Peter Yen, DMSc, MSHA, PA-C, LSSGB Abstract   Healthcare systems face mounting pressures from rising costs, workforce shortages, value-based care mandates, and the need for integrated clinical, operational leadership. Traditional clinician-executive candidates, primarily physicians (MD/DO) and advanced practice nurses, have long filled these roles. However, a growing cohort of physician assistants (PAs) who hold post-professional doctoral degrees, often with specialized train

Erin E. Chalmers, DMSc, MSPAS, PA-C Nobody warned me in PA school that I'd one day be sitting in a legislative hallway, waiting to testify, rehearsing talking points about workforce data between patients I'd seen that morning. That's not in the curriculum. But maybe it should be. Kentucky's SB116 cleared both chambers this year — a win that took years of showing up, building relationships, and making the case that PA scope-of-practice modernization isn't a turf battle. It's a

Aisha Hussein, DMS, PA-C We are standing at a unique crossroads in the PA world: we are actively participating in our profession's maturity yet witnessing our career pathways struggle to keep pace with that evolution. In an era of artificial intelligence and the expectation to create faster than we can compensate, we feel the challenge of navigating a career that seems entirely tangible, yet structurally elusive at the same time. Professional equity or parity is something PAs

James C. Somers, PA-C, DHSc, DFAAPA James R. Kilgore, DEL, DMSc, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA Arkansas Colleges of Health Education Introduction: A Workforce Crisis with Structural Constraints The United States is experiencing a sustained and worsening mental health crisis, characterized by increasing rates of psychiatric illness, suicide, and unmet need for care. Workforce shortages persist across psychiatry, psychology, counseling, and advanced practice providers, with significant geo

Alan Heckman, DMSc, PA-C Founding Program Director Doctor of Medical Science Program DeSales University As doctoral education continues to expand within the physician associate (PA) profession, many programs have focused on preparing clinicians for leadership, healthcare systems management, and organizational strategy. While these areas are critically important, another need within the profession is becoming increasingly clear: preparing clinicians to become effective educato

Jenna Rolfs, DMSc, MBA, PA-C, DFAAPA Dean & Founding Program Director, Physician Associate Program (Developing Program), Arkansas Colleges of Health Education Building the Faculty and Leadership Pipeline The ACHE DMSc Foundational Pathway addresses a pressing need within PA administration, education and beyond.  The development of future faculty and academic leaders. As PA leadership opportunities expand nationally within various domains to include healthcare systems, industr

James R. Kilgore, DEL, DMSc, PhD, PA-C, DFAAPA President, Academy of Doctoral PAs The United States is in a sustained mental health crisis. Rates of crises, suicide, and psychiatric emergencies are at historic highs, while 40% of Americans live in a Mental Health Professional Shortage Area. Workforce shortages span nearly every behavioral‑health profession, with severe maldistribution and rising burnout. A question that frequently arises is what role the Physician Associate (

Dear ADPA Membership, The Academy of Doctoral PAs (ADPA) is pleased to announce the official call for nominations for the upcoming Board of Directors election. We invite engaged and committed voting ADPA members to participate in shaping the future of doctoral education for PAs by submitting nominations for leadership positions. Open Position: ●      President-Elect: Term 2027-2029 Nomination Period: April 1st – May 1st, 2026 Nominations may be submitted in two ways: ●     

Rob Gray, DMSc, MBA, PA-C, FIBODM Associate Program DirectorDoctor of Medical Science Arkansas Colleges of Health Education When PAs seek to expand their knowledge base with a doctorate, the choices can be overwhelming. New programs are opening regularly, and there is significant market diversity in terms of content delivery, timing, and cost, among other variables. While she may have had issues respecting boundaries with her furry neighbors, Goldilocks serves as a good examp

