SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES

Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies
MSPA

Program Details

Format
Start Term
In-Person
Fall
Duration
Full-time 27 months
Application
Deadline
September 1 (priority),
November 1 final
Cost
$17,670 per term
Learn More

Clinical Experiences

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

Leadership Skills

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

Continuous Collaboration

Obtain a well-rounded perspective of medicine through collaboration with interdisciplinary teams, such as KGI’s pharmacy, genetics, occupational therapy, and medical device engineering programs

The Chan Family Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies degree program will prepare students to become integral members of the healthcare team and provide compassionate care for their communities. This 27-month program integrates leadership skills, innovative and entrepreneurial approaches to problem-solving, and interprofessional collaboration. MSPA program graduates develop a better understanding of the social determinants of health and patient-centered medicine, leaving fully prepared to play a leadership role in the community and public health.

About the Program

Innovative learning

Students benefit from an active learning classroom model that emphasizes engagement, critical thinking, and teamwork. Students also have access to early clinical experiences and real patient interactions that strengthen interpersonal, technical, and clinical reasoning skills before starting clinical rotations.

Community roots: providing compassionate care to diverse populations

Students will be heavily involved in the care and education of the local community. These volunteers provide students with an understanding of the community’s healthcare needs. Graduates will be prepared to provide compassionate care to patients of diverse ethnicity, race, gender identity, religion, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, and recognize health disparities and work towards achieving health equity.

Leadership and entrepreneurship

Students receive instruction in leadership and entrepreneurship in order to prepare them to take on leadership roles, be involved in advocacy, solve real-world problems, 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 Associate in a variety of fields including primary care, surgical specialties, and emergency medicine
  • Healthcare Administrator
  • Educator
  • Clinical Researcher

Accreditation Status

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Keck Graduate Institute Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Keck Graduate Institute.

Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students.

Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at ARC-PA website

Program Faculty and Staff

ChristyEskes

Christy Eskes, DHSc, MPA, PA-C

Program Director and Professor of Practice, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies (MSPA)

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Lauren Bolda

Lauren Bolda, DMSc, MPA, PA-C

Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

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Robert Fellin

Robert Fellin, PharmD

Adjunct Faculty, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies (MSPA)

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Erin Gysbers

Erin Gysbers, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C

Assistant Professor, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

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Joshua Gysbers

Joshua Gysbers, MSPA, PA-C

Adjunct Faculty, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

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Amanda Ingalls

Amanda Ingalls, DMS, PA-C

Director of Didactic Education and Professor of Practice, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies (MSPA)

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Yeon Kim

Yeon Kim, DMSc, MPH, PA-C, CAQ-Psy

Assistant Professor, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies Program

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Jason Laird

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

Adjunct Faculty, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

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Stacey McIlroy

Stacey McIlroy, MMS, PA-C

Assistant Professor, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

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Alan Rothfeld

Alan Rothfeld, MD

Medical Director, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies; Professor of Practice, Henry E. Riggs School of Applied Life Sciences

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Bill Sullivan

Bill Sullivan, MSPA, PA-C, EMT-P

Director of Clinical Site Development and Assistant Professor, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

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Ana Coreas

Ana Coreas

Administrative Support Specialist, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

Christy Eskes

Christy Eskes, DHSc, MPA, PA-C

Program Director and Professor of Practice, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

Christy Eskes, DHSc, MPA, PA-C, completed her Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science at Northern Arizona University in 2000 and her Master of Physician Associate at Loma Linda University in 2003. She has worked in primary care since graduation in a variety of settings within underserved communities, including community health clinics and correctional health. She completed her Doctorate in Health Science with an emphasis in Advanced PA Studies from A.T. Still University in 2012. Her doctoral research project focused on language concordant care and was published in the Journal of Physician Associate Education in 2013.

Eskes has worked in a variety of roles in PA education since 2009 as a Didactic Coordinator, Program Director, and Associate Program Director. She briefly stepped away from full-time PA education in 2016, continuing to work clinically and providing annual lectures to PA students regarding PA laws and regulations. In November 2020, she came to KGI as the Director of Didactic Education, playing an integral role in multiple aspects of program development as a member of the founding faculty. In July 2022, Eskes was selected to be the Program Director and is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the program, including ongoing assessment for accreditation maintenance.

