Salus, Caldwell Universities Partner to Mint Next Physician Assistants

Salus University recently expanded their partnership with Caldwell University in Caldwell, New Jersey, to establish a new “4+2” articulation agreement that allows Caldwell graduates who earn a bachelor’s degree and complete the Pre-Physician Assistant curriculum to apply for admission into the Salus Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program.

Mirroring the shared commitment of Salus and Caldwell to train and educate the next generation of healthcare professionals, the partnership was established to give students who successfully complete a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree along with the Pre-Physician Assistant curriculum at Caldwell, while maintaining the PA program’s admissions requirements, a pathway to earn a Master of Medical Science degree in PA Studies at Salus in two years. Under the agreement, undergraduates enrolled in the program will receive both mentorship and guidance from a faculty advisor and the Office of Admissions at Salus.

“Salus University is proud to grow our long-standing partnership with Caldwell University to now include the PA Studies program. This agreement will enable an effective transition from undergraduate programs at Caldwell and better prepare students for graduate school at Salus,” said Monica Scirrotto, MS, director of Admissions at Salus. “The need for PAs in the healthcare setting continues to increase and partnerships like this one make graduate school more attainable, giving students greater opportunities to earn healthcare degrees, which will be extremely important in addressing the overall shortage of healthcare workers and easing the strain COVID-19 placed on the healthcare system.”

The physician assistant (PA) profession is one of the fastest growing professions, with the number of jobs expected to increase 31 percent between 2019 and 2029, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and U.S. News and World Report lists the profession among the best jobs of 2021.

Ranked as one of the leading PA programs in the U.S. by Newsweek, the University’s PA Studies program prepares students to become integral members of today’s healthcare delivery team. The program offers early and extensive clinical training and case-based learning. The second year is dedicated to clinical rotations, providing direct patient care experiences in primary and specialty care settings.

“Caldwell is thrilled to partner with Salus University for the Physician Assistant Studies graduate program. This is a wonderful opportunity for our graduates to make a smooth transition into a master's PA program,” said Peter Ubertaccio, PhD, vice president for academic affairs at Caldwell. “Given the burdens the COVID-19 pandemic has placed on the healthcare sector, we are especially happy to work with Salus to help our graduates take their next steps toward pursuing a career in this important and growing profession."

Salus partners with colleges and universities on a local, regional and national scale to offer specialized opportunities to students who want to accelerate their academic careers in health science.

For more information about the agreement or any of the University’s academic partnerships, contact the Office of Admissions at 215.780.1305 or visit the webpage.