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 practice in a number of clinical and administrative roles. Located in beautiful Claremont, CA, the program is anticipated to start in fall 2022 and be 27 months in length.

Graduates from KGI’s innovative MSPA program will enter the workforce with a better understanding of personalized medicine and emerging technologies so they are fully prepared to advance healthcare through leadership and compassionate care.

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Why MSPA?

As a student, you will:

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Gain rich clinical experiences across multiple specialties and settings in some of Southern California’s top medical facilities.

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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.

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Develop valuable leadership and entrepreneurial skills to create a unique career path ideal for you.

Innovative Learning

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.

Community Roots: Providing Compassionate Care to Diverse Populations

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.

Leadership and Entrepreneurship

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.

Where Can Your MSPA Degree Take You?

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

Download the Program Info Sheet

Interested in the MSPA program?

Fill out the form to receive additional information!

sonia v otte headshot

MSPA Program Leadership

Sonia V. Otte was hired on July 27, 2020 as the Founding Program Director for the Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies program.

Meet Sonia

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! 

"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
Dean, KGI School of Pharmacy and Health Sciences