Doctor of Medical Science
The Doctorate for PA Professionals
The Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions (RMUoHP) prepares physician assistants (PA) for leadership roles in clinical, administrative, and academic settings. PAs with an active and unencumbered state licensure and/or NCCPA certification and a master’s or doctoral degree from a regionally-accredited institution are eligible for the DMSc program. The DMSc degree designator from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions helps set you apart as a PA, whether a new graduate or a seasoned practitioner looking for career advancement.
The DMSc curriculum is evidence-based and has been developed by PAs with significant clinical, academic, and administrative experience. The curriculum focuses on the healthcare knowledge and skills that are most applicable to advancing a PA’s career.
Important Dates
Academic Model
DMSc stands for Doctor of Medical Science, a clinical doctorate for licensed physician assistants who want to advance their career with a doctorate degree. The DMSc degree program is strictly for PAs and provides the continuing education and degree designator to advance their career within the clinic, administration, or academia.
RMUoHP Doctor of Medical Science Program Tracks
There are three elective tracks within the RMUoHP Doctor of Medical Science Program.
Details and curriculums for each track can be viewed by clicking track titles in the tabs below.
- Healthcare Leadership and Administration
- Advanced Clinical Practice
- Healthcare Professions Education
Summer Start Date
May 6, 2019
Fall Start Date
September 3, 2019
Healthcare Leadership and Administration
The DMSc Healthcare Leadership and Administration concentration track is designed for PAs who are interested in advancing their careers in the administrative setting. Students will complete core courses in Evidence-Based Practice, Professional & Scientific Writing, Healthcare Legal & Ethical Issues, and Healthcare Delivery. Students will also complete concentration courses in Healthcare Leadership, Organizational Behavior & Management in Healthcare, and Strategic Change Management for Healthcare Organizations.
The Healthcare Leadership and Administration concentration track will culminate in a practicum and applied scholarly project. In collaboration with the course director, students will design and propose an administrative practicum that will allow the student to gain the desired knowledge and skills pertinent to healthcare leadership and administration. Students will be guided by qualified faculty through the development, proposal, literature review, and dissemination phases of the scholarly project. This experience will prepare the DMSc graduate to continue to create and distribute scholarly work via presentations and publications throughout his or her career.
Students who choose the Healthcare Leadership and Administration concentration track will gain knowledge and skills that will prepare them to lead teams and organizations in the rapidly-changing healthcare environment. This DMSc concentration track will facilitate the advancement of highly-competent PAs into leadership positions to ultimately improve patient care.
Summer Start Date
May 6, 2019
Fall Start Date
September 3, 2019
Advanced Clinical Practice
The DMSc Advanced Clinical Practice concentration track is designed for PAs who are interested in advancing their careers in the clinical setting. Students will complete core courses in Evidence-Based Practice, Professional & Scientific Writing, Healthcare Legal & Ethical Issues, and Healthcare Delivery. Students will also complete concentration courses in Lifestyle Medicine, Patient Safety in Clinical Practice, and Population Health Issues.
The Advanced Clinical Practice concentration track will culminate in a practicum and applied scholarly project. In collaboration with the course director, students will design and propose a clinical practicum that will allow the student to gain the desired knowledge and skills pertinent to clinical practice. Students will be guided by qualified faculty through the development, proposal, literature review, and dissemination phases of the scholarly project. This experience will prepare the DMSc graduate to continue to create and distribute scholarly work via presentations and publications throughout his or her career.
Students who choose the Advanced Clinical Practice concentration track will become greater assets to clinic and hospital settings by advancing medical practice. Through this concentration track, students will develop practical skills beyond their current abilities that benefit patients and the settings they work in. PAs who complete this track will add value to their clinics by increasing access to specific procedures for their community of patients.
Summer Start Date
May 6, 2019
Fall Start Date
September 3, 2019
Healthcare Professions Education
The DMSc Healthcare Professions Education concentration track is designed for PAs who are interested in advancing their careers in the academic setting. Students will complete core courses in Evidence-Based Practice, Professional & Scientific Writing, Healthcare Legal & Ethical Issues, and Healthcare Delivery. Students will also complete concentration courses in Instructional Technology, Learning Theory & Design, and Learning Assessment & Evaluation.
