This page provides access to research, presentation recordings, and forthcoming analyses from the Doctoral Commission. It serves as a central resource for understanding the evidence and perspectives informing the commission’s work. New materials will be added as they are released, so we encourage you to check back regularly.
All Things PA Education Podcast
In this episode, Chief Executive Officer Sara Fletcher, PhD, speaks with David Asprey, PhD, PA-C, and Jennifer Snyder, PhD, PA-C, co-chairs of PAEA’s Doctoral Education Commission, about the ongoing exploration of a potential entry-level doctorate for the PA profession. They revisit the origins of the Commission and walk through the research, environmental scanning, and stakeholder engagement that have shaped its work to date.
The conversation explores the potential advantages of a doctoral entry degree, the concerns raised by different groups, and the broader implications for legislation, regulation, accreditation and reimbursement. The guests also share perspectives gathered from institutional accreditors and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
2025 PAEA Education Forum Presentations
Transparent Conversations on the Entry-Level PA Doctorate
Transition to Entry-Level Doctoral Degree and Institutional Accreditation
Relevant Research Articles
This collection highlights scholarship on the potential effects of an entry-level PA doctorate on professional perceptions, program design, curriculum, costs, and accreditation in the U.S. It is intended as a point of entry into the literature rather than a definitive list; inclusion is for ease of access and does not imply endorsement, hierarchy, or critique.
Bolander, S. (2025). PA-specific doctoral degrees in practice: Exploring demographics and professional characteristics among PAs. AAPA–PAEA Research Fellowship report.
Bouchard G. Doctoral education: degrees of separation. J Physician Assist Educ. 2009;20(2):29-32.
Brown D, Quincy B, Snyder J. Physician assistant education community assumptions about an entry-level doctoral degree. J Physician Assist Educ. 2021;32(4):207-224. doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000385.
Cawley, J. (2008, March). Doctoral degrees for PAs: What happens next?
Cawley JF, Kayingo G, Kulo V. Whither the PA doctorate? JAAPA. 2023;36(2):1-6. doi:10.1097/01.JAA.0000911216.02925.52.
Coplan B, Meyer J. Physician assistants—One less doctor(ate) in the house. JAMA. 2011;305(24):2571-2572. doi:10.1001/jama.2011.877.
Coplan B, Richardson L, Stoehr JD. Physician assistant program medical directors’ opinions of an entry-level physician assistant clinical doctorate degree. J Physician Assist Educ. 2009;20(2):8-13. doi:10.1097/01367895-200920020-00003.
Dehn, R. (2025, May). Advancing toward a PA doctoral degree.
Ermol A, Banning A, Snyder J. Discrepancies in faculty hiring policies and practices in physician assistant/associate education: Implications for transition to entry-level doctoral degrees. J Physician Assist Educ. Published online October 29, 2025. doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000723.
Fleming, S. (2024). Through their lens: Black pre–physician assistant students’ views on the entry-level PA doctorate (Doctoral dissertation, University of Maryland).
Fleming S, Kayingo G, Gordes K, et al. Would transitioning to an entry-level doctoral degree negatively affect PA profession diversity? JAAPA. 2021;34(12). doi:10.1097/01.JAA.0000800628.61178.11.
Gordes KL, Fleming S, Kulo V, et al. An exploration into the physician assistant entry-level doctoral degree: lessons learned from across health professions. J Physician Assist Educ. 2022;33(1):24-33. doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000411.
Gruppo, L. (2005). Clinical doctoral degrees—Are we ready?
Havlicek, M., Applegate, A., & Miracle, N. (2023). Medical professional opinions on PAs transitioning to a doctorate level degree. Conference presentation.
Herring J, Brantley E, Ritsema T, et al. Black and Hispanic representation declined after increased degree requirements for physician assistants. J Physician Assist Educ. 2024;35(3):215-220. doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000572.
Holden, E., & Blessing, D. (2001, June). Now is the time for the doctorate in PA studies.
Houchins, J. (2009). The physician assistant clinical doctorate: One medical director’s opinion.
Jones, E. (2009). The dead-end clinical doctorate idea.
Jones, E., & Cawley, J. (2005). Doctoral degrees for PAs: Questions and issues.
