UPDATE: The University of Pittsburgh’s affordable, one-year online Doctor of PA Studies (DPAS) program for practicing physician assistants/associates now awards a Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)!
Original Story:
Congratulations to Michelle Acosta, 2023 alumna of Pitt’s Doctor of PA Studies (DPAS) program, for her new role with UPMC as the director of Advanced Practice for the Department of Neurosurgery.
Acosta will oversee all Neurosurgical Advanced Practice Providers (APPs) within five of the UPMC sites: UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Mercy, UPMC Shadyside, UPMC Passavant and UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA.
“I am thrilled to embark on this new journey at UPMC. I am significantly appreciative and deeply proud of my DPAS degree and all that it has led me to,” says Acosta.
Next Steps with UPMC
Before joining the team at UPMC, Acosta spent 10 years in New York City at New York Presbyterian: Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she worked clinically and functioned as the supervisor PA for a large team of physician assistants specializing in neurology, neurosurgery and neurocritical care.
Although deeply saddened to leave her position and life in New York City, Acosta’s transition has been described as “seamless.”
“My colleagues here at UPMC welcomed me graciously and have provided the tools and support needed for me to grow in my new role,” Acosta shares. “The [Doctor of PA Studies] program and my extensive experience as a supervisor in a large, urban environment have only added to the confidence and calm I feel entering this role.”
Acosta’s expectations on what she hopes to achieve at each campus are unique to that of each site. However, her overarching goal is to empower APPs with the resources and support needed to elevate the quality of care provided to the neurosurgical patients and ensure that they are working autonomously at the top of their license.
“I seek to strengthen the integration of APPs within our department, fostering cohesive teamwork and communication,” explains Acosta. “I hope to equip the APPs here with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their roles and advance their careers as advanced practice providers.”
Influence from the Doctor of Physician Assistant Studies Program
“I absolutely think that the Doctor of PA Studies program helped me prepare for this role.”
-- Michelle Acosta (DPAS ‘23)
Acosta mentioned that joining one of the live webinar sessions early on in her program research helped her realize that the program at Pitt was the perfect fit.
“This program encourages advocacy, quality improvement, education and the advancement of the physician assistant profession. This was distinctly different than some of the other programs where the course of study was clinical medicine all over again,” explains Acosta.
The DPAS Doctoral Capstone Project
Acosta’s doctoral capstone project, titled “Post-Professional Education of Practicing Physician Assistants,” is where she studied the benefits and importance of ongoing education for skilled providers.
“My mentor, Dr. Emily Murphy, was deeply influential in my project. She helped me see that even though a concept like ongoing education seems obviously beneficial, collecting the evidence and doing the data analysis is critical to decision-making, forming academic curricula and research as whole.”
“The information I learned in the program and my work on the capstone project have shaped how I gather and interpret data. These learnings have also taught me to implement and share findings effectively in my strategies and actions within any department I work with,” says Acosta.
“My advice to anyone who is looking to advance their career is simple: just do it.
It may seem daunting and difficult but, the time will pass no matter what, so it is better to spend it improving yourself than worrying about whether or not you can get through it. Trust me, you can!”
Want to learn more about the Doctor of PA Studies program at Pitt and how you can take your career to the next level? Sign up for a webinar or reach out to our enrollment specialist at enroll@shrs.pitt.edu.
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