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Doisy College Launches Doctor of Medical Science Program

Saint Louis University’s Doisy College of Health Sciences (DCHS), which offers a wide range of programs for students seeking to enter healthcare fields, is launching a new Doctor of Medical Science Program in January 2027.

The Doctor of Medical Science (DMS) degree is a post-master’s doctoral program designed for physician assistants/associates seeking to expand their impact beyond clinical practice. Grounded in Saint Louis University’s Jesuit mission, the program emphasizes leadership, service and the advancement of healthcare to improve patient and population outcomes. 

The accelerated program takes approximately nine months to complete. The college began accepting applications on July 1, and classes begin on Jan. 25, 2027.

"As healthcare continues to evolve, the PA profession needs leaders equipped to integrate clinical expertise with service, advocacy, and transformational leadership skills,” said Genevieve DelRosario, DMSc, director of the Doctor of Medical Science program. “Our service-focused Doctor of Medical Science program was designed to prepare PAs to address these challenges while advancing the health of patients and communities. We are honored to be among the first programs to help shape the future of doctoral education within the profession."

The DMS program is created for working professionals with flexible, asynchronous coursework that allows students to complete weekly assignments on their own schedule. There will be multiple starts each year with small class sizes to ensure an individualized and collaborative learning environment. The curriculum emphasizes leadership development, healthcare systems, and population health — key areas for advancing professional practice.

“We are thrilled to launch the Doctor of Medical Science for physician assistants/associates," said Tricia Austin, Ph.D., interim dean of the Edward and Margaret Doisy College of Health Sciences. "The highly committed and exceptional faculty and staff in our PA education program are very well-poised to meet emerging needs for post-professional physician assistant education."

Courses are taught primarily by experienced Saint Louis University and physician assistant program faculty, who are committed to student success. The program has a strong focus on service, advocacy and improving healthcare for diverse and underserved populations. Faculty include Chezna Warner, Madeline Kruper, Caroline Chang, Nicole Biddinger and Genevieve DelRosario. 

“We are excited and grateful to engage with physician assistant professionals who are highly dedicated to advancement of their skills through this degree program," Austin said.

The core curriculum includes:

Contact dchs@health.slu.edu to inquire about future start terms. Learn more about the Doctor of Medical Science program on SLU's course catalog.

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