For Touro PA students, real-world education and community outreach go hand in hand
Cameron Chong always enjoyed working with people and learning about physiology and the health of the human body. But she also wanted her career to make a difference in the lives of others.
That’s why Chong chose the Physician Assistant Studies Program at Touro University Nevada.
“I chose Touro because of its activity in the community,” says Chong. “I felt that I would have access to high-quality rotations and be able to explore my interests in different specialties. Touro also has a great reputation, and I felt that learning at a school that is well regarded in the community would best prepare me to become a caring and competent provider.”
Care and competence are pillars at Touro Nevada. The stated mission of Touro Nevada is to provide quality education in healthcare with the Judaic commitment to social justice, intellectual pursuit, and service to humanity. But that service to the community doesn’t wait until after graduation. For Touro Nevada students, the community is their classroom. And they are out among their neighbors in Southern Nevada, serving and leading from the first day they step on campus.
The sharp rise in demand for physician assistants is evident in the evolution of Touro Nevada’s PA program. When it first began, the PA program hosted about 40 students. That number has doubled in recent years, growing into the campus’ spacious and cutting-edge facilities.
“We always work to keep our curriculum up to date with technological advances in medicine,” says Reynolds, who is also a graduate with honors of the Touro Nevada PA program. “Our ultrasound and clinical skills curricula, as well as our state-of-the-art simulation center, where students practice their skills with mannequins before practicing on live patients, offer our students exceptional experiences for learning.”
But while PA students at Touro Nevada benefit from world-class curriculum that includes the latest in medical technology and methodology, along with an experience and expert faculty, the true Touro difference is a philosophy — to treat each patient as a unit of mind, body, and spirit.
“Touro University focuses on an integrated, holistic approach to healthcare because treating the entire patient, from their medical concerns to their mental health concerns to helping patients with the social aspects of their care, creates an environment of trust and understanding,” says Reynolds. “As healthcare providers, we strive to provide effective and complete care for the whole patient.”
"We love to graduate students, and we do that well. But the other big obligation we have is to make them successful in their professional exams. If we don’t do that, we don’t get to keep doing what we’re doing."
Robert Askey
EdD, Dean, College of Health & Human Services
Nowhere is this more apparent — and important — than in Touro Nevada’s Physician Assistant Studies Program.
Physician assistants, licensed clinicians who practice across disciplines and in every specialty and setting, are an integral part of the medical care team. They work alongside physicians and carry much of the primary care patient load. This role has become even more important in light of the nationwide shortage in healthcare workers — according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of physician assistants is projected to grow by 37% by 2026.
“Physician assistants are helping to close gaps when it comes to access to care and a lack of medical providers in our communities,” says Lindsey Reynolds, PA-C, MSPAS, assistant professor and associate director of Academic Education in the Touro Physician Assistant Studies (PA) program. “Our roles, as well as our ability to move between specialties of medicine are often seen as highly desirable qualities in today’s healthcare system.”
This is one of many reasons why students are choosing to enter the healthcare profession as physician assistants — and why many of them are choosing Touro Nevada’s PA program as the gateway.
“With community outreach and diversity emphasized in the program, I feel prepared to treat patients from all walks of life,” says Chong. “Touro has prepared me academically with rigorous course material that ensures my knowledge base is more than adequate to pass my certifying exams and help patients throughout the world.”
Treating mind, body and spirit
"As healthcare providers, we strive to provide effective and complete care for the whole patient.”
Lindsey Reynolds
PA-C, MSPAS, Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Academic Education, School of Physician Assistant Studies
Touro Nevada’s PA program features two degrees:
Master of Physician Assistant Studies — In this program, students learn the skills to become proficient and empathetic physician assistants through classroom experiences and in-person clinical rotations.
Doctorate of Physician Assistant — A program designed for licensed PAs who already hold a master’s degree and want to further hone their knowledge, leadership, and research skills.
In addition to the best curriculum, facilities, and teaching faculty, instructors also go out of their way with a unique open-door policy to mentor students and prepare them to graduate, pass their licensure exam and excel in their careers. Last year, Touro Nevada PA students had a 98% first-time pass rate on their professional exams. And 100% of the PA class graduated.
“We love to graduate students, and we do that well,” says Robert Askey, EdD, dean of the Touro Nevada College of Heath & Human Services. “But the other big obligation we have is to make them successful in their professional exams. If we don’t do that, we don’t get to keep doing what we’re doing.”
Touro is also connected to its community by providing osteopathic physicians to address a dearth of doctors in Nevada.
“There is such a need for physicians, especially the southern part of Nevada where the population is mushrooming,” says Terrance Miller, PhD, Touro Nevada’s Senior Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. “We are far and away the largest medical school in the state, graduating around 180 students per year.”
Specifically, Touro Nevada’s DO program is one of the biggest in the country — and one of the most successful when it comes to student outcomes. In 2023, the program had a 100% match/placement rate, and students passed their board level 1 and level 2CE COMLEX board exams at 97% and 98.3%, respectively.
"As healthcare providers, we strive to provide effective and complete care for the whole patient.”
Lindsey Reynolds
PA-C, MSPAS, Assistant Professor and Associate Director of Academic Education, School of Physician Assistant Studies
Outreach and hands-on experience
For Touro Nevada, community is not confined to campus. The university was founded on the Judaic values of teaching, learning, and service — and service to the community is at Touro Nevada’s core.
