Global Paramedicine and EMS Doctorates A Registry-Based Analysis
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Abstract
Background: Doctoral education is an indicator of research capacity and professional maturation. However, the global scope and characteristics of paramedicine/EMS doctorates have not previously been systematically described.
Methods: A global registry-based study of completed doctoral dissertations authored by paramedics, EMTs, or other health professionals working in the out-of-hospital setting was undertaken using systematic searches of dissertation databases, repositories, registry sources, and stakeholder verification.
Results: A total of 406 completed paramedicine/EMS doctoral dissertations were identified. Completions increased substantially after 2010, with most conferred in the USA, Australia, and the UK. PhDs accounted for the majority (n=305; 75.1%), while professional doctorates comprised 81 dissertations (20.0%) and were concentrated in the USA (n=63; 77.8% of professional doctorates).
Conclusion: Paramedicine/EMS doctoral output has grown substantially but remains clustered in a small number of countries and institutions. The registry offers a practical baseline for showing where doctoral activity is already established, identifying where supervision capacity remains limited, and where future doctoral pathways may need support.
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