Community Life Opportunities : University of Dayton, Ohio

Community Life Opportunities

When you're a part of the community that makes up the University of Dayton Department of Physician Assistant Education, you're more than just a student in a classroom. You're part of a team that's committed to the service of the human person through the skillful, compassionate, and ethical provision of health care within the context of the Catholic Marianist tradition.

Our program utilizes technology blended with traditional hands-on experiences to provide you with the best possible experience to prepare you for clinical practice.

Highlights from our community

Physician assistant student with children

Community Service

Faculty members Sean Haig and Kelli Huesman volunteer at Dayton's Reach Out clinic most weeks, providing pro bono medical care for women and children residing at a local shelter. Each week, PA students join as part of their pediatric clinical experience and to give back to the community.

Healer's Art

The University of Dayton was the first program to offer The Healer's Art course to Physician Assistant Education students. The course explores the "art of medicine" via reflection and discussion of such topics as self-care, grief and loss, healing lineage, courage, and service as a way of life. This course has allowed our students to make stronger connections with their classmates, reaffirm their calling to the physician assistant profession, gain tools to avoid burnout and strengthen their commitment to the compassionate care of their patients.

Photo of Physician Assistant students in an experiential learning environment

Global Health

We partnered with Child Family Health International to offer a wider variety of international elective options for our students in various countries and specialties. Our program offers opportunities for global health electives during the clinical year. In 2025, one of our faculty members led a group of students to Kenya to complete an elective clinical rotation alongside the Kenyan and missionary physicians who practice in the hospital.

Health Education in Local Schools

As part of the PA Education Association's Project Access, UDPA students partner with DECA high school and DECA middle school to share information about the PA profession and provide health education to young people. PA students have also led health education seminars at the Bombeck Family Learning Center, teaching preschool children about the importance of handwashing and demonstrating proper techniques.