The curriculum is designed to allow students to access course content, interact with instructors and classmates, complete assignments, and meet academic deadlines asynchronously and at their own convenience. MBKU’s pedagogical approach ensures that all content is consistently organized with clear instructions, objectives, and timelines. Students will engage with a variety of learning materials, including short, pre-recorded lectures, reading assignments, and webinars. Regular feedback is provided through integrated course mechanisms such as discussion boards, which also serve as key components of the assessment process. These elements create an active learning environment that supports critical thinking, reflection, and the application of new knowledge.

The DMSc program offers three concentrations. Graduates from ARC-PA–accredited PA programs within the last two years are eligible for the Advanced Professional Practice concentration. PAs who earned their master’s degrees more than 24 months ago may pursue either the Healthcare Administration and Leadership concentration or the PA Education track. All concentrations include Evidence-Based Medicine, a scholarly project, and practicum.

Advanced Professional Practice (Bridge 6-month) Concentration

This concentration provides requires PAs to apply practical learning experiences in what they learn in the virtual classroom about leadership, scholarship, and professional development to their current professional roles. The curriculum integrates leadership and research training, including a doctoral writing project that prepares trains students to prepare a manuscript appropriate for publication in a scholarly journal and deliver professional presentations. Participants complete courses such as Healthcare Management & Administration, Organizational Behavior & Leadership, and Evidence-Based Medicine alongside their peers, but with enhanced emphasis on a focused scholarly project.

Through this track, PAs gain a deeper understanding of healthcare systems, operations, resource allocation, policy, and continuous quality improvement. They explore organizational structures, leadership styles, team dynamics, employee motivation, and change-management strategies. In addition to Evidence-Based Medicine, students learn the fundamentals of medical writing and the journal submission process, culminating in a narrative review draft manuscript on a healthcare topic of their choice. Practicum hours must also be documented.

Eligibility is limited to PAs who graduated from an ARC-PA–accredited program within the past 24 months. Students in this concentration complete several courses shared with the first half of the 12-month Healthcare Administration and Leadership concentration and undertake a specialized Bridge Scholarship Project tailored to their track.

Healthcare Administration and Leadership Concentration

This concentration equips PAs with the essential skills and competencies required for effective healthcare administration. The curriculum aligns with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) competencies, including communication and relationship management, leadership, professionalism, social responsibility, knowledge of the healthcare environment, and business skills.

The concentration is structured around three primary focus areas. First, students learn to communicate clearly, collaborate with key stakeholders, and lead organizational change grounded in strategic goals and a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare system. Second, they engage in scholarly work through the Evidence-Based Medicine course and the Scholarly Project series. Third, students apply their learning in real-world settings through the Healthcare Administration and Leadership Practicum course series. As in the other concentrations, participants will complete a scholarly manuscript suitable for submission to a professional journal.

This concentration is designed for PAs currently serving or aspiring to serve in administrative and leadership roles across the healthcare system—such as clinical management, state authorization policy development and administration, and executive leadership. The Healthcare Administration and Leadership concentration prepares PAs to excel as effective leaders within healthcare delivery systems and related organizational environments.

PA Education Concentration

This concentration prepares PAs to succeed in academic roles as educators of future physician assistants. The curriculum aligns with the competencies outlined by the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), including teaching, learner-centeredness, communication, professionalism and role modeling, curriculum design and implementation, program evaluation, scholarship development, leadership, and mentorship.

Coursework is organized into three primary focus areas that support the development of PA educators. First, students acquire the knowledge and skills needed to design lessons, assess student performance, advise learners, develop curriculum, participate in ARC-PA accreditation processes, and engage in ongoing self-assessment for continuous improvement. Second, they participate in scholarly activity through the Evidence-Based Medicine course and the Scholarly Project series. Third, students apply their learning in real-world academic environments through the Medical Education Practicum course. The concentration culminates in the development of a scholarly manuscript suitable for submission to a professional journal.

This concentration is intended for PAs who currently serve or aspire to serve in PA education, enhancing their expertise in educational theory, teaching strategies, and scholarly approaches to medical education. Marshall B. Ketchum University’s DMSc PA Medical Education concentration equips PA faculty with the essential skills needed for academic success.