Here are five key notes:
1. Court documents show students claim they enrolled in the program under the impression they would be able to practice as licensed PAs with specialized training in orthopedics, thus making them more desirable for employment following graduation.
2. The MOPA program began in May 2011 and was packaged as a two-year graduate program consisting of six trimesters of didactic and clinical study.
3. Two months before the inaugural class of the program was set to graduate, USA informed students and faculty that the program’s name would be changing to Master of Orthopedic Assistant, as the “orthopedic physician assistant” profession was not licensable in the state of Florida and professionals working under the OPA title would practice under the same statute allowing medical assistants and other unlicensed professionals to practice.
4. The first complaint was filed Aug. 12, 2013 and was submitted by plaintiffs Michelle Hemingway, Holly Wheeler, Christina Mollica and Lauren Hofius. Ms. Hemingway and Ms. Mollica were residents of St. Johns County at the time of the original complaint. An amended complaint was filed Sept. 12, 2013. The case is still ongoing.
5. The second complaint, filed April 9, was submitted by 27 plaintiffs, three of whom were also St. Johns County residents at the time of the complaint. The case was dismissed with prejudice Nov. 17, with each party bearing its own costs and attorney’s fees.
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