Advance Your Physician Associate Career

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

For the PA innovator, leader, and decision-maker.

100% Online

Complete your degree online and asynchronously.

1 Year

Earn your doctorate in just one year.

6 Concentrations

Customize your degree with specialized concentrations.

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

Developed for PAs, by PAs, the Doctor of Medical Science program at the University of Lynchburg builds upon your existing experiences, knowledge, and skills, culminating in a well-deserved doctoral degree. As the demand for PAs increases, so does the need for their influence in administration and leadership. Our DMSc program prepares you to become a more effective advocate for the PA profession, ready to take a seat at the boardroom table where key decisions are made.

The DMSc program fosters your growth as a PA in today’s evolving health care landscape. Designed with flexibility in mind, this online program enables you to balance your professional commitments while embarking on this transformative journey. Our curriculum, the first of its kind, equips you to innovate, lead, and make decisions that improve patient care delivery. With an intensive, relevant clinical experience in your desired specialty, the Lynchburg DMSc shapes you as a leader in executive leadership, research, health care law, and global health.

The program focuses on the application of current medical research to the improvement of clinical practice and patient care. The program includes a research project and offers concentrations in addiction medicine, administrative medicine, advanced professional practice, behavioral medicine, emergency management and global health, and medical education. Regardless of where you are in your career or the world, our program integrates seamlessly into the life you’ve already built for yourself.

Our goal is to empower you with the skills, education, and professional status required to excel in medical research, build and lead health care teams, and play a pivotal role in shaping the future of health care from the boardroom.

Lynchburg’s DMSc is the start of your journey towards not just success, but significance.

Why Lynchburg?

The Lynchburg DMSc program is built for PAs, by PAs, to better our profession.

Our program merges the strength of real-world clinical experience with academic rigor and innovation. By choosing Lynchburg’s DMSc program, you’re immersing yourself in a transformative educational environment guided by experienced faculty, rooted in a learner-centric approach, and bolstered by the most current research and clinical information.

We were the first civilian DMSc program and we’re thrilled to lead the way in making a mark on health care advancement.

DMSc Mission Statement

To educate postgraduate PAs to advance their current compassionate health care delivery while emphasizing clinical proficiency, executive-level leadership, and scholarship.

Comprehensive DMSc Concentrations

Our DMSc program is the only DMSc program that offers this diverse range of tracks designed to align with your career aspirations.

- Addiction Medicine
- Administrative Medicine
- Advanced Professional Practice
- Behavior Medicine
- Emergency Management and Global Health
- Medical Education

We offer a tailor-made curriculum to meet your needs.

Certificate Programs

Add versatility to your doctoral degree with our diverse certificate programs.

- Addiction Medicine
- Behavioral Medicine
- Emergency and Disaster Management
- Executive Leadership
- Global Health
- Healthcare Administration and Management
- Medical Education

Our programs open up new career avenues. We are the only DMSc program to offer this variety of additional certifications.

You can complete additional certificates once you’ve completed your Doctor of Medical Science.

Immersive Research

Stand out with our immersive year-long research project, providing the knowledge, skills, and research proficiency necessary to contribute to medical advancements and publish in scholarly journals, enriching your professional credentials.

Published research from our DMSc alumni includes:

Nationally Recognized Faculty

Our diverse, dedicated, nationally recognized PA faculty bring relevant experience in the medical and scientific research fields.

Our award-winning faculty hail from urban, suburban, and rural settings all over the country. Many are published authors and donate their spare time to overseas medical missions and nonprofit work.

Their ranks include:

- Epidemiologist
- Federal investigator
- Lawyer
- Medical examiner
- Retired military personnel
- Wilderness survival expert

They specialize in:

- Dermatology
- Emergency medicine
- Family medicine
- Global health
- Neuroscience
- Orthopedic surgery
- Psychiatry

Exceptional Health Care Partnerships

Lynchburg’s strong ties with local and national partners provide DMSc students exclusive access to top-tier health care facilities. This enriched learning experience includes associations with:

- AAPA’s Degree Pathway Program
- Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
- Atrium Health
- Centra Health’s regional health care system
- Medical Science Liaison Society
- PA Moms
- Virginia Academy of PAs

1,500+ DMSc Alumni

The Lynchburg DMSc program has the largest PA doctoral program network in the country.

