Search George Fox
Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)
!
# Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc)
## At a Glance
36
Semester credit hours\*
4 Months
(in addition to the 24-month  program)
Format
In-person and online
Accreditation
Cost
$18,480 (excluding MMSc PA tuition and fees) - 
*\* includes 12 credit hours of advanced-standing credit from your first year of PA school*
**In response to an ever-growing demand for healthcare leaders** – particularly in rural, underserved and international locations – George Fox created a Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree program to help meet the increased need.
**Currently open only to students enrolled in the university’s  program or within five years of graduating from the George Fox University PA Program**, the DMSc program interweaves the PA curriculum with additional course work that allows you to complete your doctorate in one semester (four months) beyond your two-year PA commitment (for students currently enrolled in the PA program) or with four additional semesters of online course work (if returning after graduating from the George Fox PA program). To begin your journey in the DMSc program, start by .
## Professional Preparation
The program is designed to prepare leaders in clinical, administrative and disaster relief settings. Graduates of the program will be equipped to work as:
* Public health professionals
* Researchers
* Policy advocates
* Health administrators
* Clinicians
## Program Distinctives: Service and Leadership
The DMSc program aligns with George Fox’s mission to educate students who “serve with passion.” Our emphasis on primary care, global health, humanitarian service, and leadership distinguishes us from programs that simply emphasize the clinical or educational aspects of the medical profession. Ultimately, the DMSc program is designed to prepare the next healthcare leader.
All DMSc students will take a service trip to a domestic or international location to serve in a public health and/or clinical setting during the month of May. For currently enrolled George Fox PA students, the trip takes place over a break during your PA clinical rotations in the second year of PA school.
## Format
Our 36-semester-credit-hour dual-enrollment format allows enrolled George Fox PA students to begin working towards thier doctoral degree during the second year in the PA program. Current George Fox PA students and graduates within 5 years get 12 credit hours of advanced-standing credit from the first year of PA school, followed by nine credit hours of either dual enrollment during the second year of PA school (current students) or online course work for returning George Fox PA graduates, allowing students to complete the degree with just one additional semester of three online classes (15 credit hours).
Though connected by overlapping course work, the MMSc PA and DMSc programs are separate degree offerings. The addition of a DMSc program aligns with national trends to offer terminal degrees in a broader range of healthcare professions (, doctor of pharmacy, doctor of nursing practice, etc.).
## Curriculum
| Courses | Credits | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Global Health and Humanitarian Service I | 3 | Already covered/taught (12 credits) in PA program |
| Global Health and Humanitarian Service II | 3 |
| Trauma I Emergency Response | 3 |
| Trauma II Surgical Response | 3 |
| Applied Research Project I (online) | 2 | Additional courses (9 credits) either taken during Year 2 of PA program (3 semesters) or within 5 years of graduating from the PA program |
| Applied Research Project II (online) | 2 |
| Applied Research Project III (online) | 2 |
| Applied Research Project Practicum (in-person) | 3 |
| Disaster Medicine (online) | 3 | Additional courses (15 credits) taken after graduating from PA program (one semester) |
| Tropical Medicine (online) | 3 |
| Global Service Doctoral Practicum (online) | 9 |
## Job Prospects
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for physician assistants is expected to  between 2023 and 2033, primarily because of the increasing demand for healthcare professionals in rural and underserved areas.
Curt Stilp, EdD, PA-C
Program Director, PA and DMSc Programs
The DMSc degree sets the graduate up to be a leader in disaster medicine relief and health care delivery to communities in high need. It brings the mission of humanitarianism and service to fulfillment through advanced knowledge, research and experience.
## Questions?
### Tabitha Hall
Admissions Counselor, Physician Assistant Program
*George Fox University is required to make  publicly available on this website.*
George Fox University: Newberg Campus
414 N. Meridian St
Newberg,
OR
97132
503-538-8383
#### Information For
#### Resources
#### Quick Links
   Search George Fox
© 2025, George Fox University.
All rights reserved.
* Mission & Vision
# Mission, Vision, Values and Goals
## Mission
The Program seeks to educate and prepare future Physician Assistants (PAs) to become equitable, spiritually minded, compassionate health care leaders with an emphasis on team-based healthcare delivery, collaboration, human diversity, and patient-centered care
## Vision
The Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program will be a national leader for healthcare in community, clinical, educational and international settings.
## Core Values
* **Inquiry:** Prepare for community engagement through critical thinking and analysis
* **Importance:** Understand how knowledge and experience develop skills used in the service of humanity
* **Impression:** Connect learning to context while overcoming barriers and challenges with the help of others
## Goals
We seek to advance the master’s level PA in three areas:
* **Clinical practice:** Develop PAs with an advanced level of competence and confidence in disaster and global healthcare
* **Leadership development:** Equip PAs with advanced skills to become vision-shapers in their local and global healthcare communities
* **Scholarship:** Broaden the scope and depth of competence in scholarship to promote self-directed, goal-focused, lifelong scholar-healthcare providers
## George Fox University Mission
George Fox University, a Christ-centered community, prepares students spiritually, academically, and professionally to think with clarity, act with integrity, and serve with passion.
* Tuition
# Tuition
The Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) program at George Fox University is open only to students enrolled in the university’s  or graduates of the George Fox PA program, within 5 years of graduating.
**The tuition breakdown (excluding ) is as follows:**
| **Year 1** | No additional cost |
| --- | --- |
| **Year 2** | $6,930 |
| **Year 3 (one semester)** | $11,550 |
| **Total** | $18,480 |
* Faculty & Staff
# Faculty & Staff
The experience of our DMSc faculty covers the broad spectrum of PA practice – from urgent care and primary care clinics to community health centers, family practices, and hospital settings. They are advocates committed to teaching you established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences practices and applying that knowledge to patient care.
They’re also big on collaboration, as evidenced by our  approach, which emphasizes developing new knowledge rather than memorizing “correct answers.” Ultimately, they will teach you to effectively recognize, assess, diagnose and treat patients across the lifespan.
## Faculty
### , EdD, PA-C
Associate Dean, College of Medical Science
Associate Professor of Medical Science
cstilp@georgefox.edu
## Staff
### Holli Paskewich
Operations Manager
503-554-2510
hpaskewich@georgefox.edu