Marquette University’s Physician Assistant (PA) program has a strong reputation for producing well-rounded healthcare professionals. As the program continues to evolve, integrating virtual placements has become essential for preparing students for real-world clinical environments. With 59 virtual placements across key specialties, the program emphasizes balancing meeting clinical hour requirements and advancing students’ hands-on skills in telemedicine and documentation.
Challenge
Like many higher educational institutions, Marquette faced difficulties finding sufficient in-person placements for students in high-demand specialties, such as pediatrics and psychiatry. As healthcare increasingly adopts virtual care models, Marquette recognized the need to integrate telemedicine into its clinical training. Additionally, the program wanted to ensure students developed strong documentation and patient interaction skills to meet the demands of modern healthcare practices. Together, we identified the following core problems to solve with our partnership:
- Bridge gaps in placements across pediatrics, psychiatry, primary care, and women’s health.
- Equip students with telemedicine experience to reflect the growing role of virtual care.
- Reinforce students’ ability to document effectively and engage with patients.
- Establish long-term placement security for the program.
Solution
MomentMD collaborated with Marquette University to implement virtual placements that seamlessly integrated into the PA curriculum. Why telemedicine? Because it offers unparalleled flexibility, ensuring students can complete rotations without geographic or logistical constraints. By incorporating virtual placements, Marquette PA students gain critical exposure to the technologies and workflows shaping the future of healthcare, in addition to:
- Expanding Specialty Coverage: Initially focusing on pediatrics and psychiatry, we expanded coverage to include primary care and women’s health, ensuring students received exposure to diverse patient populations and healthcare needs.
- Hands-On Practice: To enhance clinical readiness, each placement included structured opportunities for students to practice documentation at least twice daily. These sessions allowed students to refine their medical writing skills while engaging with patients virtually to ensure well-rounded learning.
- Long-Term Planning: We secured placements through July 2025, providing Marquette with the stability needed to focus on curriculum development and other program priorities.
Results
Since the program’s implementation, MomentMD has supported 59 virtual placements, spanning four key specialties, with placements secured through mid-2025. These placements have not only filled gaps in the program’s clinical rotations, but they have also provided students with invaluable telemedicine experience. With MomentMD, students have gained significant experience engaging with patients virtually, practicing documentation, and applying their clinical knowledge in telemedicine environments. This hands-on approach has prepared them for both current and future healthcare challenges.
Future Plans
MomentMD and Marquette University are exploring opportunities to integrate multidisciplinary virtual clinics into their rotations, where students can collaborate with other healthcare trainees, to address complex patient cases. This team-based approach will provide students with a broader perspective on holistic care, fostering advanced problem-solving and communication skills. Additionally, plans include implementing patient-driven care models, where students actively involve patients in creating their treatment plans, enhancing both engagement and shared decision-making.
Good things to come, stay tuned.
Interested in partnering with MomentMD for your college or university’s virtual precepting needs? Get in touch with us here.