“The first priority is the same mission as the university’s mission to help serve the healthcare needs of Southern Nevada,” says Dr. Askey. “Those who come to our PA program come to us because of our involvement with the community.”
This involvement starts as part of the curriculum through first- and second-year clinical rotations. Here, students apply what they’ve learned while helping underserved populations in the region. For instance, Touro Nevada has a unique partnership with Southwest Medical Associates where PA students can complete their rotations with the goal of transitioning into fulltime positions after graduation and licensing.
“Physicians assistants can fill a lot of roles out in the community,” says Dr. Askey. “They have a very active outreach program where they do a community medicine rotation, serving underserved populations here in Clark County. They spend a lot of time with the homeless populations in that rotation. They get a lot out of that.”
Touro Nevada also offers international rotations to aid the underserved in other countries like Nepal, Cambodia, Guatemala, and Peru.
In addition to clinical rotations, Touro Nevada students also have opportunities for meaningful service in the community outside of the hospital walls. Touro’s Mobile Healthcare Clinic features three mobile units, staffed by Touro students and faculty, that provide medical care to the community. The Stallman Touro Clinic at The Shade Tree women’s shelter is another opportunity for Touro PA students to offer free healthcare services to homeless women and children who have been victims of abuse.
“Touro has a strong sense of community within itself and within the valley,” says Chong. “You don’t find that in many places, and it’s a unique quality that I think makes Touro special. You’ll get once in a lifetime experience working with the providers and patients in Southern Nevada.”
Learn more about joining this community of motivated and successful leaders in healthcare or apply today.
learn more
apply now
learn more
apply now
Outreach and hands-on experience
The Medical Health Sciences Program is designed to provide an academic pathway for students interested in pursuing medical and healthcare degrees by strengthening their credentials for admission. Graduates can choose from tracks in osteopathic medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, research or healthcare simulation and earn a Master of Science degree in just 10 months.
an advanced degree & better gpa can open more medical school doors.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the current demand for nurses with master’s and doctorate degrees prepared for advanced practice, clinical specialties, teaching and research roles is much higher than the current supply. Only 17% of the nation's nurses hold a master's degree and less than 3% hold a doctorate.
here's why graduate-level nursing degrees are needed.
As a physical therapy doctorate student you will gain experience in acute care, outpatient and rehabilitation settings. Our rotations will help you become a more caring and observant medical professional and will allow you to find the perfect fit for your future. Our program features a 100% graduation rate, 100% NPTE ultimate pass rate and 100% employment rate.
clinical rotations in physical therapy are critical.
Occupational therapists improve the quality of life for both adults and children by helping them improve the meaningful activities needed for daily living. OTs are trained to work with a variety of diagnoses including stroke, traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, fractures, burns, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and even speech disorders.
Occupational therapy isn't just for adults with serious injuries.
Our Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program provides students with service-learning experiences including a one-month rotation in community medicine and our Mobile Health Clinic. Our curriculum also includes a course in Medical Management of Vulnerable and Medically Underserved.
commitment to the community, serving the underserved.
DOs and MDs both require rigorous medical education. However, a DO must also complete and additional 300-500 hours of hands-on training in the body's musculoskeletal system and the interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones in order to perform osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM).
the difference between a do and an md.
Click each box to learn a little more about our programs.
PROGRAM FACTS
The Medical Health Sciences Program is designed to provide an academic pathway for students interested in pursuing medical and healthcare degrees by strengthening their credentials for admission. Graduates can choose from tracks in osteopathic medicine, occupational therapy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, research or healthcare simulation and earn a Master of Science degree in just 10 months.
an advanced degree & better gpa can open more medical school doors.
According to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, the current demand for nurses with master’s and doctorate degrees prepared for advanced practice, clinical specialties, teaching and research roles is much higher than the current supply. Only 17% of the nation's nurses hold a master's degree and less than 3% hold a doctorate.
here's why graduate-level nursing degrees are needed.
As a physical therapy doctorate student you will gain experience in acute care, out-patient and rehabilitation settings. Our rotations will help you become a more caring and observant medical professional and will allow you to find the perfect fit for your future. Our program features a 100% graduation rate, 100% NPTE ultimate pass rate and 100% employment rate.
clinical rotations in physical therapy are critical.
Occupational therapists improve the quality of life for both adults and children by helping them improve the meaningful activities needed for daily living. OTs are trained to work with a variety of diagnoses including stroke, traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, fractures, burns, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury and even speech disorders.
Occupational therapy isn't just for adults with serious injuries.
Our Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program provides students with service-learning experiences including a one-month rotation in community medicine and our Mobile Health Clinic. Our curriculum also includes a course in Medical Management of Vulnerable and Medically Underserved.
commitment to the community, serving the underserved.
DOs and MDs both require rigorous medical education. However, a DO must also complete and additional 300-500 hours of hands-on training in the body's musculoskeletal system and the interconnected system of nerves, muscles and bones in order to perform osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM).
the difference between a do and an md
Click each box to learn a little more about our programs.
PROGRAM FACTS
apply now
apply now
apply now
learn more
apply now
learn more