Alumni include:

- Jonathan Sobel, past president of the AAPA
- Beth Smolko, past president of the AAPA
- Kathryn Schisler, 2023 president of the APALM
- Lee Morissette, 2023 Director at Large APALM
- James Millward, Vice President PA Foundation Board of Trustees
- Jeremy Adler, Chief Operating Officer
- Bobby Cockram, Inova System APP Director

Continuing Medical Education Credits

Up to 120 Category I AAPA CME credits are available when you complete the Doctor of Medical Science program.

Earn up to 20 AAPA Category 1 CME credits in each certificate course/ 60 credits for each certificate.

Doctor of Medical Science Concentrations

Addiction Medicine Concentration

The University of Lynchburg Doctor of Medical Science addiction medicine concentration is specifically tailored for PAs engaged in addiction medicine as well as those operating in other medical fields. This comprehensive program entails 37 credit hours, inclusive of crucial courses such as evidence-based medicine and the doctoral project, allowing full-time students to complete the degree within four terms or 12 months. Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on key areas related to addiction and mental health disorders. It delves into understanding the contributing factors to these disorders and explores the future trajectory of addiction medicine. As part of this program, students will hone critical thinking and clinical skills.

Tailored to accommodate both professionals already engaged in the addiction field and those venturing from other specialties, the concentration offers personalized levels of study. This approach is designed to challenge and enrich the knowledge of students, ensuring a well-rounded preparation in addiction medicine.

Graduates from this concentration are well-prepared to work in addiction medicine, both in executive and clinical roles, and to serve as advocates for addiction issues and policy. The program aims to equip PAs with the skills and knowledge necessary to make a meaningful impact in the dynamic and evolving field of addiction medicine.

“I am excited to be able to participate in the initiation of two new concentrations within the DMSc program at the University of Lynchburg. The Behavioral Medicine and Addiction Medicine concentrations are being implemented to help address the shortage of healthcare providers within those specialties. Mental health related services have been identified as one of the areas of greatest need currently and over the next decade. Our concentrations will prepare graduates who are working in psychiatry or addiction medicine and those who are not currently working in those areas to increase their knowledge of mental health and addiction disorders.”

– James R. Kilgore, DMSc, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

Apply advanced and specialized knowledge in Addiction Medicine beyond general practice by focusing on the following competencies:
- Medical knowledge
- Patient care
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- Systems-based practice
- Practice-based learning and improvement
- Professionalism and leadership in the addiction medicine field
Design, develop, and execute clinical care that improves outcomes for patients seeking care for addiction and related disorders
Develop professional medical writing skills to advance the PA profession.

Administrative Medicine Concentration

Increasing numbers of PAs are entering the field of administrative medicine, often in a dual role of clinician/administrator. Many PAs either 1) desire to enter, or 2) who are currently in this field find themselves desiring additional education in leadership, administration, management, law, business, and informatics.

The University of Lynchburg’s DMSc Administrative Medicine (AM) Concentration is designed to give PAs the skills needed to excel in the field of administrative medicine. The curriculum aligns with the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE) competencies including leadership, communication and relationship management, professional and social responsibility, health and the healthcare environment, and business.

“I love it because of the impact I’m making each day. I’m able to care for the people who care for our patients, and that is very rewarding.”

-Jonathan Sobel ’18 DMSc |Vice President for Strategic Workforce Planning, Northwell Health

The coursework includes a focus on leadership, administration, and business skills, with supporting courses to provide a well-rounded education. The concentration enrolls in four of the five terms. Students can complete the degree in 12 months, or longer if preferred.

