BIOLOGICAL & HEALTH SCIENCES DIVISION
PRIMARY CARE DEPARTMENT
Please visit: http://pcap.stanford.edu for current information on
our the program or view the Information Sessions link: http://pcap.stanford.edu/admissions/information_sessions.html
The Primary Care Associate Program, cooperatively administered by the Stanford University School of
Medicine and Foothill College, prepares physician assistants to
work mainly with primary care physicians who care for under served populations. The curriculum
also includes limited training in hospitals and sub specialties.
Physician assistants (PAs) work with physicians as part of
a health-care team. They help improve the quality of and access to primary care for areas and
populations designated as being under served. The Program's curriculum emphasizes the skills necessary
to recognize and treat common primary care problems which include acute, chronic, emergent or surgical
conditions in patients of all ages. Our students are trained to:
Click here if you have not read the Program Curriculum Requirement Sheet!
Director's Desk: Additional Program Information.
The Primary Care Associate Program offers students a 21-month curriculum that combines the traditional
concepts of physician assistant training.
Founded in 1971, the seven-quarter Primary Care Associate Program features full-time classroom training during
its first and second quarter and emphasizes clinical training during the remaining four quarters. History-taking, physical
examination skills, basic laboratory techniques, common diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as well as patient
counseling and education skills are important parts of the curriculum.
After an intensive course in physical diagnosis, students participate in lectures and clinical experiences
in general medicine, pharmacology, emergency medicine, pediatrics, women's health, geriatrics, and behavioral
science. Students are required to make special arrangements to participate in a surgery rotation. In addition,
the Program includes a multicultural lecture series in social, economic, and health issues within the Latino,
African-American, Asian, and American Indian ethnic groups. A Medical Spanish course is offered for students
who already possess some proficiency in the Spanish language.
Students receive classroom instruction and can access the medical library, learning resource center and labs
at Stanford University's School of Medicine. Most clinical experiences take place in community preceptorships away
from the School of Medicine. Students also participate in a hospital-based inpatient rotation.
View Scheudule at the following url: http://pcap.stanford.edu/program/
Consistent with the demands of its accelerated, integrative training curriculum and its goals
to train health care providers in the delivery of primary health care services to medically underserved
populations, the Primary Care Associate Program seeks applicants with:
Extensive clinical experience:
Strong academic preparation:
Evidence of dedication to medically underserved areas and populations:
The Primary Care Associate Program has established community-based recruitment, admissions and preceptorships
in Kern, Monterey, San Benito, Imperial, Ventura, Humbolt, and San Diego Counties with the ultimate goal of deploying graduates
in these and surrounding communities.
Applicants who have a history of living in these areas and working with medically-underserved populations are
welcomed to inquire about the community-based admissions process. Successful applicants admitted through
community-based admissions will be required to complete preceptorships in the counties corresponding to their admission site.
The PCA program offers an articulation with St. Francis University's Physician Assistant Program for a Masters of Medical Science (MMS) degree.
top of pagePrimary Care Associate Program
1215 Welch Rd, Modular G
Palo Alto, CA 94305-5408
Office: 650-725-6959
Fax: 650-723-9692
Web: http://pcap.stanford.edu