College of Healthcare Professions
Doctor of Medical Science
Advance your PA career with an online doctorate designed for leadership, education, and innovation in healthcare.
Program Details
- Official Degree Name
- Doctor of Medical Science
- Format
-
Online
- Credit Hours
- 40
- Program Start
- August, Annually
- Average Time to Degree
- 12 Months
Why Get Your DMSc Degree at DeSales University?
The Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program at DeSales University empowers physician assistants to expand their clinical expertise, strengthen leadership skills, and deepen scholarly knowledge—all within a fully online, flexible format.
In just 12 months, you’ll gain the advanced credentials needed to influence policy, lead academic programs, and drive meaningful change in the evolving healthcare system.
Program Highlights
Multiple Pathways to Success
- Choose from our four specialized tracks—Executive Leadership, Medical Education, Advanced Professional Practice, or Operational & Disaster Medicine—to align your doctoral experience with your career goals. Whether you aspire to lead healthcare organizations, shape academic programs, expand your professional practice, or direct medical operations in a complex environment, DeSales provide a pathway tailored to your goals.
Professional Development Opportunities
- Benefit from personalized mentorship, robust networking, and guidance from experienced faculty. Our program emphasizes leadership, scholarly research, and practical application so you graduate ready to excel as a healthcare leader or educator.
Flexible Options
- Designed for working professionals, DMSc coursework is delivered online and asynchronously, allowing you to balance work, life, and doctoral study. Most tracks can be completed fully online. The Operational & Disaster Medicine track includes a required seven-day, in-residence intensive experience. Full-time students can complete the degree in 12 months.
What Will You Study?
All students in the DMSc program will take part in clinical practicums and a research capstone project.
Our program includes three 12-week semesters, and one 8-week semester packed with courses that have real-world impact.
Required core courses you will take include:
- Evidence-Based Medicine
- Executive Leadership in Healthcare
- Healthcare Systems
- Research Capstone
- Practicum 1-4
Doctor of Medical Science
Current Program Track Options
Swipe below to discover more!
Executive Leadership Track
Learn MoreDMSc Track
Executive Leadership
This track equips physician associates with the knowledge and skills needed to lead within complex healthcare organizations. With a focus on strategy, finance, policy, and organizational leadership, this track prepares graduates for executive, administrative, and system-level leadership roles across healthcare settings.
Required Courses Include:
Medical Education Track
Learn MoreDMSc Track
Medical Education
Designed for physician associates interested in teaching, academic leadership, and curriculum development, this track prepares graduates to educate the next generation of healthcare professionals. Students develop skills in instructional design, assessment, educational scholarship, and leadership within academic and clinical learning environments.
Required Courses Include:
Advanced Professional Practice Track
Learn MoreDMSc Track
Advanced Professional Practice
This track is ideal for physician associates who want to keep their options open across leadership, education, or advanced professional roles. Tailor your DMSc through flexible electives pulled from other tracks, enabling you to build a personalized, multi-faceted curriculum that aligns with your evolving career goals.
Courses May Include:
New for 2027: Operational & Disaster Medicine Track
Designed for physician associates who lead or support medical operations in complex, high-consequence, or resource-constrained environments, this track integrates disaster medicine, tactical and austere care, crisis leadership, and operational planning. You will apply evidence and current doctrine through online coursework and a seven-day, in-residence intensive experience.
Required Courses Include:
- Foundations of Operational & Disaster Medicine
- Tactical & Austere Medicine
- Crisis Leadership & Incident Management
- Operational Planning, Disaster Recovery & Continuity
Admission Requirements
- Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended
- Resume or curriculum vitae
- Two professional references
- Proof of current board certification (e.g. NCCPA)
- Current professional license(s)
- Completed application form
Program FAQs
The DMSc is a professional doctorate for practicing physician assistants seeking advanced knowledge, leadership development, and professional growth beyond the master’s level. It focuses on areas such as executive leadership, medical education, healthcare policy, and advanced professional practice.
This degree opens doors to leadership roles in healthcare systems, academic administration, curriculum development, clinical quality oversight, research, and non-clinical roles like medical science liaison or policy advisor. The degree supports career advancement by enhancing your credibility and expanding your professional skill set.
While salaries vary by role and region, current data suggests DMSc-prepared PAs in leadership or academic positions typically earn $130,000–$160,000+ annually.
- Healthcare Executive or Administrator
- Director of Clinical Operations
- Academic Program Director or Department Chair
- Medical Science Liaison
- Director of Quality and Patient Safety
These positions typically involve leadership, policy influence, or education rather than direct patient care alone.
Yes. PAs with a DMSc often maintain clinical roles while expanding into leadership, research, and quality improvement initiatives. The DMSc enhances, rather than replaces, clinical practice by adding depth to your professional profile.
The DMSc prepares graduates for roles in PA and healthcare education, such as faculty positions, consultants in curriculum development, academic leadership, and program administration. It also provides a foundation in scholarly research and evidence-based practice, enabling graduates to contribute to academic publications, capstone mentorship, or institutional research initiatives.
The courses in this program are taught online and asynchronously, allowing you to learn from anywhere without campus visits. The Operational & Disaster Medicine track requires a seven-day, in-residence intensive experience.
The DMSc encompasses three 12-week semesters, and one 8-week semester totaling 12 months of full-time online coursework. Students also complete clinical practicums and a scholarly capstone project suitable for publication or professional presentation.
The program offers four tracks:
- Medical Education – for PA educators and academic leaders
- Executive Leadership – for those aspiring to management roles
- Advanced Professional Practice – for PAs aiming to deepen their expertise across various domains
- Operational & Disaster Medicine – for PAs who lead or support medical operations in military, disaster, tactical, austere, and other complex environments
All tracks include clinical practicums and a reearch capstone project. Future tracks are currently in development.
Yes, we offer AAPA Category 1 CME credit for all courses offered within the DeSales DMSc program. This will allow students to earn valuable continuing medical education credit while completing their doctoral studies.
DeSales University is fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) to offer doctoral-level programs. This ensures that the program meets rigorous standards for academic quality, integrity, and student support.
The DeSales DMSc program is designed to be completed in 12 months on a full-time basis, with four semesters of online coursework. This structure supports efficient degree completion while maintaining flexibility for working professionals.
However, part-time options may be available based on individual needs. Interested applicants are encouraged to contact the program director to discuss part-time pathways and customized scheduling.
The Program Director is Dr. Alan Heckman, DMSc, PA-C, PHPE, NCEE — a board-certified PA with nearly two decades of clinical experience across emergency medicine, EMS, wilderness medicine, cardiothoracic surgery, and critical care. In addition to his clinical background, Dr. Heckman brings over 20 years of experience in academic settings, including teaching, program development, and academic administration.
Most DMSc tracks can be completed fully online and synchronously, without requiring travel to campus. Students in the Operational & Disaster medicine track complete a required seven-day, in-residence intensive experience as part of Practicum IV.
Yes. Each student completes four practicums tailored to their concentration and professional goals, alongside a research capstone culminating in a publishable or professionally relevant scholarly product. For students in the Operational & Disaster Medicine track, Practicum IV includes a required seven-day, in-residence intensive focused on applying operational planning, crisis leadership, and tactical and austere medicine concepts through hands-on and scenario-based learning.
The DMSc program is designed for practicing PAs who want to expand their impact beyond traditional clinical practice. It is well suited for PAs seeking leadership or management roles, pursuing careers in academic or medical education, strengthening their professional and research expertise, influencing healthcare systems or policy, or leading medical operations in military, disaster, tactical, austere, and other complex environments.
Applications for the annual cohort will open in the October prior to the cohort's August start. (ex: applications for the 2027 cohort will open in October 2026)
Tuition for the DMSc program is $875 per credit (40 credits totals to $35,000). The total cost for the entire degree, including tuition and fees, is $35,800.
Students in the Operational & Disaster Medicine track will pay an additional fee to cover costs associated with the required seven-day, in-residence intensive experience. Students are responsible for their own travel to and from campus. The amount will be disclosed to students in advance. Contact the DMSc Program Director for additional information about the intensive fee.
Yes, eligible students may qualify for the following tuition discounts
- 10% tuition discount for all DeSales Physician Assistant alumni
- 10-15% tuition discount for eligible DeSales PA program preceptors
- 25% Strategic Partnership tuition discount for eligible Jefferson/LVHN employees and St. Luke's University Health Network employees (beginning with 2027 cohort)
Tuition discounts are applied at the time of enrollment and remain in effect for the duration of the program, provided you meet the eligibility requirements. Tuition discounts cannot be combined.
Email dmsc@desales.edu for further details.
Upcoming important academic dates may be found on our event calendar.
