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CHA/PA Program
Education Overview
The Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant Program is primarily an educational program, which is extensively described at our own website: www.uchsc.edu/chapa.
The CHA/PA Program was accredited as a PA program and graduated its first class in 1972. The Program has had continuous funding from the Health Resources Services Administration Bureau of Health Professions for more than 25 years and was the first program at the University of Colorado Denver to receive the Colorado Commission on Higher Education (CCHE) Award of Excellence. The CCHE award permitted program enhancement, expansion of class size to 40 per year and implementation of a rural track. In 2002, the Program moved to expanded facilities on the 7th floor of Building 500 at Fitzsimons. The CHA/PA Program is the first degree-granting program to be based at UCD at Fitzsimons.
The CHA/PA Program curriculum has frequently been recognized for its excellence and innovation. Problem-based learning, evidenced-based medicine and an extensive psychosocial curriculum are successful components of the curriculum. Clinical experience during the first year of training has been an integral part of the CHA/PA Program since its inception. In cooperation with the School of Medicine's Center for Studies in Clinical Excellence, the Program is increasing the use of standardized patients and clinical skills stations for both education and assessment. The high degree of acceptance of CHA/PAs by physicians, other health providers and the public, as well as their demonstrated proficiency and cost effectiveness, document that they are an important source of health care statewide and nationally.
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