Physician Associates
Last amended 10/09/2024
Physician Associates have been trained at the University of Leeds since the programme began in 2015 and we now have a considerable number of graduates working across a variety of settings in this region. They are trained in the medical model to be generalist healthcare professionals, who work alongside doctors and provide medical care as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team. They are dependent practitioners working with a dedicated medical supervisor but can work autonomously with appropriate support. Their roles and responsibilities generally include:
- Taking medical histories
- Performing physical examinations
- Requesting and interpreting diagnostic tests
- Diagnosing illnesses
- Managing patients with long term illnesses
- Performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures
- Developing and delivering appropriate treatment and management plans
- Health promotion and disease prevention advice
Physician Associates will be regulated by the GMC from December 2024 and more information on this can be found in their PA and AA regulation hub – it contains information for PAs, doctors, patients and employers. Up to date information on the development of the role can also be found here: Faculty of Physician Associate website
Our students come onto the course having completed an undergraduate degree in a health-related science, primarily a BSc Biomedical Science Degree. The MSc in Physician Associate Studies is then an intensive and challenging 2-year course with a spiral curriculum and over 1500 hours of clinical placement – please see the Curriculum Poster PA 2024-25 for more information around this.
Year 1 is mainly campus-based as they build their foundation of knowledge and skills. Year 2 is mainly placement-based as they apply these to real world settings. Our students gain experience in a wide range of primary, secondary and community settings and are supported by all members of the multidisciplinary team.
Our sincere thanks to all involved in supporting our physician associate students on placement. If you would like to get involved further or have any questions, please get in touch with Sarah Howarth (Academic Lead for PA Student Placements – s.d.howarth@leeds.ac.uk) or Anna Foley (Partnerships and Placements Manager for Clinical Programmes – a.m.foley@leeds.ac.uk)
Year 1 Placement Dates – 2024/25
GP placement every Friday between the 27th of September 2024 and the 23rd of May 2025, excluding:
- 1st November
- 20th and 27th December
- 7th March
- 18th April
The 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th June 2025 can be used as catch-up days if any placement days are missed. All students should complete their first year having done 30 days of GP placement.
Year 2 Placement Dates – 2024/25
| Rotation 0
3 weeks Mental Health 3 weeks Intro to General Medicine
|
01/07/24 - 09/08/24 | 9th Aug = campus day |
| Summer Break | 12/08/24 - 01/09/24 | |
| Campus week | 02/09/24 - 08/09/24 | |
| Rotation 1
6 weeks of Medical Specialties (includes general, paeds, acute and elderly medicine)
|
09/09/24 - 18/10/24
|
|
| Campus week | 21/10/24 – 25/10/24 | |
| Rotation 1 continued
3 weeks of Medical Specialties (includes general, paeds, acute and elderly medicine)
|
28/10/24 - 15/11/24
|
|
| Reading week | 18/11/24 - 22/11/24 | |
| Rotation 2
3 weeks of General Practice
|
25/11/24 - 13/12/24
|
|
| Campus week | 16/12/24 – 20/12/24 | |
| Christmas Break | 23/12/24 – 04/01/25 | |
| Campus week | 06/01/25 – 10/01/25 | |
| SDL weeks (dissertation writing time and placement catchup) | 13/01/25 - 24/01/25 | 22nd = campus day |
| Rotation 3
7 weeks of Surgical Specialties (includes emergency med, surgery, obs and gynae, and ophthalmology and ENT) |
27/01/25 - 14/03/25 | |
| Campus week | 17/03/25 – 21/03/25 | |
| Rotation 3 continued
3 weeks of Surgical Specialties (includes emergency med, surgery, obs and gynae, and ophthalmology and ENT) |
24/03/25 - 11/04/25 | |
| Easter break | 14/04/25- 25/04/25 | |
| Campus week | 28/04/25 - 02/05/25 | |
| Rotation 4
3 weeks of General Medicine |
06/05/25 - 23/05/25 | 5th May bank holiday |
| Bank holiday | 26/05/25 & 27/05/25 | |
| Campus week | 28/05/25 - 30/05/25 | |
| Rotation 5
3 weeks in GP/Hospice |
02/06/25 - 20/06/25 | |
| Revision week | 23/06/25 - 26/06/25 | |
| Exam period & MSc dissertation deadlines | 27th June onwards | |
| Ultrasound Teaching and Hold the Bleep Simulation | 18/07/2025 | |
| ILS Training | 16/07/2025 and 17/07/2025 |
Placement Tutor Guides – 2024/25
- Year 1 GP
- Rotation 0 - Intro to General Medicine
- Rotation 0 - Mental Health
- Rotation 1 – Acute Medicine
- Rotation 1 – Elderly Medicine
- Rotation 1 – General Medicine
- Rotation 1 – Paediatrics
- Rotation 1 – Dermatology
- MSc PA Studies - Year 2 GP Tutor Guide 2024-25
- 2024.25 PA Studies. General Surgery Tutor Guide
- 2024.25 PA Emergency Medicine Tutor Guide
- 2024.25 PA Studies. Obs&Gynae Tutor Guide
- 24.25 PA Studies. ENT&Ophthalmology Tutor Guide
- Rotation 4 – General Medicine (not yet released)
- Rotation 5 – GP & Hospice (not yet released)
Workplace-Based Assessments Guidance – 2024/25
Important PA student documentation
Other placement-related documentation
- Contamination Incidents Guidance
- University of Leeds Student Dress Code
National Curriculum and Assessment
- FPA Draft Physician Associate Curriculum (This is draft until regulation commences Dec 2024)
- The physician associate registration assessment (PARA) is the means by which qualified physician associates demonstrate their readiness to practice in the UK. It comprises a written assessment and OSCE. More info on the content of these exams and the standards expected can be found here.
- GMC Physician Associate and Anaesthesia Associate Generic and Shared Learning Outcomes - this document describes the generic and shared professional capabilities and outcomes that newly qualified PAs must meet to be registered by the GMC.