Here is a head’s up on some acronyms you might hear around the halls

AAPA – American Academy of Physician Assistants: The unifying representative body of the Physician Assistant profession which also publishes a peer review medical journal called JAAPA. Student membership to the organization is significantly discounted to $75 for the 29-month length of our program and is a great opportunity to become involved in the profession. You can join online.

Boards – See PANCE and USMLE.

BRS – Board Review Series; study guides for various subjects tested on the USMLE. They can be helpful for some courses.

CHKD (or just KD) – Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters; large pediatric complex adjoining Sentara Norfolk General Hospital and across Children’s Lane from Brickell Library. CHKD on the Peninsula refers to their second location in Newport News.

GTA – Genital Teaching Assistant; instructors who offer feedback on the gyn, prostate and rectal exams using their own bodies as models.

HCA – Hague Club Apartments; the apartment complex operated by EVMS mostly inhabited by medical students.

HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996; first-ever federal privacy standards to protect patients’ medical information.

M1, M2, M3, M4 – first year, second year, third year, fourth year medical student

MDL – Multi-Disciplinary Lab; one of the laboratory rooms on the second floor used for the neuro section of anatomy lab and for clinical skills class beginning second semester.

MPH – Master of Public Health; 2-year graduate program in conjunction with ODU; program includes one or two members of each MD class who split either the first or second year to complete a combined MD/MPH within five years.

NCCPA - National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants: The body charged with the certification of all physician assistants administering the PANCE and PANRE.

ODU – Old Dominion University

PA – Physician Assistant

PANCE – Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination: One of your first steps after graduating from an accredited PA school will be to take this exam administered by NCCPA. PANCE is a 360-question, multiple-choice exam that is a prerequisite for licensure in all U.S. states. After you pass PANCE, you’ll be issued a certificate naming you a Physician Assistant-Certified designee. Your certificate will be valid through December 31 of the second year after you pass PANCE, and you will begin a six-year certification maintenance cycle.

Pimp – Verb referring to the questioning of a medical trainee until the extent of his or her knowledge is revealed, often to the delight of the resident or attending asking the questions; process of running through an instructor’s favorite set of arcane information.

PSC – Pan Student Council; student government and advocacy.

SAAAPA – Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants: The national student body and accompanying local chapter of the student organization for physician assistants. You are automatically a member of this organization by enrolling in school and this is a great opportunity to take on leadership roles within both the local and national organizations. All elected leaders of this organization must have a student membership in the AAPA.

SP – Standardized Patient; diverse group of men, women and children who portray different cases and offer feedback on interviewing and physical examination techniques.

TATC – Theresa A. Thomas Professional Skills Teaching and Assessment Center; fourth floor of Fairfax Hall is the location for SP practice sessions and exams for the clinical assessment course.

VAPA – Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants: The Virginia chapter of the AAPA representing the profession on a more local basis. Student membership is only $10 for the 29-months of our program. You can join online.

Appendix – Additional vocabulary when speaking with medical students.

ITP – Introduction to the Patient; a course that covers interviewing and physical examination techniques and spans both the first and second years of medical school.

LGM – Longitudinal Generalist Mentorship; an opportunity to work with a community physician practicing family medicine, internal medicine or pediatrics. LGM begins in the second semester of the first year and spans the second year of medical school.

USMLE – United States Medical Licensure Examination; a multi-step written and practical series of tests administered over the course of medical training. Step 1 is taken at the end of the 2nd year of medical school. Step 2 is taken during the 4th year. Step 3 is taken at the end of internship.

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