*Note: The Doctor of Medical Science program is being discontinued, and is no longer accepting new students.

The Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program promotes the physician assistant profession through the enhancement of knowledge in leadership, healthcare policy, quality medical delivery improvement, and research. The versatility of a DMSc provides opportunities in leadership, academic positions and promotion, enhanced ability to provide quality care, and professional development. Scholarly work provides the confidence to move forward in the PA profession, advancing clinical practice through healthcare practicums and support from colleagues.

Much of the United States is considered rural, with many of those residents qualifying as part of an underserved population. Physician assistants play a crucial role in providing access to these populations. RMC’s DMSc program is designed with a focus on rural and underserved populations to help bridge the gap and provide more quality healthcare access to those who need it most.

This is an asynchronous program that is delivered completely online.

Mission

The DMSc program aims to promote the physician assistant profession through the enhancement of knowledge in leadership, healthcare policy, quality medical delivery improvement, and research.

Goals

1. Graduates will demonstrate a commitment to scholarship and lifelong learning;
2. Graduates will demonstrate leadership in medicine appropriate to a physician assistant;
3. Graduates will demonstrate competency in clinical medicine appropriate to a physician assistant.

Learning Outcomes

Students who graduate from the Doctor of Medical Science program will be able to:

1. Demonstrate the importance of evidence-based medicine in clinical practice;
2. Contribute to the body of medical literature;
3. Recognize and describe aspects of quality in patient care;
4. Employ techniques and protocols that lead to safe patient care;
5. Promote patient safety;
6. Communicate effectively in clinical and other medical settings;
7. Acknowledge the importance of ethical behavior in medical settings;
8. Describe key differences between rural and urban medical practice;
9. Identify and manage legal, regulatory, economic, and organizational factors that affect medical practice.

Program Requirements

PHA 710: Evidence-Based Medicine and Professional Writing (3)
PHA 716: Healthcare Administration and Leadership (3)
PHA 712: Health Promotion (3)
PHA 726: Health Care Policy (3)
PHA 751: PA Practicum I (2)
PHA 731: Scholarly Project (1)
PHA 728: Global Health (3)
PHA 746: Healthcare Economics & Societal Outcomes (3)
PHA 752: PA Practicum II (2)
PHA 732: Scholarly Project II (1)
PHA 742: Communication in Medicine (3)
PHA 757: Rural Healthcare (3)
PHA 753: PA Practicum III (2)
PHA 733: Scholarly Project III (1)
PHA 760: Patient Safety, Quality, & Ethics (3)

PHA 710 – Evidence-Based Medicine and Professional Writing

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3

This course is designed to actively engage the learner in the most up-to-date medical literature to improve patient outcomes and safety. Students will learn tools to review the literature in an informed manner that drives best practices in medicine. Improving effectiveness in interpreting medical studies, research, and scholarly work. The learner will be introduced into thorough literature reviews that will be helpful in daily practice. This course also includes an introduction to professional writing with the intent to support writing for the scholarly project.

PHA 712 – Health Promotion

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3

Patients may suffer from chronic, debilitating disease, and this course teaches evidence-based health lifestyle modification to improve patient outcomes. Healthy practices are effective in reducing stress, preventing and managing a myriad of diseases, and can lead to a better quality of life. In this course, students will examine and develop strategies to help promote and communicate various lifestyle improvement to patients, including nutrition, discontinuation of abusive substances, good sleep hygiene, and exercise.

PHA 716 – Healthcare Administration and Leadership

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3

This course is designed to prepare the learner to become an advocate and leader in the medical profession. Gaining a deeper understanding of healthcare administrative decisions that drive medicine throughout the world will help the learner to actively seek our leadership positions in the hospital or educational setting through better knowledge, communication skills, and leadership. The course encourages the practice of open communications in professional relationships based on respect, compassion, and integrity. This course encourages identifying areas of change that lead to improvement in patient outcomes.

PHA 726 – Health Care Policy

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3

This course is designed to help the learner acquire a deeper understanding of health care policy and the laws that drive decisions in clinical medicine. Learning the steps taken in healthcare policy to achieve better health outcomes, increased access to care, and healthcare cost savings.

