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2024-25 Academic Catalog

Doctor of Medical Science

Overview

The George Fox University College of Medical Science program offers a 36-credit Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree. New cohorts in the DMSc begin studies every January during the second year in the PA program. Though connected by overlapping course work, the MMSc PA and DMSc programs are separate degree offerings. 

The revolutionary development of this dual degree allows for 12 credit hours of advanced-standing credit from your first year of PA school, to be carried over to the DMSc followed by nine credit hours of dual enrollment during your second year, allowing you to complete the degree with just one additional semester of three online classes (15 credit hours) after successful graduation from the MMSc PA program.

Mission

This program seeks to educate and prepare future Physician Assistants (PAs) to become equitable, spiritually-minded, compassionate healthcare leaders with an emphasis on team-based healthcare delivery, collaboration, human diversity, and patient-centered care.

Program Goals

The goals of the Doctor of Medical Science program are to advance the master’s level PA in three areas:

  1. Clinical Practice. Develop PAs with an advanced level of competence and confidence in disaster and global healthcare
  2. Leadership Development. Equip PAs with advanced skills to become vision-shapers in their local and global healthcare communities
  3. Scholarship. Broaden the scope and depth of competence in scholarship to promote self-directed, goal-focused, lifelong scholars and competent and compassionate healthcare providers

Program Core Values

  1. Inquiry: Prepare for community engagement through critical thinking and analysis
  2. Importance: Understand how knowledge and experience develops skills used in the service of humanity 
  3. Impression:  Connect learning to context while overcoming barriers and challenges with the help of others 

Graduate Outcomes

The overall program design is based on four interlaced topic areas. These include (1) global health and humanitarian service, (2) medical practice relevant to underserved areas and populations, (3) research and service, and (4) clinical fellowship in an area of interest. Curriculum in each area is based on (1) course learning goals, (2) course learning outcomes, and (3) course instructional objectives which are linked to each other and the program foundation.

Accreditation

Accreditation for George Fox University’s DMSc PA program comes from the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

The Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU) is recognized by the United States Department of Education (USDE) and the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) to accredit postsecondary institutions.  NWCCU is incorporated as a legally established, private 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation and accredits institutions of higher education in Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and British Columbia, along with other domestic and international geographic areas.  NWCCU recognizes higher education institutions for performance, integrity, and quality to merit the confidence of the educational community and the public. Our accreditation of postsecondary institutions is a voluntary, non-governmental, self-regulatory process of quality assurance and institutional improvement.

Accreditation or pre-accreditation by NWCCU also qualifies institutions and enrolled students for access to Title IV federal funds to support teaching, research, and student financial aid.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the NWCCU website at https://nwccu.org/.

Admission Requirements

See Admissions webpage for more specifics regarding admissions recommendations and guidelines.

Transfer Credit

All George Fox courses must be taken as part of the PA and DMSc cohort, and no advanced placement options are available.

Grading

Students enrolled in GFU’s DMSc Program must maintain adherence to the program standard of academic performance and professionalism. Due to the sequential nature of the curriculum, students must successfully complete all courses for a given semester before becoming eligible to take courses in the subsequent semester.

DMSc grades are given as A, B, C and F, including experiential (clinical) course grades

Graduation Requirements

In order to graduate with a master of medical science

  • Satisfactorily complete a minimum of 36 semester hours of the DMSc curriculum with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above. 
  • A grade of B- or above is acceptable completion of any course.  See department student handbook for grading policy.
  • Successfully pass all the components of the DMSc program.
  • Demonstrate they have met all graduate competencies and learning outcomes
  • Be in good professional standing.

