This is a decision that the program has considered very seriously.
The Department of PA Studies faculty remain proud of the Doctor of PA Studies (DPAS) name, the profession and curriculum. SHRS and department leadership initiated the process to change the name of the program to a Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) after careful research and conversations about the direction of the field and profession. The degree change is in name and credential only.
Leadership of the program understand—and agree— that the DMSc is a non-specific professional degree, but in the PA profession it has become the preferred doctoral program and credential, as discussed over recent years in the American Academy of Physician Associates House of Delegates and other professional forums.
When department faculty began the process of developing a doctoral program for PAs, there were fewer schools offering such degrees, and at the time, the DMSc had not been established as the preferred, post-professional or doctoral degree for practicing PAs. DPAS is what the faculty decided on originally as it is the nomenclature for the department at SHRS. In the time it took for the Pitt DPAS program to be approved and matriculate the first class, the number of DMSc programs at other schools significantly increased. Department leadership expects the current number of DMSc degrees granted to our PA colleagues to significantly increase over the new few years. We also expect it is becoming and will remain the most recognizable degree PAs can earn and leverage to advance their careers.
For Alumni: Department leadership are advocating for the fastest and most cost-effective way for alumni to obtain the DMSc if they want to pursue this credential. Look for more details soon.
For Current DPAS Students: Current students will be able to choose which degree name they receive. Current students will receive more details soon.
The program faculty are advocating that the DPAS be a prerequisite for a short path to the DMSc, for those who are interested. The degree change is in name and credential only, and our Department of Physician Assistant Studies is still offering the same high-quality curriculum centered on our professional students, supported by our full-time faculty and clinicians, and focused on the same goal—implementing real-world changes that positively impact patient care.
SHRS remains proud of the Doctor of PA Studies (DPAS) name, the profession and curriculum. Program leadership decided to make this change to adapt to the needs and the expectations of the field and profession.
The DPAS degree is still recognized and valued by the profession and academia. There is no evidence or reason for program faculty to believe the DMSc does or will hold more weight. The program does not see one (DPAS vs DMSc) as superior to the other, and we believe the knowledge and skills attained as DPAS students are the most important outcomes for our alumni.
This change to the DMSc is intended to support professional cohesion and facilitate career advancement for PAs moving forward.
No, this degree will remain only open to practicing PAs. There are no plans to admit other professions.
Yes, the program is designed so that working PAs can earn their doctoral degree in as little as 12 months.
For detailed information about the DMSc curriculum, please visit our Curriculum page.
Most students choose to take all courses sequentially, as a cohort, through the program. Courses are offered consecutively in the summer, fall and spring terms. We do offer decelerated program options to fit the financial, personal, or professional needs of students. These options can be discussed on an individual basis, after enrollment.
Internship experiences may be completed in the learner’s current place of practice and may be job-embedded, aspirant or service-oriented in nature.
The integrated internship opportunity allows you to use what you're learning in the DMSc program to directly impact and align with your current workplace needs and goals. Students will not need to search for an internship opportunity on top of their current workplace, unless desired.
Although each internship consists of a set of fundamental learning objectives, students will have the opportunity to personalize the objectives of each internship experience to provide the most benefit to their scholarly work and future goals.
Details about the internship requirement can be found on our website.
“Dedicate time each week to school - (depends on your personal work schedule) and try to separate your home life from school and maybe go to a library.”
“Collaborate with colleague(s) on a project - You will have a big advantage sharing the workload.”
“Try to advance in the program modules if you have a lighter week.”
“Talk to your peers about their paper and timeline, you may learn something.”
“My office closes at noon on Fridays so that helps me to complete assignments.”
“So far this semester I have not done any work on a weekend. I have two little ones at home and made a promise to myself to dedicate my weekends to them.”
