Doctor of Medical Science Online

1. 1. Completion of an online application through Hardin-Simmons University
   2. Official transcript from an ARC-PA accredited PA program reflecting completion of a master’s degree and official transcripts from all institutions attended
   3. An overall grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, as evidenced by an official transcript from an ARC-PA accredited PA program reflecting completion of a master’s degree
   4. Proof of state licensure (or equivalent) as a PA*
   5. A personal letter explaining interest in the program, how the degree will be used to advance your practice as a PA, and your professional purpose and goals*

*Within the application dashboard, navigate to the “Upload Materials” section to add a PDF or scanned image file of your current PA license and Letter of Professional Purpose and Goals

Additional admission requirements may be requested. All materials should be submitted. The DMSc Program Director or their designee will review program applicant materials to ensure all requirements have been met before admission is granted. 

Apply to the DMSc program through our Graduate Application.

Hardin-Simmons University

Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)

DEGREE PLAN

Total program hours: 30

Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPE) Credit Hour Equivalences may be in any of the following ARC-PA required clinical rotations categories:

• Family Medicine
• Emergency Medicine
• Internal Medicine
• Mental Health/Behavioral Medicine
• Pediatric Medicine
• Women’s Health
• General Surgery
• Professional Development Elective
• Surgical and Non-Surgical Electives

Course Descriptions

The DMSc courses cover writing, publishing, communication, the application of evidence-based medicine, differential diagnosis, patient education, doctoral identity formation, medical humanities, provider wellness, advocacy, leadership, and precepting.  Each semester will have an application-focused Practicum course where PAs can apply what they are learning.

DMSc 7301:  Writing, Publishing, and Communication

This course is designed to equip doctoral PA students with advanced skills in writing, preparation for publication, and communication within the healthcare field. The course will explore the critical role of effective communication in professional writing and research for career advancement and personal development. Students will be exposed to scholarly writing and navigating the publishing process for research articles, case studies, and continuing medical education articles. Emphasis will be placed on clarity, precision, and adherence to scholarly writing style formatting guidelines. Students will become familiar with publishing processes, including journal selection, peer-review process, and response to revision requests. Students will explore the current evidence-based recommendations for effective communication strategies and ethical and legal considerations. Topics to be explored include communication with stakeholders, patients, and the public. The doctoral PA student will explore the ethical and legal aspects of writing, publishing, and communication, such as authorship ethics, conflicts of interest, patient privacy, and social media.

DMSc 7302:  Application of Evidence-Based Medicine, Differential Diagnosis, and Patient Education

This course is designed for doctoral PA students seeking advanced training in applying evidence-based medicine (EBM), differential diagnosis, and patient education. The course will focus on the principles of clinical excellence and patient-centered care. The course will allow students to research and apply EBM guidelines, sharpen clinical reasoning, and use EBM to guide patient education. The course will enable students to become proficient at evaluating evidence in the literature.

DMSc 7303:  Doctoral Identity Formation, Medical Humanities, and Provider Wellness

This course will explore doctoral identity formation within the context of medical humanities and provider wellness. Guided by the theories of professional identity development, this course examines the challenges and opportunities faced by doctoral PA students. Emphasis will be placed on how personal experiences, social expectations, institutional cultures, and professional relationships shape the doctoral PA student’s identity. The course will explore an overview of key concepts in medical humanities through the intersection of medicine, social sciences, art, music, theater, philosophy, and ethics. Emphasis will be placed on the role of narrative medicine, reflective practice, empathy, self-awareness, burnout prevention, and provider wellness.

DMSc 7304: Advocacy, Leadership, and Precepting

This course will explore critical areas of advocacy, leadership, and clinical precepting within the context of PA practice. The course is designed for doctoral PA students aiming to train the next generation of PAs through clinical precepting and making change in the PA profession by becoming influential leaders and advocates. The course will examine advocacy principles, including identification of stakeholders, strategic advocacy plans, and knowledge of evidence-based advocacy initiatives. Students will analyze the role of advocacy in influencing policy and making change within the PA profession. The course will begin with a foundation focusing on leadership theory and styles. Emphasis will be placed on developing leadership competencies for the PA to promote career development and career advancement. The course will introduce the doctoral PA student to the foundational skills needed to be a clinical preceptor. Emphasis will be placed on mentorship, supervision, and education of future PAs.

