Why PA Educators & Students Love Aquifer
“We use every Aquifer case available as preparation for clinical rotations and to assure competency at the end of our rotations and program. The best thing about the Aquifer cases is that they tie directly to certifying exam content, allow for the completion of competencies, and are well-received by the students.”
– Robert Jay Amrien, MPAS, PA-C; Bryant University
“I enjoy the step-by-step way you go through the cases. I like that I can control how fast I go through the case and develop critical thinking skills as I try to make my own diagnosis. I appreciate the concise explanations of why an answer I selected was either right or wrong.”
– PA Student
“I really value how close to real life Aquifer is! It makes me feel like I’m on rotation.”
– PA Student
“The cases teach me so much! Whether it be ruling out diagnoses based on presentation or learning about other differential diagnoses and why they are not the answer, the cases are so helpful. They also have so much supplemental information for further explanation.”
– PA Student
Supporting PA Programs
With so much to cover in so little time, today’s PA program directors and faculty need clinical learning tools they can trust.
Over 90 PA programs, 96% of US allopathic medical schools, and a growing number of osteopathic & international medical schools trust Aquifer to standardize clinical experiences and develop clinical reasoning skills.
With 15 million virtual patient cases completed since our founding in 2006, Aquifer is the leader in developing clinical learning tools for medical and health professions education.
Find out how to access Aquifer
Our Proven Pedagogy
- Complete Encounters with Patients & Preceptors
- Realistic Clinical Experiences
- Written by Experts & Aligned with National Curricula
- Modeling Communication
- Embedded Self-Assessment Throughout Cases
- Just-In-Time Coverage of Clinical Excellence Topics
- Integration of Basic Science and Clinical Education
- Formative Assessment Tools build Self-Directed Learners
Complete Encounters with Patients & Preceptors
Aquifer cases walk students through all of the steps of a patient encounter.
Realistic Clinical Experiences
Cases include results of diagnostic testing, videos, audio, and images to provide a deep and realistic patient scenario.
Written by Experts & Aligned with National Curricula
Aquifer cases are written and maintained by the Aquifer Consortium of leading health professions educators, and developed to provide comprehensive coverage of national organization curriculum.
Modeling Communication
Each case includes detailed dialog that models effective communication with both patients and preceptors—an ideal way to prepare students for clinic.
Embedded Self-Assessment Throughout Cases
Cases include built-in questions for self-assessment with detailed answer explanations, opportunities for students to practice writing summary statements, and additional self-assessment questions at the end to reinforce key concepts and extend learning beyond a single scenario.
Just-In-Time Coverage of Clinical Excellence Topics
Brief, just-in-time coverage of Palliative Care, Trauma-Informed Care, Social Determinants of Health, High Value Care, Diagnostic Excellence and Telemedicine is included in select cases - a great way to ensure consistent coverage of these often orphaned topics without adding faculty time.
Integration of Basic Science and Clinical Education
40+ Integrated Illness Scripts are available on core conditions to promote cognitive integration and provide a framework for learners to link basic science and clinical knowledge.
Formative Assessment Tools build Self-Directed Learners
Calibrate formative assessments for Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Radiology drive self-directed learning in clinical students, helping them build higher order thinking and problem solving skills, and provides a common tool and objective data to align students and faculty and leverage mid-clerkship feedback.
PA programs across the country are using Aquifer to:
Standardize clinical rotations
Realistic scenarios walk through a complete patient encounter
Develop clinical decision-making skills
A safe space to practice before EOR’s or OSCE’s
Ensure coverage of key competencies
Fill educational gaps and level the playing field with trusted tools
Provide structured remediation
Rich case library for individualized learning targeted skills development
Support faculty with trusted tools
Ready-to-use teaching resources and classroom activities
Enhance their curriculum
Upgrade lectures, build electives, or supplement courses
Meet the Consortium
The Aquifer Educators Consortium forms the bedrock of Aquifer, bringing together more than 100 MD, DO, PA, and NP educators across disciplines—experts from the national leadership of organizations like AAIM, COMSEP, STFM, AGS, IAMSE, and AUR/AMSER—to collaborate, innovate, and make advances in health professions education.
Tips & Strategies from PA Educators
- Meeting ARC-PA Standards with Aquifer
- Generating Meaningful Discussions about SDOH with Aquifer Cases
- Beyond Memorization: Leading with the “Why” to Improve Clinical Reasoning
- Using Aquifer Cases to Meet ARC-PA Accreditation Standards
- Case Study: Using Aquifer Across the PA Curriculum
- Using Aquifer Cases in Women’s Health and Behavioral Medicine
- Engaging Learners through Teleprecepting
- Case Analysis Tool: Feedback for Developing Clinical Reasoning Skills
- Covering ARC-PA Standards & Supporting SCPEs with Aquifer Custom Courses
Aquifer Delivers
Standardized clinical experiences
Evidence-based, peer-reviewed content
Access to expert medical educators
Coverage of national curricular standards
Easy to use platform with reporting
Our Subscribers
Aquifer serves faculty and students in a total of 384 subscribing programs across a range of health professions. Our subscribers include PA programs, in addition to allopathic, osteopathic, nursing, and residency programs across the US and beyond.
Our current physician assistant subscribers include:
AdventHealth University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program
Albany Medical College Center for Physician Assistant Studies
Alderson Broaddus University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program
Baylor College of Medicine Physician Assistant Program
Boston University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program
Bryant University Physician Assistant Studies Program
Butler University Physician Assistant Program
California Baptist University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program
Campbell University Master of Physician Assistant Practice Program
Case Western Reserve University Physician Assistant Program
Chapman University Physician Assistant Program
Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science Physician Assistant Program
Christian Brothers University Physician Assistant Program
City University of New York School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program
City University of New York York College Physician Assistant Program
Des Moines University Physician Assistant Program
DeSales University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Dominican University of California Physician Assistant Program
Duke University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program
Duquesne University Physician Assistant Studies Program
East Carolina University Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Eastern Michigan University Physician Assistant Program
Emory and Henry College Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program
Florida Gulf Coast University Physician Assistant Program
Florida State University School of Physician Assistant Practice
Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University Physician Assistant Program
Franklin College Physician Assistant Program
Gannon University Erie Campus Physician Assistant Program
Gannon University Ruskin Campus Physician Assistant Program
Gardner-Webb University Physician Assistant Studies Program
George Washington University Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Hardin Simmons University Physician Assistant Program
Hofstra Northwell Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Johnson and Wales University Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program
Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California Physician Assistant Program
Keiser University Physician Assistant Program
Kettering College Physician Assistant Program
Lake Erie College Physician Assistant Program
Lincoln Memorial University School of Medical Sciences Harrogate Tennessee Physician Assistant Program
Marietta College Physician Assistant Program
Marshall B. Ketchum University School for Physician Assistant Studies
Medical University of South Carolina Physician Assistant Studies Program
MGH Institute of Health Professions Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program
Midwestern University Downers Grove Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Midwestern University Glendale Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies
Missouri State University Physician Assistant Studies Program
Monmouth University Master of Science in Physician Assistant
Morehouse School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program
Mount St. Joseph University Physician Assistant Program
New York Institute of Technology Physician Assistant Studies Program
Northeastern University Physician Assistant Program
Northern Arizona University Physician Assistant Program
Ohio University Physician Assistant Program
Oregon Health Science University School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program
Pace University Lenox Hill Hospital Department of Physician Assistant Studies
