DPAS students learn to become expert problem solvers!
What is the DPAS Capstone project?
- Determine a problem that exists in your place of practice and learn how to solve it.
- Design your project built around applying evidence-based knowledge to enhance your place of practice.
- Work with your faculty mentor and stakeholders. Collaborate with colleagues and co-workers in larger group projects!
- Develop, execute, evaluate and present findings to peers, faculty and professionals.
- This includes a written defense.
Share your ideas with faculty prior to applying. Experience Pitt's collaborative Doctor of PA Studies environment now!
Contact an enrollment specialist to schedule a 1-on-1 meeting with faculty to discuss your problem of practice and potential project.
See some examples of past student projects below.
Clinical PA Projects with a Clinical Focus:
- Digital Discharge Instructions: Surveying Patient Perceived Health Literacy of Laceration Care Discharge Instructions with Digital Document Delivery
- Setting: Emergency Department/Urgent Care
- The Sustainable Effect of Staff Education on Utilization of Oral COVID-19 Therapeutics in Southwestern Pennsylvania Long-term Care Facilities Over Time
- Setting: Long-Term Care Facilities
- The SMART Standards: Improving the Non-Technical Skills of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation Teams
- Setting: Critical Care Medicine
- Improving Access to Comprehensive Care for Pediatric Sickle Cell Patients Through the Creation of Multispecialty Clinics
- Setting: Pediatric Hematology and Pulmonary Clinics
- Socioeconomic Barriers and Poor Health Outcomes: The Detrimental Correlation in the Pediatric Population and How Resource Awareness Yields Improvement
- Setting: Pediatric Practice
- Improving Hepatocellular Carcinoma Screening Education for Primary Care Providers
- Setting: VA Health System
- Satisfaction and Confidence with Physician Assistants Conducting Orthopedic Telemedicine Appointments
- Setting: VA Health System
- Read more about this alumnus' experience!
Clinical PA Projects with an Administrative or Process-oriented Focus:
- Improving Order Entry for Emergency Department Observation Unit Patients
- Setting: Emergency Department
- The Role of Wellness in Reducing Burnout in Healthcare Workers
- Setting: Family Medicine Practice
- Improving Triage Time for Patient Messages in the Office Setting
- Setting: Pain Management
- Implementing a Workflow Change to Better Facilitate Hospitalist Consults for Orthopedic Patients
- Setting: Hospitalist Medicine
- Impact of Executing a Triage System in the Outpatient Bone Marrow Transplant Clinic
- Setting: Medical Oncology
Academic PA Projects:
- Improving Professionalism Competency in Clinical Year Physician Assistant Students through the Use of an Online Learning Module
- Setting: University PA Programs
- Improving Physician Assistant Students’ Inhaler Technique Competence
- Setting: University PA Programs