The Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) Program at Marshall B. Ketchum University is dedicated to the ongoing pursuit of academic excellence and the continuous professional growth of physician associates and assistants. This program offers either a six-month or 12-month program for graduates of ARC-PA accredited PA schools seeking the degree, Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc).

The DMSc curriculum provides all courses in an asynchronous format, fully online, with student cohorts adhering to the same academic calendar. Each course activity must be completed within the designated quarter, as specified in the individual course syllabi. The course are tailored for working PAs, acknowledging their daily work and family commitments.

Three Concentrations

There are two one-year concentrations: 1) PA Education and 2) Health Administration and Leadership. The PA Education concentration is designed for PAs who currently teach at one of the more that 300 accredited U.S. PA schools or aspire to do so. The Healthcare Administration and Leadership concentration targets PAs in leadership roles or those seeking increased administrative and/or leadership responsibilities. The third concentration, Advanced Professional Practice, is a six-month bridge program for recent PA school graduates, offering focused training in healthcare administration and leadership. All concentrations emphasize scholarship and include training in writing and submitting an academic manuscript to a medical journal.

Scholarly Project

All students will complete an Evidence-Based Medicine course. Those in the 12-month programs will take three courses leading to a publishable manuscript, while bridge program students will achieve this through one course. The Scholarly Project Course aims to guide students in developing and completing a publishable manuscript. This includes conducting a comprehensive literature review, creating a structured academic outline for writing and formatting, navigating the manuscript submission process, responding to peer review feedback, and reflecting on the process for self-improvement.

Research

All students in the 12-month concentrations will complete an Evidence-Based Medicine course, followed by the three-course Scholarly Project Series. This series helps students design, execute, and disseminate a Doctoral-Level Scholarly Project, foster collaborations within their professional networks, and navigate the journal peer-review process. It builds skills necessary for ongoing Doctoral pursuits and publication. Students in the Bridge program will progress through these steps at an accelerated pace.