Judy Ortiz, MHS, MS, PA-C, has been named the first Dean of the College of Health Sciences for Marshall B. Ketchum University (MBKU) by University President Kevin L. Alexander, O.D., Ph.D. As the 110-year-old University transitions to a multi-disciplinary health education institution, the addition of a Dean of the College of Health Sciences is essential.
"In her role as Dean of the College of Health Sciences, she will also serve as the Director of the School of Physician Assistant Studies (SPAS)”, according to University Provost Dr. Morris Berman. “We welcome Dean Ortiz to the University and look forward to the important leadership role she will play as we welcome our first class of Physician Assistant students in the fall quarter.”
The new School of Physician Assistant Studies is honored to also announce early support for the program by James H. Blake, former trustee for the institution, who has pledged $100,000 in support of an endowed scholarship fund for PA students. Blake said, “I am exceptionally gratified with how President Alexander has advanced this great College (SCCO) into Marshall B. Ketchum University with its vision to reimagine the future of health care education.”
With the high demand for physician assistants in California and nationwide, Marshall B. Ketchum University is proud to be the first Physician Assistant program in Orange County. Dean Ortiz will welcome the inaugural class of 28 in the fall of 2014 who will be candidates to receive their Master of Medical Science (MMS) degree with the first graduation ceremony set for November of 2016.
The new school is especially proud to announce that the ARC-PA (Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant) has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Marshall B. Ketchum University Physician Assistant Program. The status indicates that the plans and resource allocation for the proposed program appear to demonstrate the program's ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards, if fully implemented as planned.
Dean Ortiz joins MBKU from Pacific University where she had been affiliated with the PA program since 1998 and served as the Director of the School of Physician Assistant Studies since 2011. With her Master of Health Science degree and Physician Assistant (PA) certificate from Duke University, she is active in many PA organizations and is well known throughout the PA community.
Marshall B. Ketchum University
About Us
Rooted in a tradition of excellence in Optometry, Marshall B. Ketchum University's (MBKU's), vision is to reimagine the future of health care education by educating caring, inspired health care professionals who are prepared to deliver collaborative, patient-centric health care in an interprofessional environment.
Vision: To reimagine the future of health care education.
Mission: To educate caring, inspired health care professionals who are prepared to deliver collaborative, patient-centric health care in an interprofessional environment.
Core Values: Excellence, Integrity, Innovation, Compassion and Respect.
History
Marshall B. Ketchum University is now home to the Southern California College of Optometry and the School of Physician Assistant Studies. Named after the founder of the optometric institution in 1904, the change to a university structure addresses the growing demand for highly skilled health care professionals. MBKU will provide a diversity of health care education opportunities in an environment fully focused on medical professionalism, combining advanced clinical training with innovative teaching methods. The University confers a four-year, professional degree, Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) and a Master of Science in Vision Science (M.S.) degree. MBKU's School of Physician Assistant Studies expects to award a Master of Medical Sciences (MMS) degree. MBKU has recently announced plans to establish a College of Pharmacy.
The University's superior 110-year-old optometric clinical education program provides patient care experiences in community optometric clinics; exposure to the delivery of optometric care in multi-disciplinary settings; and experiences in practices serving a wide variety of ethnic and socio-economic patient groups. Marshall B. Ketchum University owns and operates two premier eye and vision care centers – University Eye Center at Fullerton located on its campus in Fullerton, CA, and University Eye Center at Los Angeles located on Broadway at Martin Luther King Boulevard near downtown Los Angeles.
Accreditations
Marshall B. Ketchum University: Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Southern California College of Optometry: Accreditation Council on Optometric Education (ACOE) of the American Optometric Association.
School of Physician Assistant Studies: The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Marshall B. Ketchum University Physician Assistant Program.
Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status. The status indicates that the plans and resource allocation for the proposed program appear to demonstrate the program's ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards, if fully implemented as planned. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.