Take your clinical degree to the next level with an academic doctorate.

The Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) and Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) programs are designed for working health science clinicians and educators who hold a master’s or doctorate in a clinical field. Our program offers curricula in research design and implementation and a choice of healthcare leadership or educational leadership tracks. Alumni are poised for careers as leaders in healthcare and education settings.

About the Program

Complete an academic doctorate on your schedule. The DMSc and DHSc programs are taught 100% online in an asynchronous format.

The most unique factor of our DMSc/DHSc program is the interprofessional education design. The program admits students from a wide variety of health professions. Students learn with, from, and about other professions during every phase of their training. This model trains health professionals ready to work across disciplinary and professional boundaries in healthcare and education.

Accelerated program

Built for working clinicians and educators

Academic Doctorate

Accelerate your career trajectory in leadership at Pacific

The School of Health Sciences offers the DMSc and DHSc to highly qualified applicants seeking career growth in clinical or academic settings.

Earn up to 36 Category 1 CME hours.

12-15+ Months full-time

3-4+ Trimesters

Interprofessional Courses

DMSc/DHSc Admissions

Read our Admissions information for everything you need to know about prerequisites, how to apply, and more.

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Why choose DHSc/DMSc at Pacific?
  • Reputation of excellence in healthcare education at Pacific
  • Student-centered learning
  • Academic doctoral program
  • Career advancement in clinical and academic settings
  • Opportunity to learn in an interprofessional program
  • Online format for working professionals
Mark Christiansen

Mission, Vision, Values

The mission of the program is to expand the depth and breadth of knowledge of health professionals to facilitate the advancement of their profession. The program will prepare leaders in the health sector, train students in an interprofessional education model, be delivered in an innovative online format, and help the School of Health Sciences (SHS) prepare the faculty we want to hire and retain.

 

Learning Objectives

The program prepares students to:

  1. Respond to complex ideas or situations utilizing evidence, reflection, and ethically sound reasoning
  2. Advance leadership development
  3. Create and disseminate knowledge through scholarly endeavors
  4. Apply educational theory to student-centered instruction and ongoing assessment of effectiveness (Education Track)
  5. Implement practice-based improvement to health as a part of a healthcare team (Clinical Leadership Track)
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Accreditation

University of the Pacific is fully accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC). WSCUC reaffirmed Institutional Accreditation in June 2019. The next accreditation review is scheduled for 2027.

The DMSc and DHSc programs are WASC approved.

Non-Discrimination Disclosure

In keeping with its long-standing traditions and policies, the university considers students, employees, applicants for admission or employment, and those seeking access to university programs on the basis of individual merit. The university does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex/gender, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, color, language use, religion, religious creed, age, marital status, gender, gender identity, gender expression, cancer-related or genetic-related medical condition, disability, pregnancy, perceived pregnancy, citizenship status, military service status, or any other status protected by law (including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972). 

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Medical Science and Health Sciences

3200 Fifth Avenue,
Sacramento, CA 95817

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