Healthcare Leadership Competencies (in alignment with the American College of Healthcare Executives)

Upon completion of the Lynchburg DMSc Administrative Medicine Concentration, graduates will be able to:

1. Create a shared vision and successfully manage change to achieve an organization’s strategic ends and successful performance.
2. Communicate clearly and concisely with internal and external customers, establish and maintain relationships, and facilitate constructive interactions with individuals and groups.
3. Align personal and organizational conduct with ethical and professional standards that include a responsibility to the patient and community, a service orientation, and a commitment to lifelong learning and improvement.
4. Understanding of the healthcare system and the environment in which healthcare managers and providers function.
5. Apply business principles, including systems thinking, to the healthcare environment.

Students commonly work full-time in an administrative health-related role to complete the practicum courses. PAs who are professionally engaged at least 160 hours per eight-week term focused on healthcare administrative activities are eligible for enrollment and completion of the administrative degree concentration.

Advanced Professional Practice Concentration

As the demand for PAs increases, so should their roles in clinical and administrative leadership. Healthcare is changing rapidly and PAs are an essential part of its future. PAs are well-educated and trained in all areas of healthcare, and now, more than ever, PAs are seeking advanced clinical and administrative roles across the healthcare system. The DMSc prepares PAs to have an active voice in decision-making that impacts their profession, their patients, and the future of the healthcare system.

Lynchburg’s DMSc Advanced Professional Practice degree concentration offers PAs didactic and practical learning experiences in leadership, scholarship, and professional development. This degree pathway is built for PAs practicing in any clinical specialty or nonclinical healthcare-related role. The curriculum includes clinical experience in a desired specialty, as well as education in executive leadership, research, healthcare law, and global health. This also includes a doctoral writing project that gives PAs the knowledge, experience, and skills needed to publish in scholarly journals and deliver presentations.

The 12-month DMSc program can be completed simultaneously while you work as a PA. It fits into the life you’ve already created for yourself, regardless of where you are in your career or the world.

“NOAA brought me in to develop the Aerospace Medical Department; everything I have learned academically in the DMSc I have been able to apply directly and immediately to my current position. I used the methods I learned in my first semester of the DMSc program to develop a viral surveillance protocol, and the protocol is being used for NOAA pilots and air crew.”

-Joe Newcomb ’21 DMSc, PA-C

DMSc Advanced Professional Practice Concentration Curriculum

The coursework includes three main areas of focus to support professional development for PAs in clinical practice and nonclinical healthcare-related roles:

1. Leadership development in administration, organizational behavior, healthcare regulation, global health, and disaster medicine occurs in the PA 910, PA 920, PA 930, PA 940, and PA 950 courses.
2. Engagement in scholarly work that occurs in the PA 960 and PA 961-963 courses.
3. Application of doctoral coursework to the individual’s work setting that occurs in the APP Practicum course series. Core concepts include professional development, a growth mindset, and work-life balance.

Student Learning Competencies

Upon completion of the Lynchburg DMSc Advanced Professional Practice program, graduates will be able to:

1. Apply advanced and specialized medical knowledge with an emphasis structured beyond general practice by training within fellowship/practicum competencies* on:
  - Medical Knowledge
  - Patient Care
  - Interpersonal Communication Skills
  - Professionalism
  - System-Based Learning
  - Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
2. Analyze skills needed to provide leadership at local and global healthcare institutions.
3. Design, develop, and execute projects that improve patient outcomes.
4. Develop professional medical writing skills to advance the PA profession

*DMSc students who are in nonclinical health-related fields will focus on administrative competencies of Leadership, Business, Healthcare Environment, Professionalism, and Communication and Relationship Management.

Advanced Professional Practice Program Completion

Students commonly work full-time in a clinical setting or a nonclinical health-related role (e.g., Administration or Medical Science Liaison) to complete the APP Practicum courses. PAs who are professionally engaged at least 160 hours per eight-week term focused on clinical and/or healthcare administrative activities are eligible for enrollment and completion of the APP degree concentration.

Advanced Professional Practice – Residential Fellowships

The following information only applies to PAs who are graduates of the University of Lynchburg’s PA Program. Graduates of the University of Lynchburg’s PA Program can enter the Advanced Professional Practice degree upon completion of the master’s program. Residential DMSc fellows complete a modified DMSc curriculum. Learning outcomes and core concepts listed above are unchanged for residential fellows.