DMSc 7305:  Practicum I

This practicum course will provide doctoral PA students with a bridge between didactic coursework and real-world application. The Practicum I course will allow students to pursue one of two tracks to complete a Practicum I Project within the areas of study: writing, publishing, communication, application of evidence-based medicine, differential diagnosis, and patient education.

Clinical Practice Track: The Clinical Practice Track allows practicing PAs to design and complete a project that will apply theoretical knowledge, refine clinical skills, and develop professional competencies with the guidance of experienced faculty mentors. The Practicum I project will emphasize the use of evidence-based guidelines for the preparation of the project and the role of self-reflection and self-improvement after the completion of the project.

PA Education Track: The PA Education Track allows PAs to design and complete a project that will apply theoretical knowledge and develop the competencies needed for a career as a PA educator under the guidance of experienced faculty mentors. The Practicum I project will emphasize the use of evidence-based guidelines for the preparation of the project and emphasize the role of self-reflection and self-improvement after the completion of the project.

DMSc 7306:  Practicum II

This practicum course will provide doctoral PA students with a bridge between didactic coursework and real-world application. The Practicum II course will allow students to pursue one of two tracks for completing a Practicum II Project with the areas of study: doctoral identity formation, medical humanities, provider wellness, advocacy, leadership, or precepting.

Clinical Practice Track: The Clinical Practice Track allows practicing PAs to design and complete a project that will apply theoretical knowledge, refine clinical skills, and develop professional competencies with the guidance of experienced faculty mentors. The Practicum II project will emphasize the use of evidence-based guidelines for the preparation of the project and the role of self-reflection and self-improvement after the completion of the project.

PA Education Track: The PA Education Track allows PAs to design and complete a project that will apply theoretical knowledge and develop the competencies needed for a career as a PA educator under the guidance of experienced faculty mentors. The Practicum II project will emphasize the use of evidence-based guidelines for the preparation of the project and emphasize the role of self-reflection and self-improvement after the completion of the project.

Spring 2026 Cohort 4

Summer 2026 Cohort 5

Fall 2026 Cohort 6

Spring 2027 Cohort 7

The Hardin-Simmons DMSc program is a 30-credit hour program that awards credit toward the completion of the DMSc degree for 12 credit hours completed during the clinical phase of an entry-level master’s degree program.  Candidates for the DMSc program must provide proof of completion of 12 credit hours of supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPE) as documented on an official transcript from an ARC-PA-accredited master’s degree program.  The 12 credit hours of SCPE courses must be completed in addition to the other admissions requirements prior to enrollment into the program.

Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences Credit Hour Equivalences may be in any of the following ARC-PA required clinical rotations categories: Family Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Internal Medicine, Mental Health/Behavioral Medicine, Pediatric Medicine, Women’s Health, General Surgery, Professional Development Elective, Surgical and Non-Surgical Electives.

PAs enrolled in the Doctor of Medical Science program will benefit from the guidance of experienced faculty throughout the program. Courses are taught by full-time HSU faculty members and adjunct instructors who are practicing clinicians, educators, preceptors, researchers, published authors, leaders, and advocates in the PA profession. 