She has been part of several state and national committees, including chairing the PA Program Relations Committee and the Continuing Medical Education Committee for the California Academy of PAs (CAPA) and serving on the Conference Curriculum committee and the Project Access subcommittee for the Physician Associate Education Association. She also served on the Board of Directors for CAPA for several years as Secretary and Vice President. She has authored and co-authored several articles and features in the Journal of Physician Associate Education as well as the Journal of the American Academy of PAs.

Eskes is passionate about PA leadership, believing that PAs can and should play a larger role in all aspects of healthcare. She is excited to work with the MSPA faculty team to develop a new generation of PAs who will impact their communities through socially responsive, culturally engaged care with innovation and leadership at their core.

Lauren Bolda

Lauren Bolda, DMSc, MPA, PA-C

Director of Clinical Education and Assistant Professor, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

Lauren Bolda, DMSc, MPA, PA-C, received her Master of Physician Associate from Loma Linda University in 2017 and completed her Doctorate in Medical Science with emphases in PA Education, Global Health, and Emergency and Disaster Management at the University of Lynchburg in 2022. Her doctoral research focused on lifestyle and preventive medicine through evaluating the effect of early intervention community garden program implementation on childhood obesity in Hispanic and Latinx populations.

Bolda has several years of experience in teaching and supporting PA students in both didactic and clinical phases, most recently serving as an Associate Professor of Didactic Education where she taught the Basic and Advanced Clinical Skills courses, served as lead admissions representative, and was instrumental in the development and implementation of diversity, equity, and inclusion projects within the PA department. Bolda also served as an instructor in emergency medical care programs due to her prior clinical experience as an EMT.

She continues to work clinically as a PA, providing urgent care services for Vituity and the Providence St. Mary Health System. She frequently travels to Baja California, Mexico to provide volunteer medical care at a PA-established community clinic.

Bolda is eager to apply her knowledge and skills to the MSPA program at KGI and is excited to support students throughout all phases of the program through teaching, mentorship, and collaboration on community projects.

Robert Fellin

Robert Fellin, PharmD

Adjunct Faculty, Master of Science in Physician Associate StudieS

Dr. Fellin is a Clinical Pharmacist and has been employed at Cedars-Sinai Health System (CSHS) since 2001 in internal medicine and critical care areas. He obtained his Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (1993) and PharmD degree (1996) from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Additionally, Dr. Fellin completed his ASHP-accredited PGY1 Pharmacy Residency (1997) and ASHP-accredited PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency (1998) at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in San Francisco, CA. He currently provides comprehensive pharmacy services to the cardiac ICU teams as well as the heart failure/transplant service.

Dr. Fellin is active in the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) ICU Liberation initiative and ACCP. He actively participates in ongoing research efforts in cardiovascular disease and quality improvement initiatives for the provision of pharmacy services to cardiovascular patients at CSHS.

He serves as a preceptor for PGY1 and PGY2 residents at CSHS. Dr. Fellin also holds academic appointments as an Adjunct Professor at USC, UCSF, and UOP Schools of Pharmacy, where he serves as a preceptor for acute care medicine and critical care clerkships. He was recognized with The Long Award for Excellence in Teaching (UCSF School of Pharmacy) in 2018 and 2006, Preceptor of the Year award (USC School of Pharmacy) in 2017, The Apples for Preceptors Award (UCSF School of Pharmacy) in 2017, 2014, 2011 and acknowledged with the CSMC President’s Award in 2006.

Dr. Fellin previously served as course coordinator for the Advanced Pharmacology course for the Nurse Practitioner program at CSULA and currently lectures at Keck School of Medicine of USC, Division of Physician Associate Studies. In addition, he serves as a subject matter expert in pharmacology and lectures for Barkley & Associates.

Erin Gysbers

Erin Gysbers, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C

Associate Professor, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

Erin Gysbers, DMSc, MPAS, PA-C received her Bachelors of Science in Biology from Penn State University in 2004 and her Masters in Physician Associate Studies from St. Francis University in 2007. Upon graduation, she moved to Southern California and completed the PA post-graduate fellowship in Women’s Health at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center. Most recently, Erin completed her Doctor of Medical Science degree with a emphasis in PA education from Lynchburg University in 2022. Her doctoral research project centered on the risk of developing preeclampsia after successful in-vitro fertilization and other assisted reproduction technologies.

