The Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) program at Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) will prepare students to become integral members of the healthcare team and provide compassionate care to their communities. Located in beautiful Claremont, CA, the program is anticipated to start in fall 2022.

In alignment with KGI’s mission and values, this 27-month program will also integrate leadership skills, innovative/entrepreneurial approaches to problem-solving, and interprofessional collaboration with other KGI programs. MSPA program graduates will enter the workforce with a better understanding of the social determinants of health and patient-centered medicine, so they are fully prepared to play a leadership role in the community and public health.

Now accepting applications through CASPA for the fall 2023 cohort

Interested in the MSPA program?

Fill out the form to receive additional information!

Program Quick Facts

Fact
Details
Program length
It takes 27 months (a little more than two years) to complete the MSPA program.
Full or part-time program
The MSPA program is a year-round, full-time program with classes during the day.
Online or in-person classes
All classes are done in-person.
Curriculum
The curriculum is divided into a 15-month didactic phase and a 12-month clinical phase.
Capstone and clinical requirements
The final 12 months of the program is the clinical phase, which includes a capstone project and eight 6-week clinical rotations.

MSPA Program Details

  • At KGI, you will:

    • Gain rich clinical experiences across multiple specialties and settings in some of Southern California’s top medical facilities.
    • Obtain a well-rounded perspective of medicine through continuous collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, such as KGI’s pharmacy, genetics, occupational therapy, medical device engineering, and future MD programs.
    • Develop valuable leadership and entrepreneurial skills to create a unique career path ideal for you.

  • The MSPA program will redefine traditional PA education through the use of innovative teaching methods. Students will benefit from an active learning classroom model that emphasizes student engagement, critical thinking skills, and teamwork. Unlike the traditional approach, KGI students will also have access to early clinical experiences during the didactic phase. These early real patient interactions will strengthen interpersonal, technical, and clinical reasoning skills far before starting clinical rotations.

  • Through countless volunteering opportunities, KGI MSPA students will be heavily involved in the care and education of the local community. These opportunities will provide students with a true understanding of the community’s healthcare needs. As a result of these crucial experiences, graduates will be prepared to provide compassionate care to patients of diverse ethnicity/race, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, and socioeconomic status. These experiences will also allow our graduates to recognize health disparities and work towards achieving health equity.

  • The healthcare landscape is rapidly changing, and you can be a key part of this change. KGI MSPA students will receive didactic instruction in leadership and entrepreneurship in order to prepare them to take on leadership roles, be involved in advocacy, solve real-world problems through innovation, and create their own career path.

  • The KGI MSPA program strives to deliver a curriculum that is consistent with our mission and provides our students with the tools required to achieve our program learning outcomes and competencies. The program is a full-time, 27-month, year-round graduate program that consists of 124 semester credit hours completed over seven semesters. The program is divided into a 15-month didactic phase and a 12-month clinical phase. Learn more.

  • The demand for PAs continues to grow and is expected to increase 31% by 2028. KGI MSPA program graduates will be qualified to serve in a wide range of exciting roles:

    • Physician Assistant in a variety of fields including primary care, surgical specialties, and emergency medicine
    • Healthcare Administrator
    • Educator
    • Clinical Researcher

2022 White Coat Ceremony to Feature Dr. Michael Hochman as Keynote Speaker

The Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is proud to announce that Dr. Michael Hochman, MD, MPH, Chief Executive Officer at Healthcare in Action, will be […]

Read more

Dr. Christy Eskes Named Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies Program Director Ahead of Inaugural Year

Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) President Dr. Sheldon Schuster has announced Dr. Christy Eskes as the newly appointed Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) Program Director. Eskes previously served […]

Read more

SaDa Family Supports Scholarship for KGI’s Physician Assistant Students

A generous gift from Drs. Lakshmi and Hanu Damerla to Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) has established the SaDa Scholarship to support the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) […]

Read more

KGI MSPA Professor Stacey McIlroy Celebrates Long-Standing Relationship with Claremont

Professor Stacey McIlroy joined Keck Graduate Institute (KGI) in August 2021 as Principal Faculty in the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) program. However, her relationship with The […]

Read more
01 / 04

Program Faculty

Lauren Bolda, DMSc, MPA, PA-C

Assistant Professor, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) Program
View profile

Christy Eskes, DHSc, MPA, PA-C

Program Director and Professor of Practice, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) Program
View profile

Jason Laird, DMSc, MHS, MBA, PA-C

Director of Clinical Education and Professor of Practice, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) Program
View profile

Stacey McIlroy, MMS, PA-C

Assistant Professor, Master of Science in Physician Assistant (MSPA) Studies Program
View profile

Alan Rothfeld, MD

Medical Director, Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies (MSPA) Program; Professor of Practice, Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences
View profile

Mostafa Elgebaly, PhD, RPh

Associate Professor in Pharmaceutical and Applied Life Sciences
View profile
01 / 06
"PAs have the ability to provide more direct patient interactions. Studies have shown that PAs can actually lower overall healthcare costs while improving the quality of healthcare. "
Martin Zdanowicz
Professor of Pharmaceutical and Applied Life Sciences

Ready for What’s Next?

Download the Program Info Sheet

If there’s anything we can do, be sure to connect with our admissions team. You can also check out more information on cost and aid and how to apply.

Become a Preceptor or Join our Board

KGI’s MSPA program is looking to partner with trusted members of the local health community to prepare the next generation of high-quality healthcare providers. If you are interested in becoming a preceptor or joining our Program Advisory Board, please fill out this brief form. Then, we will contact you!