Goals & Outcomes

The DPA program expands on your clinical and professional foundation as a graduate PA through doctoral-level study, specialization, and leadership development.

Goals

The DPA program curriculum focuses on:

• Providing a comprehensive, structured clinical Doctoral level study to complement and expand on the entry-level education and clinical experience of the graduate PA.
• Supporting the Doctoral Level of study of a DPA student's self identified doctoral track including Clinical Medicine/Surgery, Medical Education, Healthcare Administration, and Behavioral Health.
• Magnifying the DPA students' experiences in critical evidence-based scholarly development, healthcare systems structure, healthcare law, and healthcare management.
• Enhancing the clinical and professional foundation of the graduate PA for clinical practice, medical education, leadership, and industry.
• Preparing the graduate DPA to participate in advancing the PA profession in an evolving healthcare community.

Outcomes

The DPA graduate will be able to:

• Demonstrate advanced, evidence‑based mastery of a selected doctoral concentration. 
• Analyze and synthesize contemporary issues and research in health care. 
• Apply theory and conceptual frameworks to solve complex, real‑world problems. 
• Design, conduct, evaluate, and interpret applied research. 
• Communicate scholarly and professional information effectively. 
• Demonstrate leadership and professional competence across diverse health‑related roles such as advanced clinical medicine/surgery, medical education, behavioral health, medical research, healthcare administration, and in the medical industry.   
• Exemplify ethical, professional, and socially responsible practice. 
• Translate research into practice and policy