James C. Somers, PA-C, DHSc Where We Were: Access, Generalism, and the Physician-Extender Model In 1965, two forces reshaped American healthcare: the creation of Medicare and Medicaid and the first physician assistant program. Both responded to the same constraint, expanding coverage with an insufficient physician workforce. Physician assistants/ associates were designed to extend capacity within a physician-led model. The profession that followed was intentionally generalist

Jenna Rolfs, DMSc, MBA, PA-C, DFAAPA Dean & Founding Program Director, Physician Associate Program (Developing Program), Arkansas Colleges of Health Education The Arkansas Colleges of Health Education (ACHE) developed the Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) Foundational Pathway in response to a clear and growing need within the Physician Associate (PA) profession and Post Professional Doctoral Programs (PPDPs). As healthcare systems evolve in complexity, PAs are increasingly ste

Randy Danielsen Ph.D., MPAS; Christopher Cannell, DMSc, MPAS, MPLC, PA-C, DFAAPA, CAQ    Abstract Medical malpractice lawsuits constitute a significant source of stress and professional uncertainty for physician associates (PAs). This comprehensive review details the medical malpractice litigation process, offering practical guidance for PAs facing such challenges. The article examines the four foundational elements required to establish medical negligence: duty of care, brea

Peter Yen, DMSc, MSHA, PA-C, LSSGB Abstract Healthcare delivery systems are experiencing unprecedented complexity driven by workforce shortages, operational pressures, regulatory demands, and rapid technological advancement. Physician associates (PAs) have long served as adaptable clinicians capable of improving access and supporting team based care. However evolving health system needs increasingly require leadership competencies in policy, quality improvement, organizationa

Jenna Rolfs, DMSc, MBA, PA-C, DFAAPA ADPA, President-Elect The Physician Associate (PA) profession stands at a pivotal moment across higher education, healthcare, and industry. As healthcare systems rapidly evolve, the demand for leaders who can navigate complexity and drive organizational change continues to grow. Simultaneously, higher education faces structural pressures, from the approaching enrollment cliff to the need for sustainable revenue models that require strategi

Peter Yen, DMSc, MSHA, PA-C, LSSGB Executive Summary Healthcare delivery in the United States has undergone profound structural transformation over the past two decades. Care models have shifted from physician centric hierarchies toward integrated, team-based systems that rely heavily on advanced practice clinicians.¹,² Yet executive governance structures have not evolved at the same pace. Physicians commonly ascend to Chief Medical Officer roles. Nursing leadership pathways

James C. Somers, DHSc, PA-C, DFAAPA Author’s Note:  This article reflects my personal professional perspective, shaped by more than two decades as a practicing clinician, practice owner, educator, and professional leader within the Physician Associate profession. My decision to pursue doctoral education was not driven by a specific job title, promotion, or external requirement. At the time, I was already well established clinically and professionally. What I was looking for w

Peter Yen, DMSc, MSHA, PA-C, LSSGB Introduction The United States healthcare workforce faces a persistent and widening gap between clinical demand and physician supply. This gap is driven by an aging population, increasing chronic disease prevalence, geographic maldistribution of physicians, and accelerating workforce burnout and retirement. Labor projections demonstrate that physician supply growth alone will not meet future needs. In this context, physician associates repre

Jessica Amburgey, DMS, MSPAS, PA-C, EM-CAQ

“Healthcare burnout impacts increasing numbers of providers”  We hear that headline frequently. PAs face significant pressures to balance heavy patient loads, navigate complex medical decisions and interdisciplinary collaboration, and deliver quality care within fast-paced clinical environments. In a recently published article, approximately one-third of PAs experience burnout. Contextual factors appear to drive burnout risk rather than demographics such as gender, underscori

Peter Yen, DMSc, MSHA, PA-C, LSSGB Abstract The expansion of doctoral education for Physician Associates has introduced multiple degree pathways that differ in purpose, structure, and career alignment. Prospective doctoral PAs often face difficulty distinguishing among programs and determining which option best fits their professional goals. This paper examines the major doctoral pathways pursued by PAs, with emphasis on program length, research versus clinical focus, typical