Mission and Goals

Rationale: The Yale School of Medicine PA Program offers an academically rigorous curriculum in a collaborative learning environment. We seek students who are well-prepared academically and bring a range of experiences that enrich the program and the profession.

Benchmark 1: Cohort average overall and science GPAs > 3.6

Benchmark 2: Cohort average patient care > 2,000 hours

Benchmark 3: Geographic diversity, average number of states ≥ 15

Note: These values represent the average for matriculated cohorts. They do not represent the program’s admissions pre-requisites.

Rationale: A Yale PA graduate is prepared for clinical excellence when they achieve the program-defined competencies and pass the NCCPA PANCE exam. Well-prepared clinicians learn in a variety of practice settings.

Benchmark 1: Students will meet program competencies at time of graduation.

Outcome: 100% of graduates in the classes of 2023 through 2026 have met our program competencies at the time of graduation.

Benchmark 2: Five-year first-time taker PANCE pass rate average for years 2021-2026 will be ≥ 95%.

Outcome: Five-year first time taker average pass rate for the Yale PA Program is 96%.

Benchmark 3: Students will have clinical experiences in a variety of practice settings, including in an academic health center.

Outcome: Percent of SCPE Settings Utilized for Class of 2026 Setting Academic Medical Centers (Yale New Haven Hospital and other large academic teaching hospitals) Community Hospitals (associated with YNHHS) Federally Funded Health Care Centers* Private Practice - 54.9% 30.1% 5.4% 9.6%

* Federally Funded Health Care Centers include Federal Health Systems (i.e., VA) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC).
Class of 2026 is the most recent class to complete SCPEs. They will graduate in December 2026.

Rationale: The Yale PA Program interprofessional, team-based, patient-centered care. All students participate in interprofessional clinical experiences with MD students in the first year of training. All students participate in Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences with teams that are patient-centered, interprofessional, and team-oriented. .

Benchmark: Cohort averages of clinical preceptor evaluation domains relating to interprofessional, patient centered, team-based care will exceed 95% (on a 0-100% scale).

Outcomes: Cohort average scores on clinical preceptor evaluation domains by class year.

Note: Class of 2025 is the most recent graduated class.

Rationale: The Yale PA Program believes that students learn at their own pace and, therefore, the program works to promote equitable access to educational resources. Furthermore, the Yale PA Program values community and strives to foster a culture based on connection, mutual respect, and collective responsibility for the well-being of all members.

Benchmark 1: Maintain a cohort attrition rate of < 5%.

Outcomes: Attrition and graduation outcomes by year of graduation. *

* Footnote: 1 late graduate as of April 1, 2026.

Benchmark 2: Average student evaluation of the learning environment will exceed 4.00 on a 5-point scale (1=strongly disagree; 5=strongly agree)

Outcome: Learning Environment Survey: 2025 and 2026 deployment

Note: The Learning Environment Survey is deployed to all students once per year. Data reported were collected in May 2025 and 2026. In 2025 the Class of 2026 was in the pre-clinical year. In 2026 that class was in their clinical year.

Rationale: Many Yale PA students serve on local, regional, and national committees, volunteer, and are involved in scholarship activities that go beyond the PA Program curriculum while they are enrolled within the program.

Benchmark 1: At least 50% of students enrolled in the PA Program will participate in a leadership activity.

Benchmark: Of Alumni survey respondents, at least 25% will hold or have held a leadership position after graduation.

Outcomes: Percent of Self-Reported Student Leadership Activities While Enrolled

Notes: Results from the annual exit survey with soon-to-be-graduates. Students can participate in more than one activity.

Selected examples:

1. Neighborhood Health Project, HAVEN Student run free clinic, Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services, Hunger & Homelessness Committee, Health Professions Recruitment & Exposure Program
2. ConnAPA Charter Oak Conference, AAPA Conference, AAPA Leadership and Advocacy, PAEA Future Educator Fellowship, PAEA Health Policy Fellowship
3. Peer reviewed publications, national and regional poster presentations
4. US Health Justice, Global Health Seminar, Southwick Society, Bioethics, Medical Spanish, Yale POCUS interest group
5. Class officer positions, YSM Medical School Council, AAPA Student House of Delegates, Peer Advocate