According to the 2022 salary report from the American Academy of Physician Associates, one in three PAs currently holds a leadership position, primarily as PAs or lead advanced practice providers, directors, managers, or chiefs.
However, only a small fraction (4.5%) serve at the executive or vice-president level. Enhancing leadership capacity within the profession is crucial for shared governance and advancement. While one in five PAs in administration report having received formal leadership training, there's a recognized need for more comprehensive leadership development, as indicated in the strategic plans of both the American Academy of Physician Associates and the Physician Assistant Education Association. Nonetheless, formal leadership training remains limited in traditional master's PA programs.
The DMSc aims to prepare master’s prepared graduates from accredited US PA programs to serve as preceptors, team leaders, and administrators in inpatient, outpatient, community, and educational settings.
With the PA profession growing there will be massive growth in DMSC.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects the PA profession will grow 27% from 2022-2032
(much faster than the average for all occupations) ¹. The average growth for all occupations
during the same time period is 3%.
¹Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook, Physician Assistants, at
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm (visited July 29, 2024).
23.5% of recently certified PAs indicated they plan to seek additional education or clinical training within the next three years (this does not include on-the-job training or required CME). With 11.7% specifically planning to pursue an advanced degree related to the PA Profession. Our rigorous hybrid curriculum is designed to give you the advantage, you’ll learn advanced skills to manage and lead teams. You learn at the pace you set, our program is designed to meet your individual goals and needs. The Maryland Modernization Act passed in 2024 has created more opportunities for PAs to practice in a collaborative environment, working with interprofessional teams to provide high quality care. At the UMB graduate school we have clinical specialty training unavailable elsewhere, or DMSC program has partnered with our Palliative Care, OB/GYN, Informatics, Global Health and Geriatrics teams to be able to provide advanced education and training. Over the last five years the PA profession has seen a slight increase in racial and ethnic diversity of new graduates, we wish to foster and help prepare the next generation of PA leaders and have decided to accept new graduates PAs starting in 2025.