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Physician Assistant

Physician Assistant Resources Guide

Key databases

Academic Search Premier–This is a multi-disciplinary database, using it would be a good place to conduct a general search of your topic. It would also be especially useful if your research topic crosses multiple disciplines. This database includes full text for nearly 9000 academic journals, including full text for more than 7000 journals.

Access Medicine– focuses on emerging trends, across a number of healthcare professions. You might want to select this database if you are focusing on an emerging trend, or current event within the health field.

CINAHL with Full Text – Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature*– CINAHL is the abbreviation for the Cumulated Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature. It is a comprehensive nursing & allied health research database and provides full text versions of more than 760 journals. This database also contains searchable cited references for more than 1,150 journals and provides full text for 329 journals, plus legal cases, clinical innovations, critical paths, drug records, research instruments and clinical trials. PDF backfiles to 1982 are also included.

The Cochrane Library– is a collection of three databases that contain different types of high-quality, independent evidence to inform healthcare decision-making, and tool you can use to get quick answers to clinical questions.

Includes: Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (CDSR) – Cochrane Reviews, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) – Clinical Trials, Epistemonikos – “Other Reviews,” Clinical Answers.

The Directory of Open Access Journals– is a collection of freely available Academic Journals. This database includes more than 17,000 journals, and more than 7,000,000 articles available covering all areas of science, technology, medicine, social sciences, arts and humanities. They have journals that focus specifically on a variety of sciences and health sciences within their holdings.

HerbMedPro– is an interactive, electronic herbal database provides hyperlinked access to the scientific data underlying the use of herbs for health. It is an evidence-based information resource for professionals, researchers, and general public.

Natural Medicines– a resource which provides information about specific herbs and supplements and their effects, as well as citation for effects for further research.

JSTOR– is a general resource and would be a good place to start a general search. This database contains full-text scholarly journals from the Arts & Sciences I, III & VIII collections which include archaeology, arts & art history, classical studies, history, humanities, language & literature, music, philosophy, and social sciences.

PsycARTICLES– covers the professional academic literature focusing on psychology and related disciplines including medicine, psychiatry, nursing, sociology, education, pharmacology, physiology, linguistics, and other areas.

PubMed–grants access to MEDLINE (which contains citations and abstracts, and provides access to a broad range of biomedical and health literature). This could lead you to find articles you might need an ILL request for. New reference items for not yet indexed in MEDLINE are included in PubMed. Alternative Medicine, Acupuncture, and Chinese Medicine journals are also included in this resource as well.

R2 Digital Library–provides you access to medical texts. There are a variety of subjects covered within this collections from psychiatry to alternative medicine.

ScienceDirect– provides access to more than 18 million articles and book chapters from over 2,650 peer-reviewed journals and 42,000 e-books, including books, book series and major reference works, and digital archives that reach as far back as 1823 to help users discover more science, use their time efficiently and make decisions with the highest-quality scientific information.

UpToDate–this database focuses on patient care, it uses current evidence to answer clinical questions quickly and easily. The goal is to save clinicians’ time, while improving outcomes, and lowering health care costs.

Selected ejournal titles

  • The New England Journal of Medicine – Available from 1990. You can access this journal through the Massachusetts Medical Society. This journal focuses on research, clinical insights, and medical breakthroughs.
  • PLoS Medicine – Available from 2004. You can access this journal through the Academic Search Premier. This journal publishes outstanding human studies that substantially enhance the understanding of human health & disease.
  • Family Medicine – Available from 1998. You can access this journal through EBSCO Open Access Journals. The works included in this journal focus on the discipline of family medicine, particularly focusing on primary care medical education, health workforce policy, and health services research.
  • Preventive Medicine – Available from 1972. You can access this journal through ScienceDirect. Preventive Medicine is an international scholarly journal that publishes original articles on the science and practice of disease prevention, health promotion, and public health policymaking.
  • International Journal of Women’s Health – Available from 2009. You can access this journal through EBSCO Open Access Journals. This is an international peer-reviewed open access journal that focuses on all aspects of women’s healthcare including gynecology, obstetrics, and breast cancer.
  • Women’s Health Issues – Available from 1995. You can access this journal through ScienceDirect. Women’s Health Issues (WHI) is a peer-reviewed, bimonthly, multidisciplinary journal that publishes research and review manuscripts related to women’s health care and policy.
  • Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health – Available from 2015. You can access this journal through EBSCO Open Access Journals. The Journal aims to maximize the mental, physical and social health and well-being of military personnel, Veterans and their families.
  • Men’s Health Journal – Available from 2018. You can access this journal through EBSCO Open Access Journals. Men’s health journal (MHJ) is an international, peer-reviewed open access journal. This is an international peer-reviewed open access journal that focuses on all aspects of men’s healthcare.

