DrPH Health Policy and Leadership

Program Description (PDF)

Orientation Handout (PDF)

See SPH Programs starting on p. 722 of the University Catalog

Program Details

Need. We do not know what that future holds, but we do know that it will be different. Our task is to help develop a diversity of leadership talent so that we can respond to tomorrow’s yet unknown demands. It calls us to be creative in our approach to meeting this challenge. This program at Loma Linda University is a unique and wonderful opportunity at the very heart of leadership development.

Focus. The primary focus of this program is to enhance the skills and abilities of those in positions of leadership; to add to the body of knowledge about leadership through observation, reflection and research; and to bring together leaders who desire to learn, mentor and model good leadership. This program, in part, helps to meet the great need for leaders of integrity and understanding in both research and practice.

Design. Leadership talents and gifts cannot be taught but they can be strengthened and made intentional. The design of the program is to help individuals discover their talents and strengths, image in the future and then devise plans to develop skills and knowledge around those unique strengths.

Learning outcomes. Building on the University’s student learning outcomes – wholeness, Christ- centered, critical thinking, discovery and life-long learning, communication, technology, diverse world, and collaboration – the program adds five more – leadership, health policy, ethics, reflection, and scholarship.

Areas of leadership competency and underlying themes. Eight areas of competency and two underlying themes (ethics and scholarship) form the framework in which the academic plan is developed and the portfolio evaluated. For this program, areas of leadership competency are defined as:

1. Policy development and strategy
2. Systems thinking
3. Community building
4. Understanding diversity
5. Transformative change
6. Effective communication
7. Conflict resolution
8. Management and governance

Details.

Name of Degree – Doctor of Public Health(DrPH): Health Policy and Leadership
Educational level – Doctoral (a master’s degree or above at entry)
Length of program – An average of five to six years (seven years maximum)
Delivery – On-campus
Initial date of offering – Fall 2010
Number of participants – At the outset, yearly admissions of nine-12 participants
Type of student – Persons who have a master’s degree, at least five years of experience and evidence of potential for leadership; participants will be drawn primarily from public health but also from health care, higher education, NGOs, and faith-based CBOs that have developed health initiatives, and other related groups.

Program Courses

Although the program completion is demonstrated in the portfolio, the academic transcript also reflects other requirements such as the recommendation by the Association of Schools of Public Health Competency Model (2008) for courses in biostatistics, environmental health sciences, epidemiology, health policy and management, and social and behavioral sciences.

Health policy and leadership (18-24)

• HADM 680 Leadership – Past, present and future (3)*
• HADM 584 Practices and possibilities in health and leadership (3)*
• HADM 682 Policy development for 21st century health system (3) *

Health policy and leadership electives (among others)

• HADM 589 Independent study (1-8)
• HADM 689 Special topics (1-4)
• HADM 696 Dir study/special projects (1-8)

Public Health (15-24)

• HADM 687 Statistics to policy: What turns the dial? (3)*
• HADM 688 Leadership, policy and environmental change (3)*
• HADM 684 Building healthy communities: Integrative health policy (3)*
• EPDM Advanced epidemiology course chosen in consultation with adviser (3)*

Religion (9-12)

Religion electives (among others)

• RELE 534 Ethical issues in public health (3, 4)
• RELR 528 Christian citizenship and leadership (3, 4)
• RELT 540 World religions and human health (3)

Electives (9-18)

Electives

Research (15-18)

• Introductory research methods (3)*
• HADM 685 Preliminary research experience (3)*
• HADM 699 Applied research (3)*
• Advanced research courses appropriate for dissertation: Qualitative methodology (3)*
• or Quantitative methodology (3)*
• Advanced methodology (3)*
• Research electives

Dissertation (12-13)

• HADM 686 Writing seminar (1)
• HADM 697 Dissertation proposal (1-4)*
• HADM 698 Dissertation (1-8)*

Degree total minimum 88

Contact Information - Department of Health Policy and Management

Mailing Address:
Department of Health Policy and Management
Nichol Hall 1313
Loma Linda, CA 92350

Website: www.llu.edu/public-health/leadership
E-mail: dspenner@llu.edu
Phone: (909) 558-8217
Fax: (909) 558-0469