Jun HJ, Gordes KL, Fleming S, et al. Developing and evaluating an instrument to assess perceptions of an entry-level physician associate doctoral degree. BMC Med Educ. 2022;22(1):617. doi:10.1186/s12909-022-03668-1.
Kayingo G, Gordes KL, Jun HJ, Fleming S, Kulo V, Cawley JF. Curriculum essentials of an entry-level PA doctoral degree. JAAPA. 2021;34(10):1-7. doi:10.1097/01.JAA.0000791472.67605.f8.
Kayingo, G., Kibe, L., Venzon, A., Gordes, K. L., & Cawley, J. F. (2022). Assessing demand for doctoral-prepared PA faculty: A five-year longitudinal study. BMC Medical Education, 22(1), 331.
Kibe, L. (2020, January 29). Developing doctoral programs for PA educators: Is it time?
Kibe, L., & Cawley, J. (2018). Doctoral education for physician assistants: Demand, design, and drawbacks. In The health professions educator: A practical guide for new and established faculty.
Klein, A. (2023). The impact of terminal doctoral level credentials on physician assistant/associate and physician collaboration (Doctoral dissertation, Bethel University).
Kulo V, Fleming S, Gordes KL, et al. A physician assistant entry-level doctoral degree: more harm than good? BMC Med Educ. 2021;21(1):274. doi:10.1186/s12909-021-02725-5.
Loscalzo C, Pontrelli G, Apterbach G. Physician assistant perceptions regarding the establishment of an entry-level doctoral degree. Educ Health Prof. 2023;6(3):107-113. doi:10.4103/EHP.EHP_17_23.
Menezes P, Senkomago V, Coniglio D. Physician assistant students’ attitudes towards a clinical doctoral degree. J Physician Assist Educ. 2015;26(1):3-9. doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000007.
Miller AA, Allison L, Asprey D, et al. Association of Physician Assistant Programs Degree Task Force final paper. J Physician Assist Educ. 2000;11(3):169-177.
Miller AA, Coplan B. Assessing the economics of an entry-level physician assistant doctoral degree. J Physician Assist Educ. 2022;33(1):34-40. doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000400.
Miller AA, Coplan B. Physician assistant doctorate: a ticket to autonomy? J Physician Assist Educ. 2017;28(suppl 1):S33-S37. doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000147.
Mittman, D., & Coombs, J. (2023, April). Thoughts on the PA doctorate.
Muma RD, Smith BS, Anderson N, Richardson M, Selzer E, White R. Perceptions of US physicians regarding the entry-level doctoral degree in physician assistant education. J Allied Health. 2011;40(1):25-33.
Ohlemeier LS, Muma RD. Perceptions of US physician assistants regarding the entry-level doctoral degree in PA education. J Physician Assist Educ. 2008;19(2):10-17.
Physician Assistant Education Association. (2023). PAEA doctoral degree discussions.
Physician Assistant Education Association. (2009). Physician Assistant Clinical Doctorate Summit 2009: Final report and summary.
Rahr, R., Blessing, D., & Barese, S. (2009). The physician assistant clinical doctorate: Professional suicide in the making?
Rolfs, J., Munsell, D., Kilgore, J., et al. (2025). Review of post-professional doctoral education for the physician assistant/associate: Recommendations for entry-level curriculum. European Society of Medicine, 13(8).
Sasek C, Quincy B. Physician assistant student perceptions of the benefits of and barriers to a Doctor of Medical Science degree. J Physician Assist Educ. 2024;35(4):328-337. doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000603.
Snyder JA, Miller A. What if…the impact of institutional accreditation on PA programs transitioning to an entry-level professional doctorate degree. J Physician Assist Educ. 2025;36(2):149-154. doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000646.
Swanchak, L. (2010). The perceptions of changing the entry-level degree for physician assistants to a clinical doctorate among physician assistant students (Doctoral dissertation, Marywood University).
Swanchak LE, Levine AM, Arscott KE, Golden MA. Physician assistant students’ perceptions of an entry-level doctorate degree. J Physician Assist Educ. 2011;22(1):19-24. doi:10.1097/01367895-201122010-00004.