Browse print books

  • Find shelves on 3rd floor with call number ranges below.
  • Books within these call number ranges are organized by subject, so you can find other related books.
Keyword Call # range
Pathology RB 1-214
Internal Medicine RC 31-1245
Surgery RD 1-811
Gynecology and Obstetrics RG 1-991
Pediatrics RJ 1-570
Dermatology RL 1-803
Therapeutics RM 1-950

Browse ebooks

Below are links to our eBooks collections, they can be accessed on your devices.  You will need to sign in to your University of Bridgeport account before accessing these resource.

Credo Reference

ebook Central

eBook Collection

 Hathi Trust: This is a digital library with the mission of research, scholarship, and the common good by collaboratively collecting, organizing, preserving, communicating, and sharing the record of human knowledge. This resource has information about Dentistry available, what is unique about this resource is there are resources multiple languages, as well as older articles as well.

R2 Digital Library: This is a digital library that contains medical texts. There are a variety of subjects covered within this collections from psychiatry to alternative medicine.

Web Pages:

Medical Searches:

MedNar is a federated search that focuses on medical information. This service searches commercial sites as well as government sites, and allows you to limit results by type. MedNar also suggests medical subject headings (MeSH) for searches, as well a medical dictionary.

TRIP is a clinical search engine designed to allow users to quickly and easily find and use high-quality research evidence to support their practice and/or care. The site also allows clinicians to search across other content types including: images, videos, patient information leaflets, educational courses, and news.

Additional Web Resources:

ClinicalTrials.gov – A searchable database, run by the National Library of Medicine, of privately and publicly funded clinical studies conducted around the world.

MedLine Plus’ Medical Terminology Encyclopedia: MedLine Plus’ information is from National Library of Medicine. This page links to the A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia includes over 4,000 articles about diseases, tests, symptoms, injuries, and surgeries. It also contains an extensive library of medical photographs and illustrations.

The National Institute of Health’s Herb List – This resource is an app you can download to either iOS or Android. It was created by the National Institute of Health, and contains information on potential safety problems, side effects, and herb-drug interactions with additional links to resources for more information. They can also mark favorite herbs for quick recall and offline accessibility.

The National Library of Medicine – The National Library of Medicine is operated by the United States Government. It conducts and supports research in methods for recording, storing, retrieving, preserving, and communicating health information.

Physician Assistant History Center – Dedicated to the study, preservation and presentation of the history of the Physician Assistant profession.

PA Online MedEd – An online resource for education utilizing a video-based approach. Indications are for free registration. Also additional tools for study include flashcards and quick tables highlighting subject specific areas.

Historical Anatomies on the Web (National Library of Medicine) – A digital project sponsored by the NLM offering high quality images from important anatomical atlases in the Library’s collection.

Cells Alive – A site that promotes study of cellular biology through interactive videos, games and puzzles, filled with images that enhance learning.

Furthering Your Studies…

Student Involvement:

There are ways that you can get involved and build experience and familiarity with your field on campus. You can join, or start a student chapter of a Professional Organization, of which a few are linked and listed below. To start a club or organization, contact or drop by the Office of Student Activities. You can also volunteer your services as well to gain experience as a professional.

