Clinical Family Medicine: K. Lohenry, PhD, PA-C

Associate Professor of Clinical Family Medicine: C. Feifer, DrPH

Assistant Professors of Clinical Family Medicine: I. DeArtola, MD; B. Feldman, MSPAS, PA-C; S. Ma, PharmD; A. Vallejo, PhD

Instructors of Clinical Family Medicine: M. D’Aquila, MACM, PA-C; C. Feldman, MMS, PA-C; L. Hudson, MSPA, PA-C, MPH; A. Ingalls, MS, PA-C; M. Maldonado, MPH, MPAP, PA-C; D. Mayo, MPAS, PA; C. Powell, MPAS, PA-C; J. Ramos, MPAP, PA-C; J. Tramel, MS-HPE, PA-C Emeritus

The faculty listed above are faculty with the Primary Care Physician Assistant Program at USC.

The Primary Care Physician Assistant Program at USC prepares students to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. Students earn a Master of Physician Assistant Practice (MPAP) degree upon completion of the program.

The MPAP degree program offered by the Division of Physician Assistant Studies is part of the Department of Family Medicine. Preclinical instruction is provided by physician assistant program faculty and faculty from other departments within the Keck School of Medicine, the USC School of Pharmacy, other divisions within the Health Sciences Campus, as well as clinicians from the surrounding communities. Emphasis is placed on primary care medicine and caring for medically underserved populations. Clinical training occurs at various clinical sites throughout the greater Los Angeles region, including the Keck Medical Center, Los Angeles County+USC Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, Cedars Sinai Hospital, private offices and managed-care settings, community-based clinics, VA facilities and specialty settings.

Students complete eight, six-week clinical rotations in emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, orthopedics, pediatrics, general surgery, women’s health and a three-day mental health/behavioral medicine experience. These rotations emphasize the development of necessary clinical skills as well as learning how to work as part of a health care team. The Primary Care Physician Assistant Program at USC is committed to recruiting diverse applicants and preparing graduates to practice in medically underserved communities.

The ARC-PA notes six (6) areas of noncompliance with the Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education (4th edition) (the “Standards”). Please see the companion Word document for the complete commission report and requested response. Failure to submit a response may result in reconsideration of the program’s accreditation status.

The date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be June 2029. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Standards and ARC-PA policy. The ARC-PA reserves the right to adjust the date or schedule.

The program is approved by the Physician Assistant Committee (PAC) of the Medical Board of California. Graduates must pass the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam to qualify for licensure throughout the United States.

Pi Alpha Honor Society

The program participates in the Pi Alpha Honor Society, which is the national Physician Assistant honor society organized for the promotion and recognition of both PA students and graduates. Membership signifies the inductees’ significant academic achievement and honors them for their leadership, research, community/professional service and other related activities. The society also encourages a high standard of character and conduct among students and graduates. Students are encouraged to apply for this honor during their final semester in the program, but selection is done via an application process and review by current members of the society.

Programs

Physician Assistant Practice (MPAP)

Courses

Primary Care Physician Assistant