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Medical Science, Doctor of Medical Science
The Doctor of Medical Science degree (DMSc) for Physician Assistants (PAs) is a 24-credit online post-professional doctorate degree program designed to provide certified PAs with knowledge and competencies to contribute to a patient-centered, safe, and cost-effective healthcare system. The program will focus on the role of the PA as a critical member of the healthcare team through coursework in population health, patient-centered care, health policy, health informatics, and healthcare finance.
Requirements Accordion Open
To receive a Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) at Northern Arizona University, students must have a degree from an ARC-PA accredited PA program, official transcripts from bachelors and masters-level degree-granting institutions (must hold a master’s degree for consideration), and then complete a planned group of courses, consisting of 24 units of specified graduate-level courses depending upon the student’s previous experience, training and transcripts.
Overview Accordion Closed
In addition to University Requirements:
- Complete individual plan requirements.
Students may be able to use some courses to meet more than one requirement. Contact your advisor for details.
| Minimum Units for Completion | 24 |
| Additional Admission Requirements | Required |
| Some online/blended coursework | Required |
Purpose Statement
The purpose of the NAU Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree is to provide students with knowledge and competencies to contribute to an equitable, patient-centered, and cost-effective healthcare system. The program focuses on the role of the Physician Assistant (PA) as a critical member of the healthcare team through the study of population health, patient-centered care, health policy, health informatics, and health equity. The program provides students with foundational knowledge in healthcare delivery and payment models and their relationship to healthcare outcomes.
Students will be prepared to systematically address the complex needs of patients, communities, and populations within the healthcare system through the critical analysis of current evidence and case studies, debate and discussion, and practice-based application exercises. Concepts will be supported by online, asynchronous lectures, assigned readings, and discussions with students in the cohort-based model. Students will synthesize program concepts in the culminating project, which requires students to develop or engage in a project specific to health systems science (i.e., informatics, population health, healthcare systems, health equity, etc.).
Graduates will be provided with skills to make them competitive as leaders in healthcare, consulting, and academia. This program will expand the pipeline of highly skilled, doctoral-trained, PAs to serve in diverse settings; improve healthcare systems; and advocate for patients and communities.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Critique the interrelationship between the U.S. healthcare structure, financing and organization, and patient outcomes and apply these findings to new models of healthcare delivery.
- Apply cultural and historical constructs, outcomes data, and state and national policy changes to a comprehensive understanding of the design and delivery of U.S. healthcare.
- Explore frameworks for collecting, analyzing, and using data to inform decisions, facilitate care coordination, and improve health outcomes of populations within and outside the health system.
- Construct evidence-based interventions to address healthcare inequities that apply to all components of the healthcare delivery system.
- Recommend technology-driven, systems solutions to improve the delivery of safe, patient-centered care.
- Communication:
- Communicate effectively with peers (e.g., discussion boards), faculty (e.g., emails, presentations, projects), and health systems stakeholders (e.g., policy memos) on behalf of patients and communities.
- Effectively communicate specific challenges in the U.S. healthcare system (e.g., system level, patient level, provider level) and provide recommendations for improvement using evidence-based frameworks unique to the discipline.
- Culminating project:
- Design a focused and personal plan of independent study for the culminating project.
- Synthesize concepts in the discipline with the goal to enhance the patient experience, improve the health of the population, reduce costs, and improve the well-being of the healthcare workforce.
- Analyze and incorporate critical literature as part of the culminating project, applying proper acknowledgments and citations commensurate with a final capstone in the discipline.
Details Accordion Closed
Graduate Admission Information
The NAU graduate online application is required for all programs. Admission to many graduate programs is on a competitive basis, and programs may have higher standards than those established by the Office of Graduate and Professional Studies.
Admission requirements include the following:- Transcripts.
- Undergraduate degree from a regionally accredited institution with a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale ("A" = 4.0), or the equivalent.
Visit the for additional information about graduate school application deadlines, eligibility for study, and admissions policies.
Ready to apply? Begin your now.International applicants have additional admission requirements. Please see the .
Additional Admission Requirements
Individual program admission requirements over and above admission to NAU are required.
- Degree from an ARC-PA accredited PA program.
- Official transcripts from bachelors and masters-level degree-granting institutions (must hold a master's degree for consideration).
- Minimum overall graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0.
- Current resume or curriculum vitae.
