Health Professions Education PhD
The Doctor of Philosophy in Health Professions Education prepares students to become health professions educators, scholars, and leaders. The PhD program incorporates and builds on the existing Master of Science in Health Professions Education (MS-HPEd) by providing additional part-time (or full-time) blended learning for the achievement of a research-based PhD degree. Specifically, graduates of our PhD will be able to:
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Design health professions curricula and evaluate program outcomes
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Lead change and innovation in health professions education
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Obtain intramural and extramural support for research projects
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Engage in peer-reviewed scholarship in an area of expertise
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Contribute to interprofessional education and practice leading to improved health outcomes
The program is designed for students who wish to pursue advanced coursework in a selected concentration of study, with three tracks available: leadership/administration, interprofessional education, and simulation. With permission, students can customize a program of study that blends topics across concentrations and/or includes an Independent Study course. Through advanced coursework in research design, the scholarship of teaching and learning, and critical analysis, students will develop expertise in rigorously evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of various research methods. Under the mentorship of a dissertation committee, students will generate three original research articles of publishable quality that contribute to the body of knowledge in health professions education. A combination of distance learning technologies and onsite seminars create a community of learning with peers, mentors, and faculty.
The PhD Program Executive Committee (EC) oversees the operation of the Program. The EC is chaired by the Program Director and comprised of selected members of the program faculty who have experience in supervising PhD students, a history of external research grant support, and/or a history of peer-reviewed publications (including involvement in the research grant and/or publication process as a reviewer). The EC oversees and make decisions about all the critical aspects of the program including: 1) developing, reviewing and modifying all necessary program-specific policies and procedures, 2) approving faculty for participation in the PhD program, 3) assigning academic advisors and approving research mentors for students, 4) approving the membership of faculty committees for the qualifying examination and dissertation, and 5) tracking the progress of students throughout the program.