Informing the Clinical Doctorate Dialogue

Survey on Clinical Doctorate Brings Overwheming Response

In preparation for the PA Clinical Doctorate Summit on March 25–27 in Atlanta, Georgia, a survey was sent on February 23 by PAEA and AAPA to their memberships, which included students, clinicians, and educators, to solicit opinions on a PA clinical doctorate. In just four days, 3,900 responses were received. Dialogue on PAEA’s Informing the Clinical Doctorate Dialogue Web page also continues to increase as PA educators, clinical PAs, and members of other health professions post comments on a wide range of issues surrounding a PA-specific clinical doctorate degree. These include potential PA-MD bridge programs, the availability of qualified faculty to teach doctoral students, the general need for more faculty, the likelihood of increasing the length of time required to complete PA training, and the potential for greater student loan debt.

Responses to this survey, along with data and information from other sources, will be considered at the doctorate summit to help guide recommendations to the profession on the role of the doctorate. Recommendations resulting from the summit will be taken back to the PA organizations for further debate and action. If you haven’t responded to the survey, please click here to access it and to provide feedback.

The April Networker will provide in-depth coverage of the summit. Please continue to follow the issue on the PAEA Web site over the next few weeks for the latest information and dialogue before the summit begins.