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for Physician Associate programs

Standardize clinical reasoning — without slowing your program down

PA education moves fast while clinical exposure and preceptor bandwith vary widely. Learners often miss key encounters during rotations before they've tested in high-stakes OSCEs and real-world scenarios. This makes it hard for programs to ensure every learner develops the same clinical reasoning, communication, and technical skills.

DDx closes that gap with AI-enabled, multi-role case simulation designed for how PAs actually practice. Built by clinicians and aligned to ARC-PA standards, DDx gives programs a scalable way to strengthen clinical reasoning and readiness — without adding to faculty workload.

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DDx helps PA programs

Expand and standardize case exposure despite short rotations and preceptor variability
Deliver high-fidelity clinical simulations aligned to PA workflow—at scale
Assess reasoning and readiness with clear, competency-based benchmarks
Identify at-risk learners early and enable targeted remediation

A flexible library educators can shape to their needs

DDx’s PA library includes cases across three dimensions, empowering educators to decide where to place emphasis based on their learners, curriculum goals, and clinical context.

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Broader case exposure that closes clinical gaps and builds OSCE readiness

With DDx’s comprehensive library of faculty-designed, end-to-end clinical encounters, every PA student can practice core ARC-PA competencies and clinical scenarios they may not encounter during rotations.

  • Ensure broad and consistent exposure across all curricula, including accelerated and compressed programs with flexible, self-paced practice
  • Build skills quickly across specialties with progressively challenging cases that strengthen core reasoning patterns
  • Reinforce high-frequency conditions such as hypertension, type 2 diabetes, upper respiratory infections, musculoskeletal complaints, abdominal pain, and common rashes

Realistic clinical simulations — without SIM center dependency

Extend preceptor bandwidth through DDx’s repeatable, multi-role, end-to-end clinical simulations that mirror real PA workflows—enabling students to practice, apply, and refine skills without the cost or limitations of traditional SIM experiences.

  • Offer greater clinical realism than traditional digital cases — without standardized-patient or sim-lab overhead
  • Prepare learners for high-stakes OSCEs and the PANCE with PA-specific, competency-mapped scenarios — combining reasoning practice and exam prep into one platform
  • Replace or supplement SP and SIM experiences when time and resources are limited

Longitudinal learning via competency-based assessment

DDx evaluates clinical reasoning in a way that mirrors PA responsibilities — not just test performance.

  • Standardize evaluation across learners with built-in, rubric-based assessments aligned to ARC-PA competencies
  • Track learner and cohort performance longitudinally across didactic and clinical phases through centralized dashboards
  • Establish benchmarks to reduce variability across sites and preceptors
  • Turn assessment into actionable insight with AI-enabled scoring and targeted feedback

Early identification and targeted remediation to get practice ready PAs

With limited time for individualized remediation, PA programs need tools that act quickly. DDx uses case-level analytics to:

  • Flag gaps in diagnostic reasoning, test selection, patient management and communication
  • Provide structured, competency-based feedback and targeted, case-based remediation aligned to specific learner needs
  • Track improvement over time without increasing faculty workload
Ready to experience how DDx can strengthen clinical reasoning skills?
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Real impact for PA education

87%
87% of students report increased confidence after using DDx
80%
savings compared to SPs and OSCE-equivalent simulations
Countless faculty hours saved through automated case development, delivery and assessment
100%
unmatched insight into how NP students think, not just what they answer

The right clinical content for your curriculum

Didactic
Clinical
Cardiovascular
Endocrinology
GI / Hepatobiliary
Hematology & Oncology
Infectious Disease
Nervous System / Psych
Pulmonology
Renal / GU
Reproductive
Rheum / MSK / Integumentary
List of cases
Sample application

Acute limb ischemia

Introduce this acute limb ischemia case during the cardiovascular block to reinforce vascular anatomy and arterial occlusion pathophysiology. Students learn to identify the “6 Ps,” recognize time-sensitive ischemia, initiate appropriate diagnostic steps, and promptly escalate care to vascular surgery.
Sample application

Hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease

Use this case in the endocrinology module to help students connect thyroid physiology to clinical patterns. They’ll learn to recognize hallmark features of hyperthyroidism, interpret thyroid labs, and differentiate Graves’ disease from other causes before entering the clinic.
Sample application

Pancreatitis

 Use this case in problem-based learning to give students a realistic, symptom-driven presentation that requires hypothesis generation and iterative refinement of a differential diagnosis. Students practice deciding which labs and imaging are appropriate, defending their reasoning, and connecting clinical findings back to foundational GI physiology.
Sample application

Colon cancer (adenocarcinoma)

Use this case as pre-work for a small-group session on GI pathology and social determinants of health, where students analyze how anatomic location and molecular progression influence symptoms, while also discussing how factors such as access to screening, diet, and family history contribute to risk and delayed diagnosis.
Sample application

Croup

Use this case prior to teaching paramyxoviruses to provide a clear clinical anchor. Students distinguish croup from epiglottitis, foreign body aspiration, and bacterial tracheitis, focusing on airway assessment, initial management, and when to escalate care urgently.
Sample application