The Healthcare Professions Education concentration track will culminate in a practicum and applied scholarly project. In collaboration with the course director, students will design and propose an academic practicum that will allow the student to gain the desired knowledge and skills pertinent to health professions education. Students will be guided by qualified faculty through the development, proposal, literature review, and dissemination phases of the scholarly project. This experience will prepare the DMSc graduate to continue to create and distribute scholarly work via presentations and publications throughout his or her career.
Students who choose the Healthcare Professions Education concentration track will learn how to prepare the next generation of physician assistants to deliver high-quality healthcare and enter the rewarding profession of healthcare education. This doctorate degree will help facilitate the entrance of PAs into academia and help advance the careers of current PA faculty members. This concentration track will prepare graduates to teach within both entry-level masters PA programs and doctoral programs for PAs.
Why Choose RMU?
The DMSc degree program at Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is a great place for physician assistants looking to advance their careers without taking time away from clinics and hospitals. RMUoHP faculty place utmost importance on equipping students with skills that will improve their practice as physician assistants, no matter their career phase or geographical location.
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UNIVERSITY ACCREDITATION
Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (8060 165th Avenue NE Ste 100, Redmond, WA 98052-3981), an institutional accrediting body recognized by the Secretary of the US Department of Education.
Why Apply to the Doctor of Medical Science Program?
Student-Centered Faculty: Our faculty members are well-known experts within the Physician Assistant profession and are experienced in online doctoral education for PAs. Faculty are focused on students and use their experience and expertise to help students gain the education they need to achieve their professional goals.
Rigorous Coursework: The Doctor of Medical Science program core curriculum encompasses evidence-based practice, healthcare delivery, healthcare legal and ethical issues, and scientific and professional writing. The coursework in each concentration track assists students in becoming well-rounded scholars, practitioners, and experts in their fields.
Online Academic Model: Our online delivery model students to continue their education without having to uproot family and move across the country. The Doctor of Medical Science program allows students to keep working full-time while pursuing a doctoral degree from a well-respected institution.
Phased and Integrated Model
Students in the DMSc program (regardless of concentration track) choose between two curriculum models to complete the 36 credit hours: the Integrated Model and the Phased Model. Both curriculum models are designed so PA clinicians, educators, and administrators can continue professional work obligations while completing this degree. In the Integrated Model, students complete the practicum and applied scholarly project courses concurrently with the other didactic courses. Students may complete the Integrated Model in as little as four semesters. In the Phased Model, students complete the didactic courses before completing the practicum and applied scholarly project courses. Students may complete the Phased Model in as little as five semesters.
Advance Your PA Career with a Doctorate Degree
Are you currently a physician assistant looking to advance your career? If so, completing the Doctor of Medical Science program will give you the education you need to take your career to the next level. Join PAs from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences to enhance your skills as a PA and to get ready to expand your clinical, administrative, or academic opportunities
Learn More About Our Doctor of Medical Science Program
Do you aspire to influence the physician assistant profession? If so, earning your DMSc is the first step to becoming an influential and successful healthcare professional.
We invite you to explore our program, talk with a program advisor or faculty member, and attend a virtual information session to decide whether our DMSc program is a good fit for you. We will help you to make an educated decision when choosing a program that meets your professional needs and goals for becoming a Doctor of Medical Science.
We are committed to the development
of a physician assistant who can:
Utilize Evidence-Based Practice
Apply concepts of evidence-based practice in clinical, administrative, and academic settings.
Write and Distribute Scholarly Work
Create and disseminate scholarly work relevant to the physician assistant field.
Prepare to Teach
Educate the next generation of healthcare professionals and respond to the growing need for healthcare educators.
Develop Leadership Skills
Lead teams and organizations in the rapidly-changing healthcare environment.
Doctor of Medical Science Faculty
Doctor of Medical Science Scholarships
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