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

The DMSc curriculum offers all courses in an asynchronous, fully online format, 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 courses are tailored for working PAs, acknowledging their daily work and family commitments. 

Two Concentrations

The DMSc program has two concentrations: 1) PA Education and 2) Healthcare Administration and Leadership. The PA Education concentration is designed for PAs who currently teach at one of the more than 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. Both concentrations are available for the one-year and six-month Bridge program. 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. Students 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.