1. Residential Fellows complete the APP DMSc degree in 9 months and enroll each October.
2. Residential Fellows do not take the PA 960 Evidence-Based Medicine course instead of their master’s curriculum.
3. Additionally, Residential Fellows, once matched with a fellowship placement, complete the PA 981, PA 982, and PA 983 Fellowship Courses, which follow core concepts and outcomes as the APP Practicum Series. Fellows must be professionally engaged at least 215 hours per eight-week term.

Behavioral Medicine Concentration

The University of Lynchburg Doctor of Medical Science behavioral medicine concentration is specifically tailored for PAs engaged in behavioral medicine as well as those operating in other medical fields. This comprehensive program entails 37 credit hours, inclusive of crucial courses such as evidence-based medicine and the doctoral project, allowing full-time students to complete the degree within five terms or 12 months.

Our curriculum places a strong emphasis on key areas related to mental health disorders. It delves into understanding the contributing factors to these disorders and explores the future trajectory of behavioral medicine. As part of this program, students will hone critical thinking and clinical skills.

Designed to accommodate both those already immersed in the psychiatry field and those venturing from other medical domains, the track offers personalized levels of study. By doing so, it aims to challenge and enrich the knowledge of graduate students.

Graduates from this track are equipped to pursue the Psychiatry Certificate of Added Qualifications which prepares graduates for roles in behavioral medicine at both executive and clinical levels and assume leadership positions in the field. The program is structured to provide a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of behavioral medicine, fostering the development of skills and knowledge necessary for success in a dynamic and evolving healthcare landscape.

“I am excited to be able to participate in the initiation of two new concentrations within the DMSc program at the University of Lynchburg. The Behavioral Medicine and Addiction Medicine concentrations are being implemented to help address the shortage of health care providers within those specialties. Mental health related services have been identified as one of the areas of greatest need currently and over the next decade. Our concentrations will prepare graduates who are working in psychiatry or addiction medicine and those who are not currently working in those areas to increase their knowledge of mental health and addiction disorders.”

— James R. Kilgore, DMSc, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA

Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this program, graduates will be able to:

Apply advanced and specialized knowledge in Behavioral Medicine beyond general practice by focusing on the following competencies:
- Medical knowledge
- Patient care
- Interpersonal and communication skills
- Systems-based practice
- Practice-based learning and improvement
- Professionalism and leadership in the addiction medicine field
Design, develop, and execute clinical care that improves outcomes for patients seeking behavioral health care
Develop professional medical writing skills to advance the PA profession.

Emergency Management and Global Health Concentration

The world needs you.

PAs are especially suited to be frontline providers during emergencies and global disasters, as evidenced by the response demonstrated during the COVID-19 crisis. PAs are essential to increased access to care. With the training available through the DMSc-EMGH degree track, you can successfully initiate and manage local, national, and global disaster response in all settings.

The EMGH Concentration within the DMSc provides PAs access to didactic and active learning in emergency preparedness and global response to disasters, regardless of clinical or professional background. Our faculty are nationally known experts in disaster preparedness/response, emergency management, military medicine, tactical preparedness, and global health. As a DMSc student, you will have direct access to their knowledge and expertise to build on your skills and experience.

You will obtain your doctorate. The DMSc-EMGH can be completed in 12 months. Most coursework is online and asynchronous, and the degree program culminates in a seven-10 day intensive, in-person experience, where you will apply the skills you have learned in a real-world situation. During the intensive, you’ll earn the Wilderness Medicine Society’s Wilderness Advanced Life Support certification.

“When you become a PA, you always know that the possibility of a disaster exists. In my Disaster Medicine course, I learned how to look at a situation and figure out what needs to be done!”

