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Programs

DMSc Expertise Curriculum

The foundation of the DMSc curriculum is a set of sequential courses in scholarship and research. Through these courses you will dive into the details of reading and interpreting medical literature, develop your own research questions, perform research via existing literature, and produce a publication-worthy paper of your own under the tutelage of experienced PAs known for their own published works.

The Expertise curriculum is designed for deeper exploration of specialty subject matter, helping you develop your confidence and knowledge on the topics that appeal to you and your career. You’ll complete the foundational courses of scholarship and then dive into the curriculum of your choice.

Executive Leadership

The Executive Leadership Expertise pathway provides the essential, non-clinical skills necessary to transition from highly competent professionals into influential healthcare leaders. This formal training covers critical areas such as healthcare management, financial literacy, quality improvement, team development, and policy advocacy. By completing this degree, PAs significantly enhance their career advancement potential, becoming competitive candidates for roles like Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Chief Operations Officer (COO), and Executive Director, leading to increased salary and influence. These skills empower PAs to drive organizational change, improve patient care outcomes, ensure efficient resource allocation, and effectively advocate for their profession at the executive level, ultimately making them indispensable contributors to the future of healthcare.

 

  • DMS 850 Healthcare Finance & Value-Based Strategy
  • DMS 852 Strategic Leadership in Healthcare Systems Administration
  • DMS 804 Healthcare Law & Risk Management
  • DMS 811 Strategic Communication & Executive Presence
  • DMS 820 Entrepreneurship & Innovation
  • DMS 805 Organizational Contexts & Systems
  • DMS 801 Research Resources & Methods
  • DMS 802 Doctoral Project Capstone I
  • DMS 803 Doctoral Project Capstone II

DMS Elective of Choice plus 3 of the following courses:

  • DMS 804 Healthcare Law & Risk Management
  • DMS 806 Medical Ethics
  • DMS 808 Advocacy in Healthcare
  • DMS 810 Public Policy in Healthcare
Behavioral Medicine & Wellness

The Expertise pathway in Behavioral Health and Wellness is crucial for healthcare professionals who recognize that mental health and well-being are fundamental to both patient outcomes and organizational sustainability. This program addresses the urgent need to equip providers with the core competencies to integrate behavioral health screening and interventions into primary care settings (e.g., collaborative care models), manage clinician burnout and promote resilience across the workforce, and foster a culture of psychological safety. The immense value of this certificate lies in empowering professionals to not only improve patient holistic health by treating the whole person but also to drive executive strategies that reduce staff turnover, enhance operational effectiveness, and establish the organization as a leader in supporting the mental well-being of both its patients and its highly-stressed workforce.

  • DMS 843 Behavioral Health I
  • DMS 844 Behavioral Health II
  • DMS 845 Behavioral Health III
  • DMS 846 Artificial Intelligence & Behavioral Medicine
  • DMS 848 Wellness & Nutrition
  • DMS 805 Organizational Contexts & Systems
  • DMS 801 Research Resources & Methods
  • DMS 802 Doctoral Project Capstone I
  • DMS 803 Doctoral Project Capstone II
  • DMS Elective of Choice plus 3 of the following courses:
  • DMS 804 Healthcare Law & Risk Management
  • DMS 806 Medical Ethics
  • DMS 808 Advocacy in Healthcare
  • DMS 810 Public Policy in Healthcare
Medical Education

The Medical Education Expertise pathway is designed for PAs who are currently working within or aspiring to join an academic medical center or teaching institution, recognizing that excellence in clinical practice must be paired with mastery of effective teaching and curriculum design. This certificate addresses the critical need for formal pedagogical training in the academic setting, providing clinicians with advanced skills in adult learning theories, innovative instructional methodologies, curriculum development, effective clinical and simulation-based teaching, and rigorous assessment techniques. Completing this program offers immense value by validating a professional’s competence as an educator, significantly enhancing their competitiveness for academic faculty appointments, accelerating promotion and tenure (e.g., to Assistant or Associate Professor), and empowering them to become leaders in designing, implementing, and evaluating high-quality educational programs for future generations of healthcare professionals. 

  • DMS 914 Strategic Leadership in Higher Education
  • DMS 916 Program Accreditation & Standards in Higher Education
  • DMS 918 Curriculum Design & Innovation in Higher Education
  • DMS 920 AI Tools & Higher Education
  • DMS 922 Financial Management & Grant Administration
  • DMS 805 Organizational Contexts & Systems
  • DMS 801 Research Resources & Methods
  • DMS 802 Doctoral Project Capstone I
  • DMS 803 Doctoral Project Capstone II
  • DMS Elective of Choice plus 3 of the following courses:
  • DMS 804 Healthcare Law & Risk Management
  • DMS 806 Medical Ethics
  • DMS 808 Advocacy in Healthcare
  • DMS 810 Public Policy in Healthcare
Global Health & Humanitarian Medicine

The Global Health & Humanitarian Medicine (GHHM) Expertise pathway provides the essential skills and academic background necessary to prepare professionals to lead and coordinate global health missions for humanitarian benefit. Upon completion, PAs will be prepared to serve with cultural humility, prepare for deployment to disparate health systems and operate within diverse administrative cultures. This training includes leadership and coordination with global health organizations, preparing graduates to work with or even form their own non-governmental organizations. By completing this degree, PAs significantly enhance their career advancement potential, prepared to take on international medical challenges and coordinate cross-functional teams and operational goals to a common purpose. 

This pathway requires an organized field deployment with classmates and faculty to an international or domestic site to apply the principles learned during the academic coursework. Program faculty have led similar deployments in locations including Ukraine, Tanzania, Panama, Dominican Republic, and Mexico. 

  • DEL 801 Research Resources & Methods 
  • DEL 802 Doctoral Project Capstone I 
  • DEL 803 Doctoral Project Capstone II 
  • DEL 822 Infectious Disease & Tropical Medicine 
  • DEL 828 Global Health Issues & Determinants of Health 
  • DEL 824 Remote & Operational Medicine 
  • DEL 830 Global Health Organizations & Management

Humanitarian Deployment:

  • DEL 831 Strategic Planning for Global Health & Humanitarian Response 
  • DEL 836 Humanitarian Deployment & Strategic Application

Select 5 of the following courses:

  • DEL 805 Organizational Contexts & Systems 
  • DEL 807 Leadership Foundations 
  • DEL 809 Strategic Leadership & Influence 
  • DEL 811 Strategic Communication & Executive Presence 
  • DEL 813 Data, Technology, & the Future of Leadership 
  • DEL 815 Personal Mastery & Performance 
  • DEL 820 Entrepreneurship & Innovation