A 12-Month DMSc Built Around the Realities of PA Practice

By: Kari S. Bernard, PhD, PA-C

Director, Doctor of Medical Science Program, The College of Idaho

When PAs hear “12-month doctorate,” a reasonable question is: Is that really enough time?

The answer is yes, when the program is intentionally designed for practicing PAs and supported by the right educational infrastructure. A high-quality doctorate is not defined by how long students sit in a program. Instead, it is defined by what they learn, how they apply it, and the support they receive along the way.

When considering a 12-month Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program, look for the following:

• A curriculum that builds on the foundation of a PA master’s
• Coursework that is rigorous but spaced out by meaningful breaks
• A program that provides built-in social support

A 12-month DMSc, when thoughtfully designed, meets these criteria. What matters is not how long students are enrolled, but whether the program delivers meaningful transformation, scholarly competence, and professional confidence. The College of Idaho’s DMSc program is intentionally structured to accomplish these outcomes, and more.

Designed for Practicing PAs

At The College of Idaho, our 12-month DMSc program was designed for master’s-prepared PAs who engage daily with medical literature to translate evidence into patient care. Rather than repeat curriculum taught at the master’s level, we build deliberately on this foundation with advanced competencies most useful for modern PA practice:

• Implementation science to more readily move evidence into real-world practices
• Essential teaching and healthcare administration skills
• Leadership and systems thinking
• Practical scholarly inquiry

Coursework is intentionally designed for immediate application to real-world scenarios relevant to students’ clinical, educational, and professional contexts.

Rigor with Real Breaks

At The College of Idaho, you don’t have to sacrifice rest to advance your education along an efficient timeline. Rigor and rest are not competing values. Our 12-month program includes planned academic breaks that allow you to:

• Sustain momentum without burnout
• Integrate learning into clinical and professional roles
• Maintain personal and family commitments

We believe that cognitive recovery and time for reflection are essential to develop doctoral competencies.

Doctoral-Trained PA Advisors

Doctoral education can be isolating, but it doesn’t have to be. From the start of the program, every College of Idaho DMSc student is paired with a doctoral-trained PA advisor who provides:

• Consistent academic and professional guidance
• Support navigating scholarly expectations
• Opportunities to develop a scholarly community among members of the same advising cohort
• Mentorship from someone who understands both PA practice and doctoral education

This active advising model creates psychological safety, accountability, and a sense of community, all of which are vital to success in an intensive DMSc program.

A Doctorate the Respects Your Time

The College of Idaho DMSc was built for PAs who want to advance their careers without stepping away from the work they value or the lives they love. Our 12-month pathways reflect respect for our students’ expertise, time, and well-being—while maintaining the standards expected of PA doctoral education.

In short, 12 months is enough because quality is intentional, support is built in, and learning is designed for real-world impact.

Register for an upcoming Virtual Info Session or explore our DMSc program online to learn more about our specialty tracks and accelerated pathways.