Doctoral Requirements
- Take the following 24 units:
- , (6 units)
Health Equity (9 units)- , ,
Operations and Leadership (9 units)- , ,
Students enrolled in this plan may not enroll in or pursue the following due to the number of overlapping units:
- , Graduate Certificate
- , Graduate Certificate
If you have completed either of the above certificates prior to enrolling in the Doctor of Medical Science, DMSc, you may apply the coursework to Doctor of Medical Science, DMSc.
Additional Information
Some courses may have prerequisites. For prerequisite information, click on the course or see your advisor.
Doctor of Medical Science degree for Physician Assistants
TheÌý NAU Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree for Physician Assistants (PAs) is an eight-course, 24-credit online post professional doctorate degree program designed to elevate PAs' knowledge and competencies, enabling them to increase their contributions to a patient-centered, safe, and cost-effective health care system.The program curriculum focuses on the role of the PA as a critical member of the health care team through coursework in population health, health policy, financing health care delivery, health informatics, health equity, and leadership.
This flexible, affordable program is offered completely online with no in-person or synchronous attendance requirement. While most students choose to attend part-time, the program can be completed in as little as one year with full-time enrollment.* Take your courses in any sequence or pace that you like.Ìý Each of our courses is approved for 15 hours of AAPA Category 1 CME (120 category 1 hours for the full program).
Mission Accordion Closed
Goals Accordion Closed
- Equip PAs with an advanced understanding of healthcare system structures, incentives, and policies that drive the current state of US healthcare, enabling them to successfully navigate and contribute to the ever-evolving healthcare landscape for overall system improvement.Ìý
- Empower graduates with cutting-edge knowledge in evidence-based practice, team-based care, population health management, technology integration, healthcare finance and operations, enabling PAs to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery at the local and national level.ÌýÌý
- Cultivate leaders who can address the complex interplay between healthcare delivery and social determinants of health, promoting patient-centered high-value care for all through adept management strategies, inclusive healthcare practices, and community engagement.
Faculty & staff Accordion Closed
Program administration
-
Danielle Kempton, DHSc, MMS, PA-C
- Director, DMSc Program
- Clinical Professor and Assoc Chair, Physician Assistant Studies
- danielle.kempton@nau.edu
-
Judy Pieratt, MA
- Academic Program Coordinator, Senior
- judy.pieratt@nau.edu
Program faculty
-
Alison Essary, DHSc, MHPE, PA-C
- Professor and Chair, Department of PA Studies
- alison.essary@nau.edu
-
Natalie Landman, PhD
- Assistant Teaching Professor, Physician Assistant Studies
- natalie.landman@nau.edu
-
Adrienne Madhavpeddi, PhD(abd), MS
- Lecturer, Physician Assistant Studies
- adrienne.madhavpeddi@nau.edu
Instructional faculty
-
Jacob Gubler, DMSc, MMS, PA-C
-
Craig Norquist, MD, FACEP, FAMIA
-
Swapna Reddy, JD, MPH, DrPH
Curriculum Accordion Closed
-
- PHA 700-
- PHA-701-
- PHA 702-
- PHA 703-
- PHA 704-
- PHA 705-
- PHA 706-
- PHA 707-
Admissions Accordion Closed
The program offers enrollment for spring, summer, and fall semesters
Students may apply to the program at any time.Admission requirements
- Degree from an ARC-PA accredited PA program.
- Official transcripts from bachelors and masters-level degree-granting institutions (must hold a master’s degree for consideration).
- Minimum overall graduate cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A"), or the equivalent.
- Current resume or curriculum vitae.
Program cost Accordion Closed
2025-2026 academic year tuition and fees:*
- Tuition: $665 per credit hour
- Fees:
- One or two courses: $229/semester
- Three or more courses: $259/semester
*Tuition and fees are subject to change. Please visit the NAU webpage for the most up-to-date information on tuition and fees.Ìý
Tuition discounts Accordion Closed
- Honor Health
- Banner Health
- Phoenix Children's Hospital
- Kingman Regional Medical Center
- Southwest Network
- Terros Health
- Summit Healthcare
Visit the NAUÌý Healthcare Partners website or contact the program for more information.
Additional offerings
Graduate certificates
The NAUÌý Department of Physician Assistant Studies also offers two, 12-credit online post-professional graduate certificates for Physician Assistants. These certificates include:
- Health Equity
- Operations and Leadership
These certificateÌý programs are designed to elevate competencies in health care operations, leadership and health equity. In addition, students who complete one of these certificates can have their credits transfer seamlessly, once completed, into the Doctor of Medical Science program, should they wish to pursue that degree. Visit the Physician Assistant Studies Graduate certificates for Physician Assistants webpage for additional information.
*Requires a fall or spring start; contact the program for additional details