BOISE, Idaho — For the first time in its 133-year history, the College of Idaho is launching a doctoral degree program this summer, the institution announced Tuesday.
The Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree program begins this summer with an inaugural class of 25 students and will be entirely online to allow flexibility for working PAs.
Cohorts of 25 students will be added in three-month intervals, with a maximum of 125 students in the new program at one time, according to the College of Idaho. The DMSc program can be completed in nine to 18 months.
Tuesday's news release said the doctoral offering is fit for physician assistants and physician associates hoping to further their education. Dr. Kari Bernard is set to serve as program director, guiding "implementation science to drive change through evidence-based practices across various fields."
Dean of Graduate Studies and Vice President of High Impact Practices, Latonia Haney Keith, said the College of Idaho has been eyeing adding a Doctor of Medical Science degree program. The historic addition "empowers PAs to advance into senior-level leadership roles in today's evolving healthcare landscape," the college said.
The DMSc program includes mentorship from doctoral-trained PAs, with a curriculum designed by PAs who are leaders in their fields. Bernard said each student will be paired with a doctoral-trained PA advisor from the program's start through graduation.
“We’ve taken what is so special about The College of Idaho, especially the personalized attention and respect paid to each on-campus student, and recreated it in our online space," Bernard said in a news release. "... To mitigate administrative burdens, we’ve created a centralized process through our program manager for DMSc students to navigate enrollment and other requirements. We are truly meeting students where they are to support their doctoral journey.”
Those interested in the College of Idaho's new Doctor of Medical Science degree program can learn more and apply by clicking here.
“The College of Idaho’s DMSc program has been designed to provide a rigorous doctoral-level curriculum for PAs,” Associate Program Director Dr. Tonya George said. “Understanding the importance of a curriculum that is based on known competencies, our course designers, who are all experienced PAs, intentionally created our courses using doctorate-level competencies from recognized organizations such as the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) and the American Association of Physician Associates (AAPA). We are excited to be able to offer this quality of degree to fellow PAs.”
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