This module extends students’ understanding of leadership and the impact of quality and patient safety on patient care.  Topics will include the impact of preventable, adverse medical events on patients and medical professionals; prepares students to identify and participate in corrective strategies that improve quality and safety throughout their practice; and develops and nurtures a culture of quality and safety that enhances patient satisfaction and quality of care outcomes. Topics within leadership will include fundamentals of leadership, leadership and professionalism self-assessment, and leadership philosophy. Learners will model professionalism skills, best leadership practices and behaviors, and handling conflict. Learners will apply this to their personal and professional life through a series of practical exercises.  Prerequisites: Completion of entry-level PA program, NCCPA certification, and admission to the Bridge Program.

This course is designed to prepare the student to apply concepts of introductory statistical analysis to health-related investigations. Skills developed in this course emphasize a systematic and scientific approach to problem solving and a process for interpreting biomedical literature. The course provides the student with instruction in descriptive and inferential statistics, properly selecting the most appropriate statistical test for a given research question and data set, conducting hypothesis testing, and constructing confidence intervals. Statistical software is used to analyze datasets that demonstrate each of the most commonly encountered statistical tests. This course will primarily focus on conducting and interpreting the results of the most commonly employed statistical methods in the most commonly used designs in health research.  Prerequisites: Completion of entry-level PA program, NCCPA certification, and admission to the Bridge Program. 

This course is designed to prepare the student to apply concepts of research design to health-related investigations. Skills developed in this course emphasize a process for interpreting biomedical literature. The course will primarily focus on designs and analysis and provide an overview of the various steps of the clinical research process such as problem formulation, hypothesis generation, study design, measurement, data collection, and analysis. Prerequisites: Completion of entry-level PA program, NCCPA certification, and admission to the Bridge Program.

The course will primarily focus on clinical quality improvement design and analysis. The class will provide an overview of the various steps of the clinical research process such as problem formulation, hypothesis generation, study design, measurement, data collection, and analysis. The course will be dedicated to applying research design and biostatistical analysis concepts. In this independent study course, the student will complete a research/ clinical project and present the results of the research or the project.

For any additional semester after the initial Capstone Project, the student will register for a Capstone Continuation Course with a continuing service charge to maintain the students’ enrollment. At the end of each semester, students who do not finish but demonstrate progress on their Capstone will earn a DEF (deferred) grade. A student’s progress through capstone continuation may increase their total number of degree credits beyond the required credits.

Application to the DMS Bridge Program is limited to NCCPA-certified PAs who must have graduated from an ARC-PA accredited entry-level PA program within six months of their intended DMS Bridge program start date.

Current Butler University MPAS students or students enrolled at other ARC-PA accredited programs may initiate the admission process near the end of the didactic portion of their entry-level education. Matriculants must earn certification from the NCCPA after graduating from their entry-level program and results must be received prior to matriculating into the 700-level courses of the program.

To apply, candidates should submit the following:

• Butler application
• Official transcripts from all degree-granting colleges and universities should be sent immediately by mail or electronically to gradadmission@butler.edu*
• NCCPA certification number, must be received prior to matriculation
• An updated, comprehensive curriculum vita
• For a 2024 term, include two 250-word personal statements answering:
  • Why should PAs earn a doctoral degree?
  • Finish the statement, “With my earned doctorate, I…”
• For a 2025 term, please submit one 400-word personal statement explaining:
  • Why PAs should earn a doctorate and what you plan to do when you complete your doctorate degree

*If a student has not graduated from their entry level PA Program, they should provide a copy of an unofficial transcript. An official transcript must be sent from the issuing institution immediately upon graduation and before matriculation into the DMS Bridge Program.

The tuition is $900 per credit hour for a total of $12,600 for the DMS Bridge program. There are no fees. Changes to tuition may occur at any time. Students are billed per semester based on the number of credit hours they are taking. Textbooks are available online and are part of your tuition.