Gysbers’ clinical experience since graduation has been primarily in women’s health, both inpatient and outpatient. Additionally, she worked in orthopedic surgery for four years. She began volunteering as a clinical preceptor in women’s health for a local PA program, eventually transitioning to PA education full-time. Gysbers served as a Didactic Coordinator and Director of Didactic Education at her previous institution, then came to KGI in May 2023 as an Associate Professor. She continues to work in women’s health one day a week, precepting students clinically.

Gysbers is most passionate about mentoring future PAs and watching them realize their full potential as clinicians, patient advocates, and leaders.

Amanda Ingalls

Amanda Ingalls, DMS, PA-C

Director of Didactic Education and Professor of Practice, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

Amanda Ingalls joined KGI as Director of Didactic Education for the Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies program in January 2023. She previously taught at the University of Southern California for more than five years.

Yeon Kim

Yeon Kim, DMSc, MPH, PA-C, CAQ-Psy

Assistant Professor, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies Program

Dr. Yeon Kim began his education at Skidmore College, graduating in 2011 with a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and a minor in Pre-Med. He attended Arcadia University, completing a Master of Public Health and a Master of Medical Science degree in 2018. He then earned his Doctor of Medical Science in Psychiatry from Rocky Mountain University of Health Professions in 2023. His doctoral thesis focused on complementary and alternative treatment to improve mental health among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Kim began his PA career in family medicine, then transitioned to psychiatry where he found his passion. He completed a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Psychiatry through NCCPA in 2023. He entered PA education in 2022 as didactic faculty at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, PA, teaching physical diagnosis, pathophysiology, public health, and behavioral medicine. He helped lead clinical medicine seminars and advised graduate project courses. In addition to his PA certification and Certificate of Added Qualification in Psychiatry, Dr. Kim holds a certification as an instructor for Mental Health First Aid (Adult) as well as a QPR Gatekeeper certificate. He is passionate about expanding research on mental health, particularly in the young adult population.

Jason Laird

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

Adjunct Faculty, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

Jason Laird, DMSc, MBA, MHS, PA-C, first joined KGI in September 2021 and served as the Director of Clinical Education for the Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies (MSPA) program, overseeing the clinical phase of the MSPA program. In his role, Laird strived to develop strong partnerships in the local medical community, shared his clinical expertise, and helped develop the next generation of PA leaders.

Laird received his Master of Health Science in Physician Associate Studies in 2009 from Drexel University and has worked in the areas of emergency medicine, neurosurgery, general surgery, and thoracic surgery as a PA. He continues to work clinically in surgery for Kaiser Permanente one day per week. In 2021, Laird earned his Doctor of Medical Science with an emphasis on PA education from A.T. Still University. He holds a master’s degree in Business Administration from Western Governors University as well as certificates in online teaching and strategic healthcare leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Cornell University.

Laird has served as a regional trainer for robotic surgery and has been published in the Journal of the American Academy of PAs. He was a clinical preceptor for several years and is excited to be on this side of PA education, helping develop PAs who are prepared to meet the needs of the future in healthcare. Laird currently serves as an adjunct faculty member for the MSPA program.

Bill Sullivan

Bill Sullivan, MSPA, PA-C, EMT-P

Director of Clinical Site Development and Assistant Professor, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

PA Bill Sullivan began his medical career as an EMT in 2003, then became a paramedic in 2006. He worked in a prehospital setting and functioned as a field training officer for several years before entering PA school. He graduated with his Associate of Science in Physician Assistant from Moreno Valley College/RCRMC PA program in 2012 and has worked as a PA in acute care settings including emergency departments, urgent care centers, and uniquely in the prehospital setting. PA Sullivan was a trailblazer in prehospital medical care for the Los Angeles Fire Department, working on an Advanced Provider Response Unit to provide prehospital/mobile integrative healthcare in the field. In this role, he acted as a telemedicine provider to selected 911 callers and was a consulting resource for field initiative calls from EMS clinicians. He later transitioned to the Orange County Fire Authority, working in parallel with the EMS Training and Quality Management Divisions to ensure the highest quality prehospital care was delivered by OCFA EMTs and paramedics as the EMS Coordinator, Designated Infection Control Officer and Immunization Coordinator. PA Sullivan began his career in PA education in 2018 as adjunct faculty teaching clinical medicine, clinical applications, and emergency medicine. He also assisted with tutoring PA students for several years. In 2019, he earned his Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies through A.T. Still University and continued to work clinically in emergency medicine and mobile acute care services. He joined the MSPA program as full-time faculty in 2023 and became the Director of Clinical Site Development in 2024. He continues to teach various medicine topics and leads the Fundamentals of Surgery and Emergency Medicine course in addition to his clinical responsibilities.

