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University of Lynchburg

/ Graduate Academics / Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) / Administrative Medicine Concentration

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.

Headshot of Jonathan Sobel“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

Administrative Medicine Concentration Curriculum

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. 

Administrative Medicine Curriculum

PA 910: Organizational Behavior and Leadership (3 credits)
Prerequisites: Successful completion of the prior semester of coursework or program permission. This course examines how the personal characteristics of organizational members influence the effectiveness and productivity of organizations and the job satisfaction of its members. It is believed that organizations comprise three levels: the individual, the group or department, and the organization itself. This course will focus on the problems and challenges leaders face in dealing with the individual and the small groups in the organization. Special attention will be given to the role of teams in organizations, the stages of team development, and actions that can support the development of effective teams. The realities of interpersonal processes are considered through examination of the roles of power, politics, and conflict in organizations. The human side of organizational change is then explored with a focus on understanding how and why people react to organizational change and identifying opportunities for enhancing the effective implementation of change.
PA 915: Healthcare Management (3 credits)
Students will become acquainted with how management tools can be applied in healthcare delivery and administration. The modules link the management functions of planning, organizing, communicating, budget planning, documenting, and legal aspects of human resources, for achieving positive organizational outcomes.
PA 919: Healthcare Business and Informatics (3 credits)
This course will have two major portions. The first will involve basic business principles including creating a business proposal/plan, creating and maintaining a budget, forecasting revenues and expenses, and marketing. The second portion of the course will dive into informatics topics that revolve around the application of technology to healthcare. We will explore telehealth, electronic health records, digital health, public health, and legal/ethical issues concerning informatics.
PA 920: Healthcare Administration (3 credits)
This course provides PAs with a concrete foundation in healthcare finance, resource allocation, and administration. The goal is to assist students develop practical approaches to improving the excellence and delivery of healthcare. Health Care decisions are especially apt to have some form of ethical consequence. This course is designed to provide a basic framework from which to consider these consequences, as well as give the healthcare professional tools to develop management styles.
PA 950: Healthcare Law (3 credits)
Students explore relevant healthcare law and policy issues that impact the PA profession and healthcare delivery systems. Emphasis will be placed on leadership roles and professional relationships in the healthcare system.
PA 960: Evidence-Based Medicine (3 credits)
This course will cover key principles of scientific research and performance improvement in PA practice. Research design, methodology, ethics, and critical appraisal of medical publications will be reviewed. This course will emphasize the application of principles of evidence-based research and quality performance to achieve patient-centered clinical outcomes. Students will develop their proposal for their doctoral project.
PA 966: Doctoral Project (3 credits)
Students will advance and execute the doctoral project proposal suitable for publication and/or presentation in medical journals or conferences. Students will synthesize findings, draw conclusions, and receive an evaluation of their final project. Students will be encouraged to submit for publication and/or present their work at conferences.
PA 971: Practicum I (4 credits)
This course will provide intensive clinical exposure in a chosen clinical specialty to further the student’s clinical practice. Students will apply advanced and specialized medical knowledge beyond general practice. Students will begin training within clinical competencies. Nonclinical health-related professional PAs will begin training within healthcare administrative competencies. Core concepts include work-based experiential learning, professional development, growth mindset, work-life balance, and active learning.
PA 972: Practicum II (4 credits)
Prerequisite: PA 971. This is the second session of the APP Practicum. This course will continue concepts of PA 971 for clinical and nonclinical/administrative PAs. Additional focus is placed on active and lifelong learning.
PA 973: Practicum III (4 credits)
Prerequisite: PA 972. This is the third session of the APP Practicum. This course will continue concepts of the PA 971 and 972 courses.
PA 974: Practicum IV (4 credits)
Prerequisite: PA 973. This is the final session of the APP Practicum. This course will continue concepts of the PA 971-973 courses.

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.

Administrative Medicine Concentration

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.