Pre-Physician Assistant

The DBU Pre-Physician Assistant Program equips students for physician assistant school in a variety of ways:

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Determining Your Calling to Physician Assistant School

Whether you are unsure of your calling or you have known your calling from an early age, professors and advisors at DBU want to help guide you in the right direction. Let us come alongside you as you determine God’s unique calling within the medical field.

purple gloved hand writing in lab journal with a pen

Preparing You Academically for Physician Assistant School

Develop the foundation you need to be successful in PA school and beyond. Through pre-physician assistant classes, students will have the opportunity to hone skills such as laboratory techniques, communication skills, data analysis, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

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Preparing You Personally and Professionally for Physician Assistant School

Connect with other students on similar career paths through our student organizations or through service opportunities. Additionally, gain real-world experience through internships and shadowing opportunities that help enhance your learning.

woman in blue scrubs assisting in surgery

Preparing You for Admissions to Physician Assistant School

Students will receive personalized guidance from the pre-physician assistant advisor to help them make decisions such as how and when to apply to physician assistant school, including GRE preparation, mock interviews, CV/Resume reviews, and the creation of personal statements.

DBU Pre-Physician Assistant Advisor

Office: College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
jonathanco@dbu.edu
(214) 333-5773

Dr. Jonathan Cooper

Biology Department Chair, Assistant Professor of Biology

Dr. Cooper is passionate about equipping students in all fields of biology to pursue excellence in their callings for the glory of God and the good of others. As the Pre-PA advisor, Dr. Cooper loves the opportunity to mentor students as they prepare to serve in this critical role within the healthcare community. Dr. Cooper is a cell biologist with research experience in the specific fields of lung cancer and soft tissue cancers. He received his Ph.D. in Cancer Biology from UT Southwestern Medical center where he also completed a postdoctoral fellowship. Dr. Cooper’s research in cancer cell signaling and therapeutics led to publications in leading cancer research journals such as Cancer Research, Cancer Discovery, and Clinical Cancer Research.

DBU Pre-Physician Assistant Alumni Profiles

Paige Harrelson, PA-C

ENT & Allergy Centers of Texas

Mckinney, Texas

Education:

University of Mount Union, Master's Degree PA
Dallas Baptist University, Undergraduate Degree in Biology

Pre-Physician Assistant Course Plan

Pre-Physician Assistant Internships, Observations and Experiences

Through the Pre-PA program at Dallas Baptist University, students have the opportunity to gain practical training through both for-credit and not-for-credit internships and observation experiences. These experiential learning opportunities are critical to the development and execution of many of the core values that are prioritized by our program, such as accountability, altruism, compassion, excellence, integrity, professional duty, and social responsibility.

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Students can meet with their advisors to discuss internship opportunities and locations. Rather than the traditional internship format, Pre-PA students have the opportunity to do summer research at hospitals and clinics throughout the country. Former DBU Biology students have interned with John Hopkins Medical Center, Yale School of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, the University of Texas at Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, and others.

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Students can connect with DBU alumni who are now working as PAs in order to learn more about what life as a PA really looks like. They can also receive mentoring in how to best prepare for PA school from those who have successfully completed it.

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Beta Beta Beta (TriBeta) is a National Biological Honor Society. It is dedicated to improve the understanding and appreciation of biological science and promoting scientific research.

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The Dr. Herb Robbins Undergraduate Research Symposium gives students a platform to present scientific research they have done, as well as an opportunity for students to learn about new scientific discoveries and the importance of summer research programs.

Is PA School for Me?

Preparing for Physician Assistant School

Why Prepare for Physician Assistant School at DBU?