Student Information and Physician Assistant Programs
Medical Service Corps: Are you a career-minded, motivated, enlisted active duty Sailor or Marine (E-5 through E-9) and interested in applying for the Medical Service Corp Inservice Procurement Program (IPP)? To learn more about the requirements, and view Frequently Asked Questions about the process, go to MSC IPP Frequently Asked Questions.
Currently in a PA Program and interested in becoming a Navy PA? There are two programs (HPSP & HSCP) sponsored by the Navy that will help you pay for PA school and emerge as a commissioned officer in the Navy. For more information, go to the Navy Medical Officer Programs flyer.
Medical Programs Recruiter looking for PA Interview Point of Contact?
CDR Gross at SWMI San Diego CA.
jessie.gross@med.navy.mil
Phone: 619-532-7838
Interservice Physician Assistant Program
The Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) has been in operation since May 1996. Prior to that time, the Air Force, Navy, and Army ran their own similar, but separate programs. The IPAP is part of the Graduate School and Academy of Health Sciences at AMEDDC&S, Fort Sam Houston, Texas. The IPAP has a university affiliation contract with the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC). The UNMC has agreed to provide administrative support to the IPAP and award academic credit to students completing the IPAP curriculum. Students who successfully complete the IPAP Program are granted a Master of Physician Assistant Studies (MPAS) degree from the University of Nebraska.
The Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Homeland Security have entrusted the IPAP with their most outstanding service members. The IPAP faculty and staff continue to enhance the educational mission in producing the finest military PAs and officers. All graduates meet National Commission on the Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) eligibility for certification. As a result of the Phase 1 (didactic) curriculum and Phase 2 (clinical) experience, our students have a 99% pass rate with a mean PANCE score consistently above the national average. The success of these graduates is directly related to an educational process that continuously incorporates advances in medical information, instructional methods and technology.
The IPAP students complete their first 16 months of training at Fort Sam Houston, Texas. During Phase 1, students complete a challenging curriculum, including 96 written examinations, numerous lab practicals, and over 1,700 contact hours of expert instruction. In addition, a master's thesis paper is due prior to Phase 1 completion. The curricula is developed and implemented in accordance with the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) and the NCCPA. Competencies stressed are medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, patient care, professionalism, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems-based practice.
Phase 2 is completed at various military installations throughout the United States (exceptio. Students rotate through rotations to include; surgery, orthopedics, dermatology, obstetrics/gynecology, psychiatry, internal medicine, ENT, pediatrics, emergency medicine, family medicine, and clinical electives such as radiology, trauma, or anesthesiology. Additionally, there are weekly journal club meetings with student presentations, and small group activities.
The IPAP has recently undergone a significant expansion project and now convenes three classes of 80 students three times per year. All indicators point to a highly successful quad-service program graduating excellent Air Force, Navy, Army, National Guard, and Coast Guard PAs every four months. Feedback from the respective services is positive in nature. The IPAP is also highly regarded among other PA programs, receiving a US News and World Reports ranking of # 11 of 148 programs in the United States. The IPAP is also the largest PA program in the world.
Current Navy IPAP Phase 1 staff include LCDR Doug Faison, LT Chad Thoemke and LT Kyle Burditt. Currently there are 15 Navy students onboard at Phase 1. These Sailors were selected via the Interservice Procurement Program (IPP) and attend IPAP training as Officer Candidates. Upon Phase 1 completion, all Navy students PCS to San Diego for Phase 2 clinical training. Phase 2 training is supervised by CDR Jessie Gross.
IPAP graduates serve in Navy MTFs, outpatient clinics, aircraft carriers, with the Marines, CONUS and OCONUS. Most Navy PAs provide primary medical care in a family medicine/outpatient medicine environment when not deployed. This can be in a military medicine clinic, urgent care clinic, internal medicine, pediatrics, etc. There are also positions available at the White House, BUMED, NPC, and instructor duty at the IPAP and SWMI San Diego. Many Navy PAs go on to orthopedic or emergency medicine specialty training or pursue other graduate studies, either via DUINS or other programs. There are numerous opportunities for personal and professional growth as a Navy PA, and more leadership opportunities open up every year.
If you or someone you know has the strong desire, dedication, commitment, and is willing to devote their career to helping others, please visit the MSC IPP website.
The IPAP web site is http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/ipap/
We would like to have as many applicants as possible. This is a tremendous opportunity for a hard-charging Sailor or Marine. Someone who has a complete IPP package, good grades, solid evaluations, good SAT, and positive attitude has an excellent shot at getting selected for a seat in an upcoming class. When selected, you will become an Officer Candidate, attend training for 29 months, and then join the Medical Service Corps as a LTJG.
Accelerate your life. Go Navy PA!
CDR Ron Perry
