Implementation Science and Capstone Foundations: The first in a series of four capstone courses, this course provides a foundational understanding of Implementation Science (IS) and its application to evidence-based practice projects. Students will explore IS frameworks, iterative processes like Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA), stakeholder engagement, and sustainability strategies. The course emphasizes project ideation, research question development, identification of a project sponsor, and assessment of project feasibility. By the end of the course, students will have a clearly defined research question and groundwork for advancing their capstone projects, which aim to drive improvements in clinical practice, education, or organizational leadership.
Evidence Based Practice: This comprehensive course in Evidence-Based Medicine (EBM) is designed for PAs to enhance their clinical decision-making skills based on integration of current scientific evidence. This course covers the fundamental principles of EBM, including the critical appraisal of research, understanding biostatistics, and the application of implementation science.
PAs will learn how to efficiently search medical literature, critically evaluate both quantitative and qualitative studies, and apply findings to clinical practice. Emphasis is placed on introduction to research methodology, understanding the hierarchy of evidence, interpreting statistical results, and assessing the validity and applicability of different study designs.
Capstone I, II, and III: The Capstone Course Series is designed to guide students through the process of developing, executing, and disseminating a doctoral-level original research project that drives meaningful improvements in clinical practice, education, or organizational leadership. The series begins with a foundational understanding of Implementation Science (IS), exploring IS frameworks, iterative processes like Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA), stakeholder engagement, and sustainability strategies. Students will define a research question, assess project feasibility, and establish the groundwork for their capstone projects.
Building on this foundation, the series progresses through stages of data collection, analysis, and synthesis, culminating in the development of the results and discussion sections of their research. The final course emphasizes polishing the doctoral project for dissemination, including drafting a manuscript and submitting it to a peer-reviewed target journal for publication.
By completing this series, students will gain expertise in conducting evidence-based original research, applying implementation science principles, and contributing to their professional fields through impactful research.
Research Design and Scholarly Writing: This course will continue to build evidence-based medicine concepts to DMSc students by providing in-depth, practical knowledge regarding common study designs for implementation science including quasi-experimental and non-experimental study designs. Students will also apply basic and inferential statistical techniques using a common statistical software package. Students will also improve their understanding about scholarly writing in terms of research manuscripts and research project funding proposals.
Research Methods: This course will build on the previous evidence-based medicine and capstone courses by providing in-depth information about health outcomes research and its utility in informing clinical care. This course will introduce students to outcomes research designs, measurement, and real-world data. Students will also improve students’ understanding about systematic reviews/meta-analysis and public health research methodologies.
Curriculum Development and Assessment: This course will examine various assessment models and techniques used to evaluate student classroom performance, student clinical performance, instructor performance and educational programs. This course will also incorporate a learner centered approach to course development and instructional delivery based on the best evidence of how people learn.
Contemporary Issues in Leadership: This course focuses on building knowledge of what constitutes highly effective and exemplary character-based leadership and helps students develop skills, competencies and mindsets to employ such leadership in action. The course uses readings, videos, case studies and lectures to cover various forms and styles of leadership for students to draw from to tailor their own approach to leading to get results with integrity.
Exemplary Leadership of Teams and Organizations: This course provides healthcare leaders with the skills, knowledge, mindsets, and tools to build and lead high-performing teams and organizations while exercising influence throughout the enterprise.
Strategic Planning and Decision Making for Healthcare Leaders: Examine the principles, process, and applications of strategic management. This course covers methods for assessing key features of organization environments and competitive situations, approaches to demand management, and processes for ensuring successful strategy implementation.
Principles of Health System Management: Learn about the foundational concepts and challenges of health systems management. This course examines the standards, trends, structure and functions of healthcare communities and facilities. In addition, it explores operational leadership within the healthcare setting.
Health Information Management Systems: A comprehensive introduction to various principles, tools, and concepts used to manage information within a healthcare environment. The course will explore the planning, evaluation, assessment, and accountability of quality service provisions, including health data visualization to gain healthcare insights for decision-making.
Financial Management of Healthcare Organizations and Research: This course focuses on the area of financial management as applied to healthcare organizations. The course’s emphasis is to apply the principles and concepts of healthcare financial management to healthcare providers that represent innovative new structures and organizations offering integrated patient care. Students will gain competency in the application of financial analysis tools and techniques through a case study approach. The financial tools and techniques covered include:
- Financial condition analysis using financial statements from healthcare companies.
- Break-even analysis and contribution margin analysis using “what-if” scenarios
- Pricing analysis techniques under different competitive conditions
- Managed care, value-based payments, and cost transparency
- Working capital management and cash budgeting
- Capital budgeting and cost of capital analysis.
- Return on investment analysis.
- Financial forecasting of future cash flows
Human Resources Management and Organizational Development: This course will explore how to manage an organization’s workforce planning through the design and implementation of effective human resources policies and procedures. Examples include processes and systems related to performance management, talent management, diversity and employee wellness.
Population Health and the American Healthcare System: An overview of healthcare delivery in the United States and Population Health. Analyze the structure and function of the American healthcare system, its policies, and their impact on population health. Equip yourself with the knowledge and insights necessary to drive positive change in healthcare for all.
Digital Health: The advancement of informatics in healthcare has allowed a convergence of digital technologies to improve overall quality, cost, health services outcomes, and patient experiences. This course will explore the theory, applied practice, and impact of current and emerging digital health technologies, such as wearables, mobile health and Internet of Things (IoT), as well as electronic health records/clinical documentation systems for all demographics.
Artificial Intelligence in Health Informatics: In this engaging course, we will delve into the bedrock principles of artificial intelligence (AI) and their profound applications in the realm of healthcare. Discover how AI revolutionizes disease prevention, detection, diagnosis, and prognosis, reshaping the landscape of healthcare innovation.
Healthcare Policy, Law and Ethics: This course covers six interrelated components impacting public health and health policy:
- Basic concepts of health
- Multiple factors impacting current policy development
- Economic implications
- Delivery systems impact
- The role of health professionals
- Advocacy/systems thinking approaches to public health and health policy issues
Quality Improvement and Patient Safety: This course provides an overview of theoretical, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice models that are frequently used in patient safety and quality improvement literature. Students will explore organizational, system, and human factors impacting care; analyzing and applying select theoretical and conceptual models used across their various areas of healthcare.