– Dr. Daniela Garza ’20 DMSc, PA-C

Student Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Lynchburg DMSc – Emergency Management and Global Health Concentration, graduates will be able to:

Apply advanced and specialized knowledge of disaster and global health competencies to include:
- - - Survival in austere and remote locations
- - - Response to natural, industrial, and intentional disasters
- - - Global health
- - - Emergency management
Integrate knowledge of leadership and management principles for local, national, and international emergency and disaster response
Design and implement projects that improve patient outcomes in austere and remote locations
Create professional and scholarly written communications

Medical Education Concentration

With over 300 PA programs currently operating in the U.S., more and more PAs are finding themselves in the classroom instead of the clinic. Many PAs who are on faculty have excellent medical training; however, creating active learning sessions, preparing for accreditation, and engaging students are now skills they rely upon daily.

The University of Lynchburg’s DMSc Medical Education Concentration was designed to give PA faculty the skills to succeed in academia. The curriculum aligns with the PA educator’s competencies outlined by PAEA: teaching, learner-centeredness, communication skills, professionalism and role-modeling, program and curriculum design and implementation, program evaluation, scholarship development, leadership, and mentorship. Students can complete the degree in 12 or 15 months.

“I have found the program material to be especially relevant and beneficial to me beyond my expectations. The knowledge I am gaining in the DMSc program has had a direct impact on my influence as a program director and faculty member.”

– Ami Steele ʼ20 DMSc, PA-C, DFAAPA

DMSc Medical Education Concentration Curriculum

The coursework includes three main areas of focus to support PA educators’ professional development:

Faculty development in creating instruction, student assessment, advising, course directing, curriculum development, and accreditation occurs in the PA 990, PA 991, and PA 992 courses.
Engagement in scholarly work occurs through the PA 960 Evidence-Based Medicine and PA 966 Doctoral Project course.
Application of doctoral coursework to the individual’s work setting occurs via the Medical Education Practicum course series.

Student Learning Competencies

Upon completion of the Lynchburg DMSc Medical Education Concentration, graduates will be able to

Apply learning theory and the medical education literature to advance student learning and improve program effectiveness by training within fellowship competencies on:
- Teaching
- Student Centeredness
- Communication
- Professionalism and Role Modeling
- Program and Curriculum Design and Implementation
- Program Evaluation
Design, develop, and execute projects that improve student learning outcomes, program curriculum or operations, and accreditation compliance or program self-assessment.
Develop professional medical writing skills to advance the PA profession.

DMSc students commonly work full-time in PA education to complete the Medical Education Practicum courses. However, you do not have to be in PA Education full-time to enroll in the Medical Education Concentration. The Medical Education Concentration is open to aspiring educators, preceptors, adjunct faculty, and full-time clinicians. PAs who spend 160 hours per eight-week term focused on educational activities are eligible for enrollment and completion of the Medical Education Concentration.

If you are a PA who does not meet those requirements but is interested in PA Education, consider enrolling in the Medical Education Certificate. This 3-course certificate is designed to allow clinically practicing PAs or current doctorally-educated PA faculty the option to complete doctoral-level coursework designed to meet their development needs.

Curriculum and Resources

As the demand for PAs increases, so should their role in administration and leadership.

Health care is changing rapidly and PAs are an essential part of its future. The DMSc makes you a better advocate for the PA profession and prepares you for a place at the boardroom table, where you can make decisions that impact your career, your patients, and the future of health care.

The Lynchburg DMSc offers PAs a clinical experience in their desired specialty, as well as education in executive leadership, research, health care law, and global health. The program includes a yearlong research project that gives PAs the knowledge, experience, and skills needed to publish original research in scholarly journals.

The 12-month DMSc program can be completed simultaneously while you work as a PA. It fits into the life you’ve already created for yourself, regardless of where you are in your career or the world.