In addition to student organizations, there is also UB’s Clinic. You can ask your professor about further information on how or when you will be able to be involved.

Joining Established Student Organizations:

Student Organizations: To get involved on campus, you can participate in events. Information about student organizations is listed in the previously linked page. If you click on the name of an organization you are interested in you can see if they have any upcoming events, as well as any other organization that is co-hosting or co-chairing their event. Below are some relevant student organizations to your field you might be interested in.

An example of an active student organization on campus that is related to your field is the The Society of Minority Health Professionals. The Society of Minority Health Professional’s mission is to create a positive and motivational atmosphere for minorities working toward becoming our future health care providers. They aim to encourage a movement of leaders to fulfill the need of diversity in the health field. They host, and co-chair many events and are an active group.

Continuing Education and Standards:

Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) – The accrediting agency that protects the interests of the public and physician assistant profession by defining the standards for physician assistant education and evaluating physician assistant educational programs within the territorial United States to ensure their compliance with those standards.

National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA)
The credentialing organization for physician assistants in the United States, the NCCPA is dedicated to assuring the public that certified physician assistants meet established standards of knowledge and clinical skills upon entry into practice and throughout their careers.

Practicing Clinicians Exchange for Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants – Continuing Education resources for Physician Assistants, including live, home-study and internet-based continuing education.

Professional Organizations

To further your involvement in your field, you might want to join a professional organization. A professional organization would assist you in research, networking, mentorship, and much more. You can read about the specific organizations on their individual websites listed below. As a student of the University of Bridgeport, you would qualify for the Student Membership rate, which is either free or at a reduced cost.

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) – The national professional association representing all PAs across all medical and surgical specialties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the armed forces, and the federal services. It provides comprehensive support and advocacy for physician assistants so that they may, in turn, provide patients with increased access to quality, cost-effective health care. Student membership information is available HERE. Additional information about the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants such as rotation do’s and don’ts, and resources can be found HERE.

Connecticut Academy of Physician Assistants (CONNPA) – This is the association for Physician Assistants in Connecticut.

Physician Assistant Educational Association (PAEA) – The only national organization representing physician assistant educational programs in the United States. PAEA provides services for faculty at its member programs, as well as to applicants, students, and other stakeholders. There are a variety of volunteer projects that you can take part in through this organization. Volunteer opportunities can be found HERE. This organization has an honor society, of which could be established at the University of Bridgeport. Information about this organizations Honor Society can be found HERE.

Association of Family Practice PA & and NPs – This organization focuses on Family practices. Their mission is to foster the educational and professional interests of Family Practice Clinicians collectively known as Advanced Practice Clinicians, by promoting clinical and academic excellence and providing a forum for assembling and distributing information important to the profession.

American Academy of Nephrology Physician Assistants – This organization specifically focuses physician assistants within the specialty of nephrology.

American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants– AASPA is the oldest specialty for PAs. The website includes employment opportunities, CME, information on PA residencies, and more.

Association of Neurosurgical Physician Assistants (ANSPA) –This organization focuses on PA’s within the field of neurological surgery and neurology.

Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery (APACVS) –This organization is endorsed by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the American Association for Thoracic Surgeons. It’s focus is supporting PA’s who have a focus on Cardiovascular Surgery.

Association of Physicians Assistants in Obstetrics and Gynecology– This organization focuses on PA’s within the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Gastroenterology Physician Assistants– This organization focuses on PA’s within the field of Gastroenterology.

Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants (SEMPA) –SEMPA works closely with the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the American College of Emergency Physicians.

Society of Physician Assistants in Otorhinolaryngology/Head and Neck Surgery–SPAO-HNS is recognized by the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and the American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery (AAO)

Society of Physician Assistants in Rheumatology (SPAR) –SPAR’s mission is to enhance the health and well-being of the people with rheumatological disorders through the representation and advancement of the Physician-PA Team.

Contact your Librarian

Contact us for:

  • Help with research assignments and projects
  • Information literacy sessions