Welcome to the UAB Advanced Surgical Physician Associate Workshop!
About the ASPAW
The ASPAW is a highly selective one-week intensive surgical training workshop that is sponsored by the UAB Physician Associate Studies Program. The program provides comprehensive, hands-on surgical training to a maximum of 18 students that have been personally selected and nominated by their respective programs. The mission of the program is to utilize didactic instruction and an applied surgical pig lab to allow attendees to obtain the knowledge and technical skills needed to succeed in their surgical clinical rotations and help prepare them for a career as a surgical PA.
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the program will be unable to host the Advanced Surgical PA Workshop this fall. In the interim, the program will continue to focus its efforts on securing funding for future cohorts.
Testimonials
Overview of the UAB ASPAW
Advice from ASPAW Alumni
Alumni Discuss Their New Confidence
Who is Dina DeMarco, ASPAW Program Director?
Alumni Talk About Skills Learned
Alumni Describe their ASPAW Experience
UAB ASPAW Brochure Video
Testimonials are accounts of our students’ real experiences and personal opinions. The testimonials presented on UAB’s websites are applicable to the individuals sharing them, and may not be indicative of future outcomes for prospective students. UAB cannot and does not guarantee specific outcomes for students who attend its programs. The students whose testimonials are shared here were not compensated for these statements.
About the Training
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Lectures
Covers aseptic technique, principals of surgical assisting, tissue handling, documentation, wound closure techniques, surgical instrumentation/equipment, principals of laparoscopy, ultrasound basics, local anesthetics and performing minor surgeries -
Classroom Lab
Includes hands-on instruction in surgical knot tying and suturing, performing minor surgeries under local anesthetic, vessel ligations, utilization of negative pressure wound therapy, and inserting central lines under ultrasound guidance. -
Live Animal Lab
Dedicated operating room experience as a 1st surgical assistant during open and laparoscopic procedures on live, anesthetized pigs, insertion of chest tubes and surgical drains, insertion of trocars and closure of lap port sites, laparoscopic trainers and dexterity challenges.
About the UAB Physician Associate Studies Program
Founded in 1967, the UAB Physician Associate Studies program is the second oldest PA program in the country and one of very few programs with a focused surgical curriculum. The UAB PA program is located in the School of Health Professions (SHP), in the Department of Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences (CDS), and is an integral part of the UAB medical and academic community.
With our surgically focused core curriculum and surgical facilities, we provide attendees direct, hands-on experiences utilizing state-of-the art resources.
Questions? Email Dina DeMarco, MSPAS, PA-C