Physician Assistant Rural Training in Behavioral Health and Preceptor Development Academy
The Partner Initiative builds on existing partnerships across the University System of Maryland (USM) and seeks to increase the numbers of primary care physician assistants (PAs) practicing in rural Maryland through enhanced rural training opportunities for PA students and an innovative preceptor development academy. Through a unique model of rural preparedness and learner-centered preceptorship, The Partner Initiative will focus on training through hands-on clinical rotations that incorporates a comprehensive and interprofessional program curriculum on behavioral health and substance use disorders. Students will gain the knowledge and skills to prevent, identify, diagnose, treat, and refer services for behavioral health conditions This educational experience leverages our existing strengths in statewide collaborations, telehealth, opioid use disorder, and community health.
Additionally, the Preceptor Academy will recruit and train preceptors in evidence-based clinical teaching practice through a six-month formalized fellowship that includes telehealth certification and continuing medical education. Preceptor training will incorporate behavioral health, wellness, resiliency, and health disparities. Finally, the program includes robust analysis, evaluation, and dissemination of lessons learned from the initiative, as well as outcome tracking mechanisms. This pathway model, which combines clinical rotations and preceptor fellowships, creates a sustainable ecosystem for PA education on the Eastern Shore and a model for other rural areas to follow.
Join us in preparing physician assistants at all career levels to meet behavioral health care needs across the Eastern Shore.