The DMSc has prepared me well for an executive-level role at a major health care system.
Graduate Program: Doctor of Medical Science [Physician Assistant Medicine Concentration] (DMSc)
Jonathan Sobel ’18 DMSc loves his job. As vice president for strategic workforce planning at Northwell Health, which bills itself as “New York State’s largest health care provider,” Sobel takes care of the people who take care of the patients.
“I love it because of the impact I’m making each day,” he said. “I’m able to care for the people who care for our patients, and that is very rewarding.”
Sobel leads the Workforce Planning Center for Norwell’s human resources department. His responsibilities include talent acquisition, compensation strategy, career and performance development, workforce readiness/pipelining, fair employment practices, and workforce analytics/intelligence.
Sobel, a past president of the American Academy of Physician Associates, has worked for Northwell in various capacities over the past 20 years. After 13 years as a PA in cardiothoracic surgery, he moved into a more administrative role and eventually became a VP in 2022.
He credits Lynchburg’s DMSc program with helping him get there.
“I was able to develop a deeper understanding of the workings of health systems and the business of medicine,” he said. “Insights into the various types of health care systems globally were also quite valuable.
“Understanding organizational design is also very relevant to my current role. What advantages, for example, does having [the DMSc] give you? Having a doctorate raises the bar on one’s credibility. In my role, it’s vital that I’m viewed as a trusted advisor to the business.