PHA 728 – Global Health

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3

This course is designed to give the learner a deeper understanding of common global health issues and the role that the global health system plays. Discovering health priorities worldwide and advocating for policy change in diverse populations will be required.

PHA 731 – Scholarly Project I

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 1

This course provides a template for the production of scholarly work by physician assistants with the goal of publishing in a peer-reviewed journal. Using tools from research design, literature searches and evidence-based medicine, the framework will be set for the student to publish scholarly work and enhance the PA profession. This course will take the student through a step-by-step approach each term to complete their scholarly project.

PHA 732 – Scholarly Project II

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 1

This course provides a template for the production of scholarly work by physician assistants with the goal of publishing in a peer-reviewed journal. Using tools from research design, literature searches and evidence-based medicine, the framework will be set for the student to publish scholarly work and enhance the PA profession. This course will take the student through a step-by-step approach each term to complete their scholarly project.

PHA 733 – Scholarly Project III

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 1

This course provides a template for the production of scholarly work by physician assistants with the goal of publishing in a peer-reviewed journal. Using tools from research design, literature searches and evidence-based medicine, the framework will be set for the student to publish scholarly work and enhance the PA profession. This course will take the student through a step-by-step approach each term to complete their scholarly project.

PHA 742 – Communication in Medicine

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3

This course is designed for the learner to expand their knowledge of thorough history taking skills, motivational interviewing techniques, and developing effective relationships with both patients and colleagues. This course will also emphasize the importance of effective communication and leadership skills within a healthcare team environment.

PHA 746 – Healthcare Economics & Societal Outcomes

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3

This course equips students with economic concepts and tools which enable them to better understand the complex world of health care. The class will discuss the ways in which markets for health care services are different from markets for other goods, and how government intervention in health care may be different from government intervention in other policy areas. Students will use a health economics text, academic articles, and guided discussions to gain an understanding of the application of economic tools and concepts to health care issues.

PHA 751 – PA Practicum I

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 2

This course is designed to encourage the clinically practicing physician assistant to explore specific aspects of clinical medicine on a deeper level. The learner will learn ways to improve patient outcomes by providing safe, cost-effective medicine. This course encourages critical thinking in the clinical setting chosen by the practicing PA and is supported through discussion boards with other practicing clinicians in similar work environments. The course encourages goal-oriented activity and furthering expertise in the clinical setting while developing confidence by expanding their medical knowledge. This course will build each term on previously gained knowledge.

PHA 752 – PA Practicum II

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 2

This course is designed to encourage the clinically practicing physician assistant to explore specific aspects of clinical medicine on a deeper level. The learner will learn ways to improve patient outcomes by providing safe, cost-effective medicine. This course encourages critical thinking in the clinical setting chosen by the practicing PA and is supported through discussion boards with other practicing clinicians in similar work environments. The course encourages goal-oriented activity and furthering expertise in the clinical setting while developing confidence by expanding their medical knowledge. This course will build each term on previously gained knowledge.

PHA 753 – PA Practicum III

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 2

This course is designed to encourage the clinically practicing physician assistant to explore specific aspects of clinical medicine on a deeper level. The learner will learn ways to improve patient outcomes by providing safe, cost-effective medicine. This course encourages critical thinking in the clinical setting chosen by the practicing PA and is supported through discussion boards with other practicing clinicians in similar work environments. The course encourages goal-oriented activity and furthering expertise in the clinical setting while developing confidence by expanding their medical knowledge. This course will build each term on previously gained knowledge.

PHA 757 – Rural Healthcare

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3

This course is designed to introduce the learner to unique challenges and rewards of practicing medicine in rural communities. Exploration of rural health care policy and payment systems, demographics, access to healthcare, and the importance of the PA role in these communities.

PHA 760 – Patient Safety, Quality, & Ethics

Term: Offered at discretion of department
Semester hours: 3

This course is designed for the learner to develop a deeper understanding of initiatives and policy designed to improve patient safety. Emphasis will be placed on improving patient safety in the practicing PA’s environment with a plan to effect change at their organization.