Doctor of PA Studies Student Gianna Coscia in her at-home office.
University of Pittsburgh Doctor of PA Studies (DPAS) student Gianna Coscia (DPAS ‘24) from Buffalo, NY, began the online program in summer 2023 while continuing to work full-time as a clinical research physician assistant (PA) in neurosurgery at University at Buffalo Neurosurgery. Coscia is excited to be part of the Pitt DPAS program and shares her experience being an online doctoral student. Read how the program is setting her up for expanded leadership opportunities in the PA profession.
Q: Why did you want to pursue this next step in your education?
Coscia: What’s cool about being a PA is the ability to work both within and beyond a traditional clinical setting. The DPAS program provides students with a working knowledge of the basics of administration or education, allowing them to extend their career into new areas. Having this experience sets graduates up to pursue unique leadership opportunities with a developed skillset that sets them apart from their competitors.
The PA field began as a certificate program prior to becoming a master’s degree, which shows that PA education is always evolving! I would find it not so surprising if obtaining a doctorate became the new norm for future PAs, as it already has for PTs (physical therapists)! I couldn’t resist getting ahead of the game!
Q: What does a typical day look like for you as a DPAS student?
Coscia: My day starts with my full-time job as a PA, but it ends with some low stress, at-your-own-pace modules and assignments.
Coscia’s office space at her place of work.
The good news is that this is NOT every day and even when school is a part of my day it is only for a few hours at a time. Nothing more is really necessary. The work is informative and constructive without being daunting or boring. I’d say depending on the week I’ll look at school content anywhere between two to four of the days. I try to preserve my weekends for downtime for the most part!
Coscia and her dog, Theo.
The faculty have open office hours that students can attend weekly, as needed, and you’ll also remain in contact with a few peers to see how they are navigating alongside yourself. Some students have partners for their capstone whom they work with daily. Although we come from all over the country, the program brings students together with a common goal to improve health care, and we interact weekly with assigned discussion boards and through our social media group.
Q: What are some of your goals/plans for after you graduate?
Coscia: I am currently working in inpatient neurosurgical clinical research with a unique clinical role as a rounding PA on the floor. This position gives me a taste of a few aspirations of mine. I’m becoming part of a larger and more important focus of improving and preventing the deficits of neurological disability. All the while I am still utilizing my clinical skills to care for patients. My status and scope as a PA are advancing as I take on additional and more diverse studies.
That being said, this degree will fit perfectly into my career that emphasizes continuous learning and values education. The valuable skills I gain from deepening my administrative knowledge through my schoolwork will empower me to excel in upcoming leadership opportunities. My degree will also create an opportunity to be involved in the education of our hospital’s interns and students. In all, it will enable me to continue to explore medicine in a non-traditional path, which is one that I find exciting and to be just the right fit for me. This degree is a perfect fit for this type of career!
Q: Why did you choose the University of Pittsburgh DPAS program?
Coscia: Because H2P (Hail to Pitt)! Didn’t look anywhere else! But overall, I would also say that the program is flexible in terms of work-life balance, so students can pursue this advanced degree while still working, all within one year.
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Want to learn more about the DPAS program?
Start dates are offered in the spring and summer of each year. Read more about the program on our webpage, check us out on LinkedIn or contact an enrollment specialist at enroll@shrs.pitt.edu.
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Published September 8, 2023
Updated September 12, 2023