Graduate Survey Outcomes

Executive Summary

Survey Methods

The SHU MSPAS Graduate Survey is an anonymous survey that is administered by the Program, 12 months after graduation. 

  • The response rate for the Class of 2019 (CO2019) Graduate Survey was 87.89% (n=29).
  • The response rate for the Class of 2020 (CO2020; N=38) Graduate Survey was 87.89% (n=29).
  • The response rate for the Class of 2021 (CO2021; N=41) Graduate Survey was 78.05% (n=32).
  • The response rate for the Class of 2022 (CO2022; N=39) Graduate Survey was 76.92% (n=30).
  • The response rate for the Class of 2023 (CO2023; N=38) Graduate Survey was 92.10% (n=35).

Most Recent Employment Data (CO2023)

  • 94% of respondents indicated they were employed in clinical PA practice within six months of graduation.
    • 100% (n=35) indicated that they were employed within 12 months of graduating.
  • 30% (n=10) indicated they were working in a primary care setting which includes internal medicine, family medicine, women’s health and pediatrics); other major practice areas included emergency medicine (13%) and surgical sub-specialty (23%).
  • The median starting salary range reported was $120,000-$129,999. 

Most Recent Program Satisfaction (CO2023)

  • 100% of respondents indicated that the curriculum is consistent with the mission and goals of the program.
  • Graduates continue to indicate that overall, they felt the program was successful in providing education and opportunities to allow them to achieve the Sacred Heart University PA Studies Graduate Competencies.   

Employment

  • 100% of the CO2023, 100% of the CO2022, 94% of the CO2021, 100% of the CO2020 and 100% of the CO2019 were employed within a year of graduation across many different states and one territory.
  • Sacred Heart University Physician Assistant Studies (SHUPAS) alumni work in all clinical settings including hospitals, office-based private practice, urgent care and community health centers, to name a few.
  • Preparing graduates to practice in a primary care setting is one of the cornerstones of the Sacred Heart University PAS program. While graduates indicated that many primary care roles required multiple years of experience, the program is pleased with the overall percentage of alumni who reported that their first position post-graduation was in primary care (which includes family medicine and internal medicine).
    • CO2023: 30.3%
    • CO2022: 33.3%
    • CO2021: 21.4%
    • CO2020: 31%
    • CO2019: 27.7%

Post-Graduate Practice Specialties

Practice Specialty CO2019 CO2020 CO2021 CO2022 CO2023
Primary Care/Family Medicine 13.79% 12% 14.29% 17.24% 10%
Surgical Subspecialty 13.79% 20% 14.29% 24.14% 23%
Emergency Medicine 17.24% 4% 25% 24.14% 14%
Internal Medicine - Subspecialty 6.90% 8% 0% 0% 6%
Internal Medicine - General Practice 0% 8% 0% 0% 3%
Dermatology 0% 4% 7.14% 3.45% 0%
Hospital Medicine 10.34% 8% 3.57% 0% 3%
General Surgery 6.90% 4% 3.57% 3.45% 3%
Pediatrics 6.90% 0% 0% 10.34% 16%
Critical Care Medicine 10.34% 4% 10.71% 0% 3%
Other 13.79% 28% 21.43% 17.24% 19%

Reported Alumni Salary

Salary CO2019 CO2020 CO2021 CO2022 CO2023
<$70,000 3.45% 0% 3.45% 0% 0%
$70-79,999 0% 0% 0% 0% 0%
$80-89,999 3.45% 0% 0% 0% 0%
$90-99,999 10.34% 4% 0% 0% 6%
$100-109,999 34.48% 32% 17.24% 13.79% 3%
$110-119,999 27.59% 36% 20.69% 13.79% 22%
$120-129,999 13.79% 20% 31.03% 41.38% 38%
>$130,000 6.90% 8% 27.59% 31.03% 32%
  • 94% of CO2023 graduates reported that their current base salary is $100,000 or more
    • The approximate average salary of graduates is $124,000 (calculated using midpoint method of ranges)

Program Satisfaction

The PA profession defines the specific knowledge, skills, attitudes and educational experiences requisite for Physician Assistants to acquire and demonstrate these competencies. Graduates were asked about how they felt regarding how well the program prepared them to achieve each of the SHU PA Graduate Competencies. All students reported that they felt at least somewhat prepared, with the majority of respondents indicating that they were very well prepared. These scores were averaged using a 5-point Likert scale and presented in the following table:

Sacred Heart University PA Studies Graduate Competencies

Competency CO2019 CO2020 CO2021 CO2022 CO2023
1. Medical knowledge includes the synthesis of pathophysiology, patient presentation, differential diagnosis, patient management, surgical principles, health promotion, and disease prevention. Physician assistant students must demonstrate core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care 3.91 4.35 4.17 4.36 4.33
2. Interpersonal and communication skills encompass the verbal, nonverbal, written, and electronic exchange of information. Physician assistant students must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, patients’ families, physicians, professional associates, and other individuals within the healthcare system. 4.61 4.59 4.67 4.44 4.61
3. Patient care includes patient- and setting-specific assessment, evaluation, and management. Physician Assistant students must demonstrate care that is effective, safe, high quality, and equitable. Physician Assistant students must obtain a relevant medical history, adequately perform physical examinations, and implement treatment plans on patients of all age groups, appropriate to the patient’s condition. In addition, Physician Assistant students must demonstrate proficiency in technical procedures and health care that is effective, patient-centered, safe, compassionate, and culturally appropriate for the treatment of medical problems and the promotion of health. 4.22 4.41 4.38 4.40 4.54
4. Professionalism is the expression of positive values and ideals as care is delivered. Foremost, it involves prioritizing the interests of those being served above one’s own. Physician Assistant students must acknowledge their professional and personal limitations. Professionalism also requires that PAs practice without impairment from substance abuse, cognitive deficiency or mental illness. Physician Assistant students must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population, and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements. 4.74 4.82 4.67 4.60 4.50
5. Practice-based learning and improvement includes the processes through which Physician Assistants engage in critical analysis of their own practice experience, the medical literature, and other information resources for the purposes of self- and practice-improvement. Physician Assistant students must be able to assess, evaluate, and improve their patient care practices. 4.35 4.47 4.50 4.38 4.79
6. Systems-based practice encompasses the societal, organizational, and economic environments in which health care is delivered. Physician Assistant students must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of healthcare to provide patient care that balances quality and cost, while maintaining the primacy of the individual patient. 4.26 4.65 4.46 4.42 4.54

Testimonials

Students were asked about the strengths of the program; the following statements are direct quotes from the graduate surveys:

  • “The professors are very involved and care about the individual students and their overall success as well as the success of the program.”
  • “Students and faculty feel like a family. You can learn from a book anywhere, but there is unbeatable support at SHU”
  • “The program did an excellent job at trying to include diversity among the class, in our classroom learning (especially derm) and in rotations. Having rotations in the Bronx, N.Y., was definitely a diversifying experience and strengthened my medical as well as interpersonal skills and knowledge.”
  • “The faculty. Anyone could have a good academic plan, but finding a group of people that love medicine, love their patients, and love to teach, I discovered, is a hard feat to find.”