Meet some of our faculty members:

Program Leadership

Jill Jumper, PT, DPT, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Health Professions
Associate Professor, Department of Physical Therapy
Email: jill.jumper@hsutx.edu

Kathy Robinson, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C
Doctor of Medical Science,
Program Director, Associate Professor
Email:  kathy.robinson@hsutx.edu

Program Faculty

Greg Perry, RPh, PharmD, BCPS-AQID, BCIDP
Doctor of Medical Science, Instructor
Email:  gregory.perry@hsutx.edu

Kathy Robinson, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C
Doctor of Medical Science,
Program Director, Associate Professor
Email:  kathy.robinson@hsutx.edu

Matthew Rose, DMSc, PA-C
Doctor of Medical Science, Instructor
Email: matt.rose@hsutx.edu

Tenell Zahodnik, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C
Doctor of Medical Science, Instructor
Email:  tenell.zahodnik@hsutx.edu

Each semester, the HSU DMSc program collects anonymous feedback from our graduates. Read what they are saying about the Hardin-Simmons University Doctor of Medical Science program.

“The program is very doable in the allotted timeframe, especially with a full-time job as a PA. The way the program is laid out is beneficial so that students are not juggling more than 2 classes at once.”

“After completing the DMSc program at Hardin–Simmons University, I can say the strengths really stand out. The fully online, two-semester format was ideal for balancing my professional responsibilities while advancing my education. The ability to apply prior supervised clinical practice hours toward the degree made the program both efficient and manageable. The program offered a well-rounded and practical curriculum that reached far beyond the basics. It touched on evidence-based medicine, leadership, advocacy, provider wellness, and precepting in ways that tied directly into my daily work. The faculty were equally influential in my experience. The faculty had just as much of an impact on my experience as the coursework. They helped blend practical clinical experience with strong academic knowledge, and their guidance was instrumental in helping me grow. The Christian principles of the university shaped the culture and created an environment built on respect, teamwork, and a genuine desire to serve. By the time I finished the program, I had gained not only a deeper knowledge base but also a clearer path toward opportunities in leadership, teaching, and advocacy that I hadn’t imagined before.”

“I have really enjoyed my time in this program. I have learned not just academically, but have also learned a lot about myself personally and how I can become a better version of myself (both as a person and as a healthcare provider). I appreciate the rigor of the courses, but I also appreciated the flexibility. I appreciated how these courses were laid out, which makes it easier to manage with a full-time job as a PA.”

“The DMSc program at HSU was both challenging and rewarding. The curriculum was thoughtfully designed, relevant, and well-organized, while the faculty provided authentic mentorship that truly enriched the learning process. I especially valued the ability to shape assignments and practicums around my own professional focus, which made each project meaningful and immediately useful in practice. Beyond expanding my knowledge, the program sharpened my leadership skills, deepened my confidence, and gave me a clearer sense of direction for my future as a PA. It was an experience that will continue to shape my career long after graduation.”

“One of the main strengths of the DMSc program is its strong emphasis on practical, real-world application. The coursework and practicum projects are directly relevant to clinical practice, allowing students to develop tools and strategies that can be implemented immediately in their work settings. Another strength is the focus on professional growth and leadership development. The program encourages students to think beyond individual patient encounters and consider system-level improvements, quality initiatives, and their evolving role as clinician leaders and educators. The program also provides a high level of flexibility, which is essential for working PAs. This allows students to balance full-time clinical responsibilities while still engaging meaningfully with the material and completing projects that are relevant to their practice. Lastly, the structure of the practicum sequence helps guide students from idea generation to implementation, promoting critical thinking, adaptability, and project development skills that are valuable for long-term career growth.”

“This program has been instrumental in shaping my preceptorship and leadership skills, offering a unique blend of academic insight and practical clinical and administrative strategy. I now feel prepared to join a faculty, sit at the table with senior leadership, drive change, and confidently manage complex system challenges.”

“I had a very positive experience in the DMSc program and truly appreciated how applicable the coursework was to my clinical practice. The practicum sequence, in particular, was valuable in helping me develop a project that I can continue to use and build upon in my current role. I also appreciated the flexibility of the program, which made it manageable while working full-time, as well as the support and feedback provided by faculty throughout the process. Thank you for creating a program that supports both professional growth and practical application. I feel more confident in my ability to contribute not only as a clinician, but also as a leader and educator moving forward.”

$8,500 per semester (9 hours) + University fees

For more information, find our tuition and fees on the Graduate tab of the Tuition, Costs & Fees page.