Dementia with Lewy bodies

Utilize this case to reinforce the pathophysiology and clinical features of common dementias. Students learn to differentiate normal aging from neurodegenerative disease and identify red flags.
Sample application

Croup

Assign this case during the respiratory block to help pre-clerkship students practice assessing pediatric respiratory distress. Students focus on recognizing key physical exam findings (retractions, wheezing, stridor), distinguishing mild from moderate illness, and determining appropriate initial management and escalation.
Sample application

AKI

Use this case during the renal block to help students differentiate glomerular vs nonglomerular sources of hematuria and recognize presentations concerning for malignancy. Students practice selecting appropriate initial labs and imaging, identifying red flags, and determining when urgent urology referral is required.
Sample application

Pregnancy

Assign this case before lectures on early pregnancy. Students practice obtaining a private sexual and gynecologic history, reflexively ordering pregnancy testing, and recognizing normal versus concerning early pregnancy symptoms.
Sample application

Giant cell arteritis/temporal arteritis

Introduce this high-yield case immediately after teaching granulomatous inflammation. Students connect multinucleated giant cells on histology to real clinical consequences, recognize red-flag symptoms of giant cell arteritis, and learn which findings require immediate empiric treatment.
Emergency Medicine
Internal Medicine
Family Medicine
Neurology
OBGYN
Pediatrics
Psychiatry
Surgery
List of cases
Sample application

Pericardial tamponade

Incorporate this pericardial tamponade simulation into an emergency medicine workshop. Students use bedside ultrasound to recognize right-sided chamber collapse and tamponade physiology, then walk through indications, preparation, risks, and team roles for emergent pericardiocentesis.
Sample application

Variceal upper GI hemorrhage

Use this case after a student struggles to differentiate GI bleeds. Students learn to recognize cirrhosis clues early, prioritize variceal bleeding, and initiate critical first steps—large-bore IV access, fluids, octreotide, antibiotics, and PPI—while coordinating urgent GI consultation.
Sample application

STI: gonorrhea and chlamydia

Assign this case before students begin family medicine rotations to prepare them for a common outpatient presentation. Students practice focused sexual history-taking, distinguishing STI from UTI, selecting appropriate testing, initiating empiric treatment, and counseling on follow-up and prevention.
Sample application

Multiple sclerosis

Use this multiple sclerosis flare simulation during the neurology clerkship. Students localize lesions based on neurologic deficits, interpret MRI and lumbar puncture findings, initiate acute management, and coordinate care with neurology, physical therapy, and ophthalmology.
Sample application

Preeclampsia with severe features

Use this advanced clerkship case after a busy L&D shift to solidify diagnostic criteria for gestational hypertension versus preeclampsia with severe features. Students practice interpreting labs, recognizing when delivery is indicated, and clearly documenting and communicating findings to supervising clinicians.
Sample application

Pyloric stenosis

Assign this case during the pediatrics clerkship to reinforce multidisciplinary management. Students recognize dehydration and metabolic alkalosis in the ED, initiate stabilization, and coordinate care with surgery, anesthesia, and nursing in preparation for pyloromyotomy.
Sample application

Persistent depressive disorder

After a clinical encounter where a student prematurely labels symptoms as major depressive disorder, use this case to teach diagnostic accuracy. Students learn to distinguish persistent depressive disorder from MDD by focusing on duration, functional impairment, and longitudinal course rather than symptom count alone.
Sample application

Appendicitis

Assign this appendicitis case as pre-work before a student scrubs into surgery. Students practice forming a differential for acute abdominal pain, interpreting ultrasound or CT findings, initiating pre-operative management (NPO status, labs, antibiotics), and coordinating timely surgical consultation.

Results from programs like yours

Physician Assistant
+85%
Increase in learner Confidence
An End-to-End Approach to PA Clinical Readiness
See how Northwest University piloted DDx to strengthen PA students' clinical reasoning and boost confidence in management planning by 57 points.
Read more
Physician Assistant
+29%
Increase in learner Confidence
University of Wisconsin PA Case Study
Gain the faculty perspective on what made this pilot stand out — and why DDx outperformed other case-based tools by 30%.
Read more

Resources for educators

Confidently integrate case-based, AI-enabled learning into your program using practical, proven insights.

blog
March 11, 2026
Clinical training for physician assistant students at Harding University using AI in medical education tools
See how Harding University’s PA program uses AI in medical education to support clinical rotations, improve diagnostic reasoning, and prepare students for the PANCE.
Read more
blog
January 2, 2026
Addressing assessment variability and faculty effort through standardized AI simulation in medical and PA education
Learn how standardized AI simulation reduces assessment variability and faculty effort in medical and PA programs while enabling earlier, consistent clinical reasoning assessment.
Read more
blog
November 14, 2025
Getting started with DDx: Educator implementation guide
A complete guide to setting up DDx, enrolling students, and using assessment tools for a smooth launch.
Read more
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Prepare every student for clinical practice

DDx equips PA programs with scalable, realistic, clinical reasoning education — built by physicians, trusted by institutions, and aligned with PA workflows. Contact us to learn more.