The Physician Associate program at Wichita State relies greatly on providers who serve as clinical rotation preceptors and mentors for our students. Students work closely with preceptors, progressively developing the skills and clinical judgment necessary to become practicing PAs. Preceptors play a vital role in the education of our students and mentoring future colleagues.
Seeking partners in these areas:
Surgery (general, cardiothoracic, urologic, neurosurgery)
Women’s health
Internal medicine
Pediatrics
Behavioral and mental health
Benefits of being a preceptor
Play a critical role in the training of future PAs and positively influence patient care for Kansas.
Gain Affiliate Clinical Faculty status at WSU with access to resources: UpToDate, medical journals, etc.
Earn CME.
Grow professionally and personally through this rewarding opportunity to mentor and lead.
Provide your patients with additional education and one-on-one time with enthusiastic PA students.
Clinical Preceptor Frequently Asked Questions
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the PA (ARC-PA) stipulates that clinical preceptors may include: physicians who are specialty board certified in their area of instruction, NCCPA certified PAs, or other licensed healthcare providers qualified in their area of instruction (e.g. nurse practitioners or midwives).
Every student must complete a rotation within Family Practice, Internal Medicine, Women’s Health, Pediatrics, Behavioral Health, Emergency Medicine and Surgery as well as two elective rotations within other areas. However, we currently have a shortage of preceptors specifically within Women’s Health, Pediatrics, and Behavioral Health.
You will find WSU PA students to be exceptionally well prepared and very comparable to a medical student. The didactic curriculum includes 54 credit hours of advanced anatomy, pharmacology, and clinical medicine courses across all body systems as well as evidence-based practice and interprofessional education. A 2nd year student should be able to perform comprehensive and focused H&Ps and develop a list of differential diagnoses and next steps. They have had some practice with patient education, standardized patients, and common medical procedures and most have had direct patient care experience even before starting the PA Program.
Student are required log AT LEAST 160 hours for each rotation. Students are expected to conform to your schedule, including evening, weekends, and holidays as needed.
We ask you to provide students with regular feedback regarding their performance throughout the rotation as well as a mid-rotation evaluation. At the conclusion of the rotation, you are asked to submit an electronic evaluation (mostly Likert scale questions) assessing student progress with regard to the rotation learning outcomes and the student’s proficiency with certain clinical skills.
Students may spend time with other qualified practitioners within the practice. All preceptors must complete a preceptor profile. It is typical for some groups to identify a primary preceptor who will be responsible for coordinating the student’s experience. The student can then spend time with several practitioners within the group over the course of the rotation.
Yes, WSU carries institutional insurance and all PA students are covered.
Preceptor resources
Here are some resources to help make the precepting experience as efficient and rewarding as possible. If you have additional questions please contact us at 316-978-3011 or paclinical@wichita.edu.
Community of preceptors
Interested in becoming a Clinical Preceptor? Let's connect! Fill out this online form or contact us at 316-978-3011 or paclinical@wichita.edu.