The Flexible PA Doctorate: What Goldilocks Can Teach Us About Choosing a Program

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 example of finding the “just right” options that fit her preferences. Doctoral programs can learn a lot from Goldilocks when considering their offerings to applicants, and applicants should consider their goals and life demands when selecting an academic pathway.

Some PAs are fresh out of their entry-level academic programs. They’re still in “classroom mode,” with minds accustomed to taking on new tasks on a regular basis. Doctoral bridge programs are designed for these applicants; they’re ready to roll from clinical year into early clinical practice and entry into accelerated doctoral education. A fast-paced short-term program is not a significant shift from their daily lives, and the price point of most bridge programs is particularly attractive to those with an opportunity for loan forbearance due to continued full-time study. Doctoral offerings in bridge programs are geared often exclusively either to new entry-level graduates or to those with specific subject matter experience (CAQ or external fellowship graduates, for instance). They are fast, no doubt, but institutions make no bones that these programs are not particularly deep in their content.

Some PAs are ready to take a deep dive into specialty subject matter. They’ve served patients in clinics and hospitals, and they’re ready to focus their education on a particular topic of interest to their professional lives. Sometimes this is a more detailed study of clinical topics, focusing on the details of specific specialty practice. Sometimes this is a transition into executive leadership, with an eye toward joining the C-suite in healthcare administration. Sometimes it’s preparation for a second,  or even third  act in an already accomplished career, training to establish and lead a new charity or non-governmental organization to help others next door or around the world. Specialty PA concentrations are ideal for these candidates, where they can select a topic that they love and focus their time and passions toward developing research questions that drive their careers forward.

But the PA in the middle (and there are a lot of them) is sometimes caught between the “fastest” option and the “deepest” option – they’re looking for something “just right.” Many PAs know they want to do more with their careers, and they see that internal corporate training programs may be lacking in the power they need to propel their goals. While many healthcare systems offer educational courses or partner with corporate training academies to provide specific lessons in leadership or clinical improvement, few provide an overarching approach that culminates with deeper research, scholarship, and achievement. While micro credentials are worthwhile achievements, they cannot replace the challenge and depth of a doctoral degree.

The middle ground is a doctoral program meeting three distinct criteria: affordability, accessibility, and the inherent depth and rigor to satisfy a PA who demands a challenge. Not everyone has developed a keen enough interest in a topic or subject to devote the extra time and expense toward a specialty doctorate. Some PAs want to enjoy a program that is affordable enough in cost and short enough in duration, yet rigorous enough to push them toward improving their scholarship and skills. They can complete their doctorate with a fleshed-out foundational curriculum in leadership and issues that affect PAs now and, in the future,  and still have enough money left over to invest in topic-specific coursework later in their career should they choose to specialize. Having a curriculum that allows this now-and-later flexibility for their academic needs is a huge advantage for these PAs. Finding an affordable option that meets the needs of their household and schedule is, as Goldilocks might suggest, a porridge (or bed or chair) that’s “just right.”

A program with a foundational curriculum designed for affordability and flexibility is a great fit for many PAs seeking a doctoral program. If they decide to pursue a specialty after a term or two in the program, that’s achievable. The door isn’t slammed shut because of a fork in the road they chose six months ago. If a PA decides “I want my doctorate, but there are no specialties that interest me,” it’s perfect. They don’t have to invest time and energy into a specialty track that does not animate them. On the other hand, if a PA says, “I can’t decide between these two specialties,” the door never closes. They can complete their doctorate (achievement unlocked!) and return at their convenience to take the coursework of a deeper topic when their finances and lifestyle allow. Opening one academic door should not close all the others, and a foundational curriculum with “add-on” executive specialty certificates keeps the doors open for PAs to expand their minds for years to come.

The doctoral PA market grows stronger with more diverse program offerings, but there are significant benefits with a modular curriculum that allows for a student (and alumnus) to create an academic home that is “just right” for them. It allows for an achievable and affordable pathway for a PA to earn their doctorate and establish a strong professional network with other PAs, while also providing a path forward for future learning when the timing and motivation is right. There’s no risk of “I wish I had studied something else in school” when the learning is lifelong by intention. As our PA careers mature and develop, so too should our educational offerings. A flexible foundational curriculum is “just right” because it allows for career development that is as nimble and responsive as our own profession. But you don’t have to take my word for it. I know some bears that will gladly back me up.