The Northern Arizona University Doctor of Medical Science Program seeks to equip PAs with the knowledge and skills needed to act as agents of change, driving US healthcare towards a safer, more equitable, and higher-value system. 

1. Equip PAs with an advanced understanding of healthcare system structures, incentives, and policies that drive the current state of US healthcare, enabling them to successfully navigate and contribute to the ever-evolving healthcare landscape for overall system improvement. 
2. Empower graduates with cutting-edge knowledge in evidence-based practice, team-based care, population health management, technology integration, healthcare finance and operations, enabling PAs to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare delivery at the local and national level.  
3. Cultivate leaders who can address the complex interplay between healthcare delivery and social determinants of health, promoting patient-centered high-value care for all through adept management strategies, inclusive healthcare practices, and community engagement.

Program administration

• Danielle Kempton, DHSc, MMS, PA-C

  • Director, DMSc Program
  • Clinical Professor and Assoc Chair, Physician Assistant Studies
  • danielle.kempton@nau.edu

• Judy Pieratt, MA

  • Academic Program Coordinator, Senior
  • judy.pieratt@nau.edu

Program faculty

• Alison Essary, DHSc, MHPE, PA-C

  • Professor, Physician Assistant Studies
  • alison.essary@nau.edu

• Natalie Landman, PhD

  • Assistant Teaching Professor, Physician Assistant Studies
  • natalie.landman@nau.edu

• Adrienne Madhavpeddi, PhD, MS

  • Lecturer, Physician Assistant Studies
  • adrienne.madhavpeddi@nau.edu

• Ahmad Pardazi, DBA, FACHE

  • Assistant Professor,Physician Assistant Studies
  • ahmad.pardazi@nau.edu

Instructional faculty

• Craig Norquist, MD, FACEP, FAMIA

• Swapna Reddy, JD, MPH, DrPH

Each of the following 3 credit hour courses must be completed to fulfill the requirements of the DMSc degree.

• • PHA 700- Health Care Systems and Practices in the U.S.
  • PHA-701- Population Health Management
  • PHA 702- Improving Health Care Using a Health Equity Lens
  • PHA 703- Policies and Practices to Address Health
  • PHA 704-Health Informatics for Practice and Management
  • PHA 705-Change Management in Health Care
  • PHA 706- Financing Health Care Delivery in the U.S.
  • PHA 707- Culminating Project

Each of the above courses is approved to offer 15 hours of AAPA Category 1 CME.

The program offers enrollment for spring, summer, and fall semesters

Students may apply to the program at any time.

Admission requirements

• Degree from an ARC-PA accredited PA program.
• Official transcripts from bachelors and masters-level degree-granting institutions (must hold a master’s degree for consideration).
• Minimum overall graduate cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = “A”), or the equivalent.
• Current resume or curriculum vitae.

Our goal is to make post-professional doctoral training accessible to all PAs. As a result, our tuition remains below the 2024 national average (approximately $797/credit hour)

for DMS/DMSc programs, and is the same for both in-state and out-of-state students. At only 24 credit hours, and with a modest fee structure (see below), our total cost of attendance is significantly lower than that of many other doctoral programs for PAs.

Alumni from NAU’s Physician Assistant Studies program are now eligible for a 10% tuition discount for the Doctor of Medical Science Program.

2026-2027 academic year tuition and fees:*

• Tuition: $698 per credit hour
• Fees:
  • One or two courses: $238/semester
  • Three or more courses: $268/semester

*Tuition and fees are subject to change. Please visit the NAU Student & Departmental Account Services webpage for the most up-to-date information on tuition and fees. 

Alumni from NAU’s Physician Assistant Studies program are eligible for a 10% tuition discount for the Doctor of Medical Science Program.*

Employees of NAU Healthcare Partner organizations, government entities, and non-profit educational organizations may be eligible for a 10% tuition discount.*

Arizona-based Healthcare Partner organizations include:

• Honor Health
• Banner Health
• Phoenix Children’s Hospital
• Kingman Regional Medical Center
• Southwest Network
• Terros Health
• Summit Healthcare

NAU also partners with dozens of organizations outside of Arizona. Please contact the program directly to find out if your employer qualifies.  

Visit the NAU  Healthcare Partners website or contact the program for more information.

*Discounts cannot be combined