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Doctoral degree worth it?


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I am considering a doctorate level degree (likely DHSc). I have looked at some program sites online. I just wonder if it's worth it. I've completed a year long EM residency and practice in a rural ed as solo provider. I plan on staying here for a long, long time. I don't have any desire at this point to change jobs. I just wonder if I should bite the bullet and do it and then never worry about it again or what...I just don't think it's necessary for my career ambitions, but we all know about degree inflation and I'm concerned that in the future I'm going to be required to have it or become irrelevant as a provider because I don't have a doctoral level degree. Thought?

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sounds like you are pretty secure in your job. I have a similar job(rural/solo er coverage). I am almost done with my DHSc. I'm in the last month of my last class.

I decided to go back for a few reasons. see this thread:

http://www.physicianassistantforum.com/index.php?/topic/1764-taking-the-dhsc-plunge/

in your situation, if you don't plan on teaching or moving or working in govt service ever you probably don't need it. for me a lot of the reasons were personal. I wanted to know more about global health and to be a more effective team leader on international medical missions. it has helped me achieve that.

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lol what's really funny is that's not even the right acronym for their doctorate. I believe its OTD.

According to Quinnipiac University you are correct. Maybe the advertiser thought PAs aren't smart enough to know what an OTD is since they aren't actually doctors.

 

Sent from my KFAPWI using Tapatalk

 

 

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According to Quinnipiac University you are correct. Maybe the advertiser thought PAs aren't smart enough to know what an OTD is since they aren't actually doctors.

 

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duh, it's out the door. as in "that guy is otd".

of course, in a month I will know the difference.

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I am considering a doctorate level degree (likely DHSc). I have looked at some program sites online. I just wonder if it's worth it. I've completed a year long EM residency and practice in a rural ed as solo provider. I plan on staying here for a long, long time. I don't have any desire at this point to change jobs. I just wonder if I should bite the bullet and do it and then never worry about it again or what...I just don't think it's necessary for my career ambitions, but we all know about degree inflation and I'm concerned that in the future I'm going to be required to have it or become irrelevant as a provider because I don't have a doctoral level degree. Thought?

I think the question is... is it worth it to you? What is your motivation? As someone said unless you are looking to go into academia and rise in the ranks it probably won't impact your employability or salary much if at all. When I did mine (in health administration) I was serving on the board of directors of a county hospital district and doing a lot of health care policy stuff with the legislature and some focus groups. The added depth of education had value to me. Also legislators are really into titles and degrees :-)

I also picked a non accredited program because I needed more flexibility on how fast I went and how much time I put into it week by week and I just didn't have the time for a strictly scheduled program. I wasn't (and aren't) going into academia so that wasn't a priority for me.

Offhand I'd say if you are pondering it this much you probably aren't going to want to put the time and effort and money it takes.

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