2024-25 Academic Year Information

Addiction Medicine Curriculum

PA 951 Overview of Addiction (3 credits)
PA 952 Advanced Pharmacology and Emerging Treatments in SUD (3 credits)
PA 953 Therapies in Addiction (3 credits)
PA 954 Special Topics in Behavioral Medicine (3 credits)
PA 955 Leadership Trends in Addiction (3 credits)
PA 960 Evidence-based Medicine (3 credits)
PA 966 Doctoral Project (3 credits)
PA 971 Practicum I (4 credits)
PA 972 PA Practicum II (4 credits)
PA 973 PA Practicum III (4 credits)
PA 974 PA Practicum IV (4 credits)

Administrative Medicine Curriculum

PA 910: Organizational Behavior and Leadership (3 credits)
PA 915: Healthcare Management (3 credits)
PA 919: Healthcare Business and Informatics (3 credits)
PA 920: Healthcare Administration (3 credits)
PA 950: Healthcare Law (3 credits)
PA 960: Evidence-Based Medicine (3 credits)
PA 966: Doctoral Project (3 credits)
PA 971: Practicum I (4 credits)
PA 972: Practicum II (4 credits)
PA 973: Practicum III (4 credits)
PA 974: Practicum IV (4 credits)

Residential Fellow Curriculum

The following information only applies to PAs who are graduates of the University of Lynchburg’s PA Program. The APP Fellowship enrolls Lynchburg master’s graduates every October. The suggested plan of study includes:

October Term:

PA 910 Organizational Behavior and Leadership (3 credits)
PA 966 Doctoral Project
PA 981 PA Fellowship I (5 credits)

January Term:

PA 920 Healthcare Administration (3 credits)
PA 930 Disaster Medicine (3 credits)
PA 982 PA Fellowship II (5 credits)

**March Term*:**

PA 940 Global Health Issues (3 credits)
PA 950 Healthcare Law (3 credits)
PA 983 PA Fellowship III (6 credits)

Advanced Professional Practice Curriculum

PA 910 Organizational Behavior and Leadership (3 credits)
PA 920 Healthcare Administration (3 credits)
PA 930 Disaster Medicine (3 credits)
PA 940 Global Health Issues (3 credits)
PA 950 Healthcare Law (3 credits)
PA 960 Evidence-Based Medicine (3 credits)
PA 966 Doctoral Project (3 credits)
PA 971 Practicum I (4 credits)
PA 972 Practicum II (4 credits)
PA 973 Practicum III (4 credits)
PA 974 Practicum IV (4 credits)

Behavioral Medicine Curriculum

PA 951 Overview of Addiction (3 credits)
PA 954 Special Topics in Behavioral Medicine (3 credits)
PA 956 Adult Behavioral Medicine I (3 credits)
PA 957 Adult Behavioral Medicine II (3 credits)
PA 958 Behavioral Medicine Across the Lifespan (3 Credits)
PA 960 Evidence-based Medicine (3 credits)
PA 966 Doctoral Project (3 credits)
PA 971 Practicum I (4 credits)
PA 972 PA Practicum II (4 credits)
PA 973 PA Practicum III (4 credits)
PA 974 PA Practicum IV (4 credits)

Emergency Management and Global Health Curriculum

PA 930 Disaster Medicine (3 Credits)
PA 931 Wilderness Survival Medicine (3 Credits)
PA 932 Emergency and Disaster Management Principles and Practice (3 Credits)
PA 940 Global Health Issues (3 Credits)
PA 941 Clinical Issues in Infectious Disease (3 Credits)
PA 942 Social and Behavioral Issues in Global Health (3 Credits)
PA 960 Evidence-Based Medicine (3 credits)
PA 966 Doctoral Project (3 Credits)
PA 986 Emergency Management & Global Health Practicum I (3 Credits)
PA 987 Emergency Management & Global Health Practicum II (3 Credits)
PA 988 Emergency Management & Global Health Practicum III (3 Credits)
PA 989 Emergency Management and Global Health Practicum Intensive (4 Credits)

Medical Education Curriculum

PA 960 Evidence-Based Medicine (3 credits)
PA 966 Doctoral Project (3 credits)
PA 975 Medical Education Practicum I (4 Credits)
PA 976 Medical Education Practicum II (4 Credits)
PA 977 Medical Education Practicum III (4 Credits)
PA 978 Medical Education Practicum IV (4 Credits)
PA 990 Teaching and Learning in PA Education (3 credits)
PA 991 PA Program Development, Implementation, and Maintenance (3 credits)
PA 992 PA Program Evaluation and Improvement (3 credits)

PA 993 Integrating Technology and Teaching Online (3 credits)

DMSc Medical Education Scholars are required to take two electives to fulfill degree requirements. Please refer to the Graduate Catalog for approved electives.

