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Dear Physician Assistant Students,
As the Program Director for the Nova Southeastern University (NSU) Physician Assistant Program located in Jacksonville, Florida, it is my honor to extend a heartfelt congratulations and welcome to the incoming Class of 2028. The hard work and determination to achieve this accomplishment does not go unnoticed and deserves special recognition. Nova Southeastern University is a place with a commitment to academic excellence. While in the Program, students will broaden their horizons and learn more than they can imagine as well as establish a network of lifelong mentors and friends.
Again, congratulations and welcome. We look forward to meeting everyone in person very soon.
Sincerely,
Dr. Racheal McInnis
Program Director/Assistant Professor
Orientation Overview
Date: May 18-21, 2026
Place: Jacksonville, Florida (in person)
Orientation for the Jacksonville Physician Assistant program will be four days, Monday, May 18, 2026, through Thursday, May 21, 2026. On the first day of orientation, there will be an Orientation Ceremony. This Ceremony will be on Campus and is mandatory for all students.
Following the Orientation Ceremony, the incoming class will participate in activities that will familiarize students with Nova Southeastern University, the Jacksonville campus, and the Physician Assistant program. Attendance for all orientation events is mandatory. Students will not be excused from any portion of orientation.
Expected student attire for the Orientation Ceremony is professional attire as described below.
Professional attire for men includes slacks, shirt and tie, collared shirts, socks, shoes.
Professional attire for women includes dresses or skirts of appropriate length or slacks, blouses, and closed-toe shoes.
Summer Registration
Coordinator, Ms. Parisi-Hanuman, in the Physician Assistant Program during the month of April. Her email address is pparisi@nova.edu.
Summer Booklist
Students are responsible for obtaining all required textbooks and materials. Recommended textbooks and materials are selected by the course directors to enhance student learning; however, students are not required to obtain recommended textbooks and materials.
Some textbooks are available online through the Health Professions Division (HPD), Library system. Students are to review the booklist to identify which books are available online. Books, whether online or not, can be purchased through the NSU bookstore.
Physician Assistant Program Attire
The required PA Program attire includes:
1. NSU-approved embroidered scrubs (see flyer below)
2. NSU-approved polo shirt (see flyer below)
Students are required to wear NSU-approved scrub uniforms every day starting Tuesday, May 19, 2026. Students may wear an NSU-colored (navy blue, black, white, or grey) sweat jacket or sweatshirt over the NSU-approved scrub uniform. Please note that the sweat jacket, scrub jacket, or sweatshirt cannot have any non-NSU logos and must be NSU-colored.
Please use the link provided on the flyer to order the PA Program Attire no later than Friday, May 1, 2026, due to the minimum 10-day turnaround for embroidering.
Closed-toed athletic shoes and clogs with fully enclosed backs are the required footwear. Crocs or mules are not allowed.
Physical Diagnosis Lab Attire
Physical Diagnosis Lab Attire consists of a light heather grey T-shirt and navy-blue mesh shorts with side pockets. Please see the links below.
T-Shirt: Heather Grey T-Shirt
- Color: LIGHT Heather Grey
Shorts: Navy Blue Mesh Shorts
- Color: Navy
- Inseam Length: 9 inches
- Must have pockets
Diagnostic Equipment
The second week of the semester, the Physical Diagnosis I course directors will hold a diagnostic equipment fair. Students are discouraged from purchasing diagnostic equipment prior to the equipment fair to assure the correct equipment is obtained.
Anatomy & Physiology
It is highly recommended that students review Anatomy and Physiology before starting the summer semester. Anatomy & Physiology are foundational courses that will be carried forward throughout PA school. Please review the required textbooks for Anatomy and Physiology.
Medical Terminology Information
During the week of Orientation, students will be expected to pass a Medical Terminology examination. Please review the medical terminology textbook from your prerequisite course. If no textbook is available, please review the suggested textbook below before orientation to be successful on this examination. For any questions regarding this examination, please email Professor Shah at cshah@nova.edu.
Medical Terminology Textbook:
Medical Terminology: An Illustrated Guide 9th ed. (2020) Cohen, B. J., & Jones, S. A. Jones & Bartless Learning: Burlington, MA. ISBN-13: 978-1975136376 and ISBN-10: 1975136373
Physical Diagnosis I
In preparation for the first Physical Diagnosis course, students are required to purchase the required textbook with videos and full Digital Access (Bates’ Guide to Physical Examination and History Taking, 14th edition). Please see ISBN below:
- Print: ISBN-13: 9781975278618
OR
- eBook: ISBN-13: 9781975277734
Diagnostic Equipment
There will be two Zoom sessions held prior to the start of the Summer I semester to discuss this information.
Session 1:
Date: 4/29/2026
Time: 6p-7p
Session 2:
Date: 4/29/2026
Time: 3:30p-4:30p
Zoom Link (same for both sessions above): https://nova.zoom.us/j/82657559827?pwd=V7eA1QED9uNRerqArpY0Z7KHYhsVBI.1&from=addon
Meeting ID: 826 5755 9827
Passcode: 090727
SharkCards
The NSU SharkCard is the official Nova Southeastern University identification card. All students, faculty, and staff are required to carry the NSU SharkCard for identification purposes and to access secured areas on campus. In addition, the SharkCard can be used as a library card and copy machine purchases. Students must be registered for classes prior to requesting a SharkCard. The SharkCard office will be on the NSU – Jacksonville campus to take pictures and issue SharkCards in person. Additional information will be provided. This is the preferred method.
NSU Parking Permits
All students, faculty, and staff at Nova Southeastern University's campus in Jacksonville are required to obtain a parking decal. Students can obtain parking decal information at NSU's Student Parking webpage.
Physician Assistant students are required to maintain adequate health insurance while in the Physician Assistant program.
Nova Southeastern University health plans are available for students who need coverage. Detailed information on the plan, benefits, and cost are available to students at NSU's Student Health Insurance webpage.
Students are automatically enrolled in the Nova Southeastern University Student Medical Insurance Plan after registering for class and the charge is assessed to the student account.
Students who carry an insurance plan that offers equivalent or greater coverage than provided by the NSU Student Insurance Plan, may choose to opt out of the NSU health plan by June 15, 2026 by completing the online 2026-2027 waiver form.
Waivers and pricing for 2026-2027 are available after May 1.
For health insurance questions email studenthealth@nova.edu or visit NSU's Student Health Insurance webpage.
Please see the main orientation website for this information.