In yet another example of how Daemen University distinguishes itself nationally, the 2023 graduates of the Physician Assistant Studies program achieved a 100% first-time pass rate on the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination (PANCE), which is above the national average.
Physician Assistants must pass the PANCE after graduating in order to practice clinically. The multiple-choice exam assesses basic medical and surgical knowledge.
The class, which saw 57 students graduate in May, started the PA program in September 2020 at the heart of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Despite the logistic challenges of the Covid pandemic, students and faculty understood that standards of care could not be compromised,” said Joel Patterson, the program chair and associate professor. “Through innovation, creativity, dedication, and extremely hard work, the PA graduates of 2023 who began their PA training in 2020 were extremely successful in reaching their goals.”
The national first-time pass rate was 92% in 2022.