Eight-week Term Course Structure

Our DMSc program offers exceptional flexibility through its eight-week, online course structure, which allows students to balance their academics with other commitments. This format enables students to explore specific topics for a shorter duration, gain a comprehensive understanding of those topics, and apply their acquired knowledge in real-world situations. The eight-week course structure provides an efficient and adaptable approach to learning that caters to the diverse needs of our students, allowing them to design their educational journey to fit their lifestyles and goals

DMSc Core Attributes

Lynchburg has designed the Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree to align with the following core attributes of an advanced practice clinical doctorate.

Degree option: The DMSc degree is the second or third professional degree for PAs who have earned their entry-level PA professional degree at the master’s or bachelor’s level, respectively.
Admission requirements: Prior entry-level PA degree, master’s degree, and active state licensure or certification as a PA are required.
Curriculum: Integrates clinical practice, application of medical research, and course work in leadership and management that develops the PA professional and advances the PA profession.
Clinical Component: Integrated into the curriculum through the practicum experience with assessment of competency in the PAs’ area of practice.
Research Component: Focuses on the application of current medical research to the improvement of clinical practice and patient care.
Professional Alignment: The Lynchburg DMSc degree was created by PAs for PAs based on a needs assessment of the profession and aligning with the overall mission of the Lynchburg Department of PA Medicine.

Academic Resources

Additional Resources

Application Process for the Lynchburg DMSc Degree

Beginning your journey to a Doctor of Medical Science degree at the University of Lynchburg is a straightforward process. Follow our step-by-step guide to apply to the Lynchburg DMSc program and take the next step in your PA career.

The DMSc program enrolls students on a rolling basis, with five cohorts beginning each year in January, March, June, August, and October.

DMSc Application Deadlines

January Cohort

Priority deadline: Jan. 1

March Cohort

Priority deadline: March 10

June Cohort

Priority deadline: May 15

August Cohort

Priority deadline: Aug. 1

October Cohort

Priority deadline: Oct. 5

How to Apply

Complete the online application.
Provide a current resume or curriculum vitae detailing educational and professional achievements
Include a single letter of recommendation from an MD, DO, or PA familiar with the student’s practice
Admitted students: a $300 non-refundable deposit is required, and will apply to the first semester’s tuition (waived if the application is submitted before the priority application deadline).

If you apply by the priority action deadline, you save your seat in the upcoming cohort, and we’ll waive the $300 deposit fee. This means you can save on expenses and eliminate the need for an upfront deposit when you apply on time.

Admission Requirements

Earned master’s or doctoral degree from:
- An accredited U.S. institution; or
- From a foreign university based on transcript evaluation completed by an agency from the NACES website.
Earned certificate or degree from an ARC-PA accredited PA program
Official transcripts from undergraduate and graduate-level degree-granting institutions
- If the initial PA credential (ARC-PA accredited program) was not from the bachelor’s or master’s-level degree-granting institution, then an additional transcript from the certificate PA program is required
Transcripts must be received before matriculation.
- Please have transcripts mailed to the University of Lynchburg, Office of Graduate Success, 1501 Lakeside Dr., Lynchburg, VA 24501;
- Or sent through a secure electronic transcript delivery service.
At least a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale
Proof of active state licensure and/or NCCPA certification. NCCPA certification must be received before matriculation; NCCPA PA-C Emeritus will also be accepted
If applicable, you must:
- Meet requirements for graduate student international admissions.
- Complete the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). It is required for students whose first language is not English.
  - University of Lynchburg code: 5372.
This program is not an entry-level doctoral program. PAs interested in this program must have completed all their PA professional education, completed a master’s degree from an accredited institution, and passed the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE).