Elevate Your PA Career with a DMSc Degree at Pacific University

Get your DMSc degree to grow in your healthcare career and boost your PA salary by 10-20%.

Admisisons for Pacific’s four-semester and single-semester DMSc programs are open now! Explore our application requirements and browse frequently asked questions to prepare your application.

A career as a physician assistant (PA) is constantly rewarding and filled every day with complex problem solving. 

Combine high average pay, consistent job satisfaction, and increased demand within the profession, and it becomes easy to see why so many choose to enroll in Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies programs. 

However, for those who want to advance their PA career into a managerial or operational role, a master’s degree may not be enough. 

Enter the Doctor of Medical Science degree (DMSc).

Specifically designed for PAs who want to create meaningful change through leadership and healthcare administration, having a DMSc not only significantly increases pay, but also opens new avenues to boost your career. 

Ready to upgrade your PA career? Let’s answer some of the most common questions.

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Is the DMSc Different from the DHSc?

In short, no. 

At Pacific, the DMSc and the DHSc (Doctorate of Health Science) follow the same curriculum and take place over the same timeframe. 

The primary difference between the two programs is what healthcare backgrounds they serve.

What is a Doctorate of Medical Science?

Developed exclusively for PAs, DMSc programs combine rigorous, academic coursework exploring healthcare leadership, contemporary research practices, and operational procedures with a special emphasis on creating ethical, inclusive healthcare spaces.   

As the DMSc degree is designed for those who have already completed PA school — and who may have multiple years of on-the-job experience — there is less of a focus on clinical practice. 

Instead, DMSc students investigate the ways in which the healthcare community can better serve those in need through effective stewardship, scholarship, and outreach.

Does a DMSc Allow Me to Practice Medicine?

Attaining your DMSc is not equivalent to attaining your MD, as the DMSc program does not require medical school or completion of a medical residency.

How Long Does it Take to Get a DMSc degree?

As the DMSc degree gains popularity the timeframe is becoming more standardized.

At the moment, PA school graduates should expect to spend four semesters in the program, with a full-time courseload each term.

At Pacific, certain students can graduate with their DMSc in only a single semester.

If you’ve graduated from the PA program at Pacific University OR Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) and enroll in Pacific’s DMSc program within two years of getting your degree, finishing your doctorate takes only one semester. 

Regardless of which pathway you choose, the learning outcomes of advocacy, inclusion, social justice, and practicum stay the same. 

How Much More Does Someone with a DMSc Make?

Average annual pay for licensed PAs in the United States is $125,270, which makes it already one of the higher paid health professions that does not require a medical degree. 

But a recent survey reported a 10-20% increase in salary for practicing physician assistants as they grow in their career after graduating with a DMSc degree.  

What Can I Do With a DMSc?

The primary goal of the DMSc degree is to help PAs begin grow in their careers in leadership, stewardship, and administration roles within the healthcare field. 

As a result, the opportunities for graduates to use their doctoral degree are varied. Here are just a few options that DMSc graduates can pursue:

• Healthcare Management. Whether as hospital administrators, assisted care managers, or working with public resources like schools, DMSc degree holders can create change through operational oversight. 

• Academics and Research. Due to the program’s emphasis on studying current healthcare literature, many DMSc graduates go on either to teach or perform research at the university level.

• Community Health. The DMSc’s focus on equity, inclusion, and advocacy makes it a perfect gateway to community health outreach, especially in often underserved communities. 

• Nonprofit and NGOs Leadership. Whether domestic or international, the DMSc’s courses in organizational strategy and leadership lead directly into careers working with healthcare causes around the world.

Of course, PAs who complete their DMSc degree can still practice as licensed physician assistants with opportunity for advancement should the position present itself. 

Applications for both the four-semester and single-semester programs are open! Submit your materials before the December 1 deadline.

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