Doctoral Commission Builds Momentum Through Broad Stakeholder Engagement

In a significant step toward exploring an entry-level doctoral degree for PAs, PAEA’s Doctoral Education Commission has launched a comprehensive stakeholder engagement initiative, bringing together voices from across the healthcare education landscape. 

Central to this initiative is a newly formed advisory group comprising 30 members who bring specialized expertise and fresh perspectives to the commission’s work.

Clarifying the Rationale: What’s Driving the Doctoral Discussion?

The advisory group has provided valuable input to the Doctoral Education Commission through both listening sessions and a targeted survey examining the rationale for transitioning to an entry-level doctoral degree. The survey achieved a strong 92.8% response rate and helped identify key priorities for the potential transition.

Two primary motivations emerged as equally compelling drivers for a transition:

• The need for professional parity with other healthcare disciplines
• The alignment between the current master’s degree credit requirements and doctoral-level work

Close behind these factors was the recognition that evolving healthcare landscapes demand forward-thinking graduate preparation.

Working Together: From Accreditors to Future Practitioners

The Commission is ensuring that all key constituencies are asked for input, including the following stakeholder groups:

• Accreditation Insights: The Commission met with all six institutional accrediting organizations to explore the practical implications of transitioning from the master’s to doctoral-level education. These findings will be presented in a Research in Action brief, “Investigating the Entry-Level Professional Doctoral Degree: Impact of Institutional Accreditation,” at the AAPA 2025 Conference & Expo in Denver, CO.
• Learning from Current Doctoral Programs: The Doctoral Education Commission is regularly meeting with PAEA’s Consortium of DMS/DMSc Programs Special Interest Group (SIG) to hear additional perspectives about the entry-level degree. This group has shared valuable feedback regarding curriculum development, employer engagement, and ongoing partnership with physicians.
• Future Stakeholder Voices: The Commission is actively engaging PA students, pre-PA students, and PAEA’s Future Educator Fellows to understand their perspectives on the opportunities and challenges presented by an entry-level doctorate, while sharing information on PAEA’s work in this area.

Join us at AAPA 2025

If you are attending the AAPA 2025 Conference & Expo in Denver, CO, we hope you will join us for one of the Commission’s two presentations:

• Saturday, May 17, 10 a.m. – “The PAEA Doctoral Education Commission: What it Is All About” – eligible for 2.00 AAPA Category 1 CME
• Sunday, May 18, 11 a.m. – Research in Action brief, “Investigating the Entry-Level Professional Doctoral Degree: Impact of Institutional Accreditation” – eligible for .5 AAPA Category 1 CME

The Commission has also been invited to add questions to the PA Practice Survey, which is distributed at AAPA 2025.

Looking Ahead

As the Commission continues its work, it maintains a strong focus on transparent communication and inclusive dialogue. We will continue to provide opportunities to share perspectives and questions with the Commission, as well as learn about its findings.   

Visit the Entry Level Degree webpage to learn more, ask questions, or join an interest list.