UDM launches Michigan’s first Doctor of Medical Science Program
University of Detroit Mercy has launched the Doctor of Medical Science (DMS) program, the first of its kind in Michigan.
The program, housed in the College of Health Professions, is aimed at working with healthcare professionals interested in moving into leadership, education, administration, policy or law, and will begin in January 2027.
The DMS is a post-professional doctoral program delivered fully online in a cohort-based format. The 30-credit-hour program is completed in 15 months across four consecutive semesters, combining asynchronous coursework with regular synchronous sessions so students can continue working while enrolled.
Students can choose between two concentrations. The Leadership and Healthcare Administration concentration covers team leadership, change management and the operational and financial side of healthcare organizations. The Healthcare Law concentration, developed with Detroit Mercy School of Law, covers public health law, healthcare negotiation, medical malpractice, bioethics and the foundations of American healthcare law.
“At Detroit Mercy, students are more than members of a cohort. Students become part of a close professional community where faculty get to know them individually, value their experience and support their development as healthcare leaders,” said Yolanda Freeman-Hildreth, the program’s director.