Curriculum Plan

This course prepares students to provide medical care to patients from diverse populations both domestically and internationally.  It seeks to increase awareness of health disparities and inequities domestically and globally across diverse patient populations and highlight the impact of social determinants of health on individual and population health and wellbeing.  Instruction related to medical care and diversity prepares students to (1) evaluate their own values and avoid stereotyping, (2) become aware of differing health beliefs, values and expectations of patients and other health care professionals and how it impacts (a) communication, (b) decision-making, (c) compliance and (d) health outcomes.
This course provides instruction in medical topics for pediatric, adult and geriatric populations, including preventive care across the lifespan and nutrition and obesity counseling.  It also provides an introduction to cultural nutrition and alternative therapies to meet the needs of a diverse patient population.
This course is focused on developing organization, communication and leadership traits. Instruction will look at how individuals and groups think, communicate and interact and analyze what factors enhance these interactions to positively impact the success of the organization, patient-provider relationship, and patient-centered healthcare teams. The purpose of this course is to create a more effective service-oriented clinician. The course will examine some of the primary theories and principles of motivation, communication, leadership attributes, managing conflict, decision making, team building, and quality improvement.   It will provide examples of how greater knowledge and understanding of effective leadership skills is vital to successful and sound decision-making, problem solving, conflict management, team building, and managing change to improve healthcare teams, organizations, and patient care.
This course prepares students to recognize, rapidly assess, and effectively manage emergent situations, illness, or injury. Problem-based case studies and team-based activities are used to encourage the development of teamwork, collaboration, and interdisciplinary value. Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) are part of this course.
This course covers concepts of surgical assessment, basic surgical skills and procedures, surgical complications, and management of surgical patients. It builds on the foundation of the previous medicine courses and expands on etiology, pathophysiology, clinical manifestation, and diagnosis, and appropriate management of selected surgical conditions including care of acute and chronic patients. Emphasis is on students developing competency in the principles and practices involved in aseptic and basic surgical techniques, surgical risk assessment, wound closure, wound management, anesthesia, and preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative evaluation and management.
This course exposes DMSc students to issues related to underserved and diverse populations, locally and abroad. The course encourages (1) student awareness of the interdependence of health and social issues and (2) awareness of resources available to underserved and diverse populations. In addition, the course helps students identify their community values and view while expanding on ethical care in underserved populations and areas. This project facilitates integration of George Fox’s mission by providing service to a community in need.
This course continues where ARP I stopped, exposing DMSc students to issues related to underserved and diverse populations, locally and abroad. The course encourages (1) student awareness of the interdependence of health and social issues and (2) awareness of resources available to underserved and diverse populations. In addition, the course helps students identify their community values and view while expanding on ethical care in underserved populations and areas. This project facilitates integration of George Fox’s mission by providing service to a community in need.
This course continues where ARP II stopped, exposing DMSc students to issues related to underserved and diverse populations, locally and abroad. The course encourages (1) student awareness of the interdependence of health and social issues and (2) awareness of resources available to underserved and diverse populations. In addition, the course helps students identify their community values and view while expanding on ethical care in underserved populations and areas. This project facilitates integration of George Fox’s mission by providing service to a community in need.
The Humanitarian Service Practicum is the application of the Applied Research Project series and occurs in local underserved areas or populations or in distant population where little to no medical care exists. This may include trips into rural Oregon, inner city Portland, or countries such as Kenya, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic, and others. Service may focus on preventive medicine such as hygiene, clean accessible water, open fire cooking, etc. Regardless of the group project, this phase only takes place on well researched options that are guided by the course faculty and with clearly defined outcomes that are measurable. This course runs concurrently with the ARP II course.
This course educates individuals about disaster preparedness and emergency medical intervention in a disaster setting. Students will learn how to plan, coordinate, and execute a response to a natural (earthquake, flood, tornado, etc.), industrial (explosions, hazardous materials, etc.), and intentional (bombings, shootings, nuclear, biological, chemical, etc.) disaster.
This course will provide an in-depth analysis of infectious and tropical disease epidemiology, presentation, treatment, and prevention options. There will also be a discussion of the care of refugees and displaced persons, medical tourism, and traditional healing practices one might encounter.
Students engaged in the DMSc Practicum series will be referred to as a PA Fellow. The Doctoral Practicum provides opportunities for students to develop competent and proficient levels of mastery within their chosen area of medical practice. This will include treatment plans which are patient- centered and inclusive, address medical issues, and reinforce patient education and appropriate consultation and referral. This course can be taken over three semesters or during one semester. If taken over three terms, the PA fellow must complete and submit a minimum of 160 patient encounter hours per term. If taken over one term, the PA fellow must complete and submit a minimum of 480 patient encounter hours per the term.