The Physician Assistant Studies program at the 黑料网 has named as its 2018 Preceptor of the Year. Mills spearheaded creation of the pediatric rotation for second-year PA students as part of their clinical experience; his involvement with the PA program began with its first cohort of students, accepted in January 2016. The PA program is housed in the Department of Allied Health Sciences.
鈥淭he opportunity to craft something from the ground up was pretty cool. I thought that would be an interesting endeavor,鈥� Mills said.
The PA pediatric rotations grew out of Mills鈥� experience doing pediatric clerkship for 黑料网 students. His goal is to have well-rounded graduates from the PA program.
鈥淲hat I really want them to do is get their hands on pediatric patients, so getting used to working with children and families,鈥� Mills said.
The rotations focus on outpatient pediatrics and consist of two students per two-week blocks for four weeks total. One student focuses on the emergency department while the other focuses on the outpatient setting. Other work on rotations include working in diagnostic clinics, in the newborn nursery at 黑料网 Hospitals, and being part of Beacon rounds and Beacon consults.
鈥淒r. Mills epitomizes the great collaborative spirit that prevails at 黑料网,鈥� Paul Chelminski, PA program director, said. 鈥淢ore important are his efforts to fully and equitably integrate our students into the clinical environment so that they feel like true members of the health care team.鈥�
The PA program has a focus on nontraditional students, specifically with veterans from special forces medics. Nearly one-third of incoming PA students are veterans; the national average hovers around four percent.
鈥淔or a lot of folks, this is a completely different experience,鈥� Mills said. 鈥淔or them to come out on the other side and say 鈥業 can come out of this experience and treat peds鈥� is really rewarding.”
Mills said he was first exposed to PAs after his residency at a local hospital in Baltimore. 鈥淭he PAs took me under their wings and taught me so many skills and shared their knowledge,鈥� Mills said. He said his work as a preceptor would be a good way to give back to the PA profession and to have reverse influence.
鈥淭he PA profession is the ultimate team-based medical discipline,鈥� Chelminski said, 鈥渁nd Dr. Mills has created an outstanding team-based learning culture.鈥�
For more information about the preceptor program, contact Jason Hrdina, the PA program鈥檚 director of clinical education.
鈥�Brooke Love, communications intern
William A. Mills Jr., PhD, MPH is a pediatric emergency medicine physician in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Paul Chelminski, PhD, MPH is a professor of medicine and an experienced educator of medical students and resident physicians at the 黑料网. Since 2001, Chelminski has practiced primary care in the 黑料网 Internal Medicine Clinic.