Stacey McIlroy

Stacey McIlroy, MMS, PA-C

Assistant Professor, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

Stacey McIlroy, MMS, PA-C, joined KGI in August 2021 as Principal Faculty for MSPA. McIlroy is a proud graduate of Claremont McKenna College from 1990, earning her Bachelor’s in Political Science and Economics while playing basketball for all four years and softball her senior year.

After a brief time in healthcare consulting, she became a paramedic firefighter to gain clinical experience while taking prerequisite courses in preparation for PA school. In 1999, McIlroy earned her Master of Medical Science in Physician Associate Studies from Midwestern University Arizona and has since worked as a PA in urgent care, trauma services, ICU, and orthopedics. She worked in orthopedic surgery at Mayo Clinic for 10 years and ICU at Mayo for two more years, obtaining extensive experience in orthopedics, orthopedic oncology, and soft tissue tumors as well as intensive care. She then worked in Level 1 Trauma at Chandler Regional Medical Center for two years before moving back to California, where she has been employed at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopedic Institute at Cedars Sinai as an orthopedic surgery PA since 2019 and continues to work clinically one day per week.

McIlroy has over a decade of experience as a PA instructor, serving as an orthopedic surgery preceptor for the Mayo College of Medicine. She presented at multiple grand rounds and primarily focused on topics of surgical first assist, perioperative management of orthopedic inpatient/outpatient medical needs, and acting as a patient’s first consultant in an emergency department to medical students and residents. She also mentors new PAs at Kerlan-Jobe and is excited to bring her expertise to students at KGI. She is passionate about KGI training PAs who will make a difference in healthcare delivery as well as healthcare policy.

Joshua Gysbers

Joshua Gysbers, MSPA, PA-C

Adjunct Faculty, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies

PA Joshua Gysbers graduated with his Master of Physician Assistant Sciences in 2007 and has been working in cardiovascular surgery for his entire career. He currently serves as lead PA for the Cardiothoracic Surgery Service at Loma Linda University Medical Center, providing comprehensive pre-op, intra-op, and post-op care for adult patients. He serves as first and second assist on all pediatric and adult cardiac cases, including endoscopic vein harvesting and radial artery harvesting. He has extensive teaching experience as a clinical instructor and adjunct faculty member, particularly in the areas of evidence-based medicine and cardiovascular diseases. He teaches the Evidence-Based Medicine course for the MSPA program as well as several topics in the cardiovascular system.

Alan Rothfeld

Alan Rothfeld, MD

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

Alan Rothfeld, MD, who joined KGI in September 2006, received his bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY, and his Medical Doctorate from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX.

He completed a residency in internal medicine at Baylor Affiliated Hospitals and a fellowship in pulmonary medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Rothfeld was in the private practice of the pulmonary and critical care medicine for 25 years and has served as a member of the faculty at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California since 1979, including as an Associate professor of medicine, clinical associate professor of medicine, and, currently, as a clinical professor of medicine.

Rothfeld is also the medical director and an adjunct professor of respiratory therapy at Los Angeles Valley College, as well as the director of translational research at COPE Health Solutions, a leading, not-for-profit health care corporation based in Los Angeles. Since 2006, Rothfeld has also been the medical director of the Los Angeles-based QueensCare Family Clinics. He is a popular instructor across several programs at KGI and is enthusiastic about bringing his expertise to the development and training of MSPA students.

 

Ana Coreas

Ana Coreas

Administrative Support Specialist, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies
 

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Janet Doan

Administrative Clinical Coordinator, Master of Science in Physician Associate Studies