12-18 months PhD in Health Sciences - Faulkner University

[michaeladsmith2]

Everyone,

I really appreciate your input and feedback. Very good conversation and well written response. Yes, the VUL DHA is geared towards exactly what the degree says, “Healthcare Administration.” And VUL is not alone. There are several DHA programs from other schools that specifically target MBAs or other business related professionals who want to transition or work directly in Hospital or healthcare C-Suite leadership. And of course if you google “Jobs for DHA holders,” you’ll get 100+ jobs where a person can work across a host of industries and healthcare systems e.g., WHO, CDC, United Nations, NGOs, Local , State or Federal governments, County Health Departments, etc.

My reason for reaching out to Faulkner was two-fold. 1. The program (based on my DHA transferable credits) would be less than 1 year, or very close to maybe 12-15 months, since Dr. Thompson has already made it possible to transfer 3 courses. And 2, a PhD gives you more leverage in academic teaching and research opportunities.

The DHA (across many schools) is still a relatively new degree that has yet to be fully tested. While it is recognized, the marketplace is still testing the quality of a DHA in several areas of competency and applications in the real world.

Finally, my last reason is that I have limited experience in healthcare management (only serving as a healthcare chaplain), though I have over 30 years of leadership experience across other sectors. I’m finding it difficult to secure teaching positions with a DHA. I’ve received a ton of job offers for management and a couple VP offers for hospital administration. But my personal goals are that I really don’t want to work for someone else and work a 9-5. I desire flexibility and freedom at this stage in my life.

Being a Chaplain involves counseling and psychology, which I see as a "related" field, especially since Faulkner University is a religious school that holistically looks at spiritual and mental health. Did they say how old the credits can be in transfer? It will be interesting to see what your dissertation research topic will be. Any ideas? Do you have a theoretical framework? As a veteran, I would love to read a qualitative study on the holistic impact of chaplain counseling on the veteran population.

Thank you for your kind words and support. 

If I decide to pursue this PhD at Faulkner, as an ACT Therapist, Mental Health First Aid National Trainer and Mental Health Professional/Advocate, I would certainly due my research on Veterans. My tentative research question would be this: What are the long-term outcomes of Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) training on veterans' mental health outcomes, such as symptom severity, quality of life, and resilience? 

The PhD in Health Sciences offers extensive opportunities for research and applications across various aspects of healthcare. This includes fields like mental health, counseling, therapy, and psychology, making them ideal areas for submitting high-quality research.