Chancellor Daniel Greenstein, D. Phil., and the Board of Governors of Pennsylvania\u2019s State System of Higher Education announced approval of a Doctor of Health Science (D.H.Sc.) for East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania on February 12, 2019.\u00a0 The final step in the approval process will be completed by the end of April 2019 when the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) considers ESU\u2019s Substantive Change Request for its second doctoral program, the doctorate in health sciences, a 60 credit program. The first, Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership and Administration, was approved in Spring 2016.\u00a0 Pending MSCHE approval, ESU will expects to launch the program during the 2019-2020 academic year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe critical need for healthcare in the Pocono Region is evident in the number of providers currently offering outstanding service,\u201d said ESU President Marcia G. Welsh, Ph.D.\u00a0 \u201cWe believe there is a true need for this doctoral degree, positioning it as a post-professional advancement for individuals in the healthcare field who wish to pursue advanced professional practice careers in higher education, clinical research or allied health administration.\u201d<\/p>\n
The D.H.Sc. is a generalist degree with two concentrations: Health Management and Administration and Advanced Research Administration.\u00a0 Following completion of the common core, students will choose a concentration to complete the program.\u00a0 According to Denise Seigart, Ph.D., dean of the College of Health Sciences, the core courses will focus on communication, leadership theory, ethics, and advanced research methods.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis program has been a long time coming,\u201d said ESU Provost Joanne Bruno, J.D.\u00a0 \u201cThe intent of this doctorate will be to enhance the knowledge and expertise of health care professionals in a number of areas. One great aspect of this program is that it will be offered through weekend courses designed for the busy healthcare executive with a suggested three-year schedule for completion.\u201d<\/p>\n
Housed in the College of Health Sciences, the new doctoral program\u2019s courses will be taught primarily by ESU faculty with supporting temporary faculty with specific industry specializations for certain courses. The nine-term schedule is followed by a dissertation on a health sciences topic of interest to the student and guided by program faculty and researchers in the student\u2019s and faculty\u2019s area of expertise.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis new doctorate is focused on seven essential areas that we feel will provide high impact to regional health science professionals\u2019 knowledge and practice,\u201d said Dr. Seigart.\u00a0 According to Seigart, the seven essential areas are: inter-professional collaboration, healthcare policy, organizational and systems leadership, mentoring and leadership in respective disciplines, clinically based health promotion and disease prevention, scientific underpinnings for health sciences practice, and clinically based scholarship and analytical methods for evidence-based practice.<\/p>\n