Springfield College Announces Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) Program

Springfield College is proud to unveil its fully online, asynchronous Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program, which was developed by the College's physician assistant (PA) faculty to meet a growing demand for a doctoral-level program for PAs.

"The Doctor of Medical Science at Springfield College will prepare the next generation of leaders in health care, and higher education. It embodies a commitment to continuous learning and is designed to advance clinical and educational skills of physician assistants," said Meghan Migeon, DMSc, director of the Springfield College Physician Assistant Studies program. "Graduates will be prepared for roles in leadership, scholarship, and education to further enhance the PA profession."

The need for a doctorate for PAs is on the rise. Increasingly, PAs will benefit by having expanded knowledge on leadership, administration, and quality improvement in a team-based practice environment. The DMSc program at Springfield College offers an unparalleled opportunity for PAs to elevate their careers and impact patient care. A dire shortage of physicians (expected to reach 80,000 by 2025 and 139,000 by 2030) will reduce the number of physicians available for leadership roles in health care, requiring more PAs to be prepared for health care leadership, according to research findings in a 2020 Human Resources for Health article, titled "Physician workforce in the United States of America: Forecasting nationwide shortages."

As health care becomes increasingly complex, the DMSc at Springfield College will cultivate leadership skills, enabling DMSc graduates to contribute to health care policy decisions, medical education, and interdisciplinary collaboration. The new program is vital to developing the next generation of students and professionals seeking doctoral-level PA education.

"Extending this wonderful opportunity across the nation and the world will help ensure access to many who would otherwise not be able to pursue this degree," stated Brooke Hallowell, dean of the School of Health Sciences.

The DMSc program offers two concentrations: Clinical and Education. The Clinical concentration is geared toward clinically practicing PAs looking to work in health care leadership roles. The Education concentration is designed for PAs in, or looking to transition into, physician assistant education. The program can be completed in 12-15 months and is designed to fit around the busy schedule of working PAs.

"The DMSc degree is a natural fit with our Physician Assistant program. It builds on our rich history of offering high-quality health sciences programs and fits our mission to educate students in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others," said Mary Ann Coughlin, Springfield College provost and vice president for academic affairs.

More information on the DMSc program can be found at springfield.edu/dmsc.