NLU PA Program — Didactic Year Handbook
Message from the Program Director
Dear National Louis University Physician Assistant Student,
Welcome — and congratulations on making it here. Whether this is the first day that truly feels real, or you’ve been counting down to it for months, I am genuinely glad you are joining us. Every cohort brings its own energy to this program, and I am looking forward to seeing what yours brings. I won’t pretend the didactic year is easy. It isn’t. You are about to learn an enormous amount of material, in a short amount of time, and you’ll be asked to start thinking and carrying yourself like a clinician long before that feels natural. There will be weeks that stretch you further than you expected. That is by design, not a flaw in the process — it is exactly how the foundation gets built for the confident, capable PA you are training to become. What I want you to know is that you are not doing this alone. Our faculty and staff chose careers in PA education because we care about this profession and about the people entering it. We are invested in your success, not just your survival, and we mean it when we say our door is open. If something is hard — academically, personally, or anywhere in between — tell us early. We would much rather work through a problem with you in week two than discover it in week twelve. This handbook is where we’ve gathered everything you need to navigate the didactic year: how the curriculum is organized, what we expect of you, how you’ll be evaluated, and the policies and resources that support you along the way. Keep it close, read it with care, and don’t hesitate to ask questions. Welcome to the NLU PA Program family. I am proud you are here, and I cannot wait to watch you grow into the physician assistant you are meant to become.
Warmly,
Robert Hill, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C
Physician Assistant Program Director
National Louis University
Message from the Director of Didactic Education
Dear Incoming PA Students,
I still remember what it feels like to sit where you are sitting right now — that mix of excitement and nerves, wondering if you are truly ready for what comes next. Take a breath. You were chosen for this program because our faculty saw in you exactly what it takes to succeed here. Trust that. As your Director of Didactic Education, I will be one of the people walking alongside you through this first year, and I want you to know a little about how I think about this role. My job is not simply to hand you material and check whether you’ve learned it. My job is to make sure you have what you need — the
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