Welcome

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Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) Leadership in Clinical Practice and Education

Overview

The GW Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) program, enables clinical health professionals from a range of backgrounds to build competencies in advanced professional practice in clinical or academic environments. Students complete one of two tracks -- Clinical Practice Leadership or Educational Practice Leadership – based on desired career outcomes.

All learners gain mastery of the design, implementation, and evaluation of health care programs as well as lead interprofessional teams to advance health care.

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Program Format

Continue in your profession full-time, learning when and where it is most convenient to you as the curriculum is primarily online. There are two residencies required over separate weekends, and the program culminates with a finalized manuscript ready for submission to a peer reviewed journal.

The program offers two concentrations in either clinical or educational practice.

Quick Facts

 

48 Total Credits

100% Online Courses & 2 Residency Weekends

2.5 Years Average Duration

Accreditation, Rankings and Highlights

  • Fully accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools

  • Ranked 62nd Best National University, U.S. News & World Report, 2023 Rankings

  • Graduate in as few as 30 months

  • Two concentration options to choose from

  • Design programs to advance the practice of health professionals in academic and clinical settings

Curriculum
A woman stands while speaking at a meeting

The online Doctor of Health Sciences (DHSc) Leadership in Clinical Practice and Education program is a 48-credit-hour program that helps students build competencies in advanced professional practice, whether that be in the clinical or academic environments.

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Leadership Tracks
Clinical Practice Leadership Track

Manage the clinical aspects of a health care facility and improve its outcomes. By graduation you’ll be able to:

  • Design strategies to improve clinical practice guidelines, clinician performance, and improved outcomes in a health care environment
  • Collaborate with interprofessional teams to address a common goal such as improved efficiency and effectiveness, or improved satisfaction among patients and health care
  • Analyze gaps between the outcomes of best practice and current practice in health care practice environments

 

Clinical Practice Leadership Track Courses
  • CML 6203 Health Information, Quality, and Outcomes – 3 credits
  • HCQ 6200 Introduction to Health Care Quality – 3 credits
  • HFR 8313 Knowledge Translation in Health Care – 3 credits
  • HFR 8314 Health Care Research – 3 credits

 

Educational Practice Leadership Track

Improve your health or higher-education staff’s student outcomes and meet the rigorous standards for leadership positions in this field. By graduation you’ll be able to:

  • Create educational programs that prepare participants to serve as effective health professionals in complex health care environments
  • Collaborate with interprofessional stakeholders to build educational practices that foster teamwork in patient-centered care
  • Analyze gaps in educational research to support the effective preparation of health professionals
  • Design and test an educational innovation to support improved outcomes in health care education

 

Educational Practice Leadership Track Courses
  • HFR 8212 Teaching Strategies in the Health Professions – 3 credits
  • HFR 8213 Curriculum Development in the Health Professions – 3 credits
  • HFR 8214 Assessment in HP Education – 3 credits
  • HFR 8215 Technology and Education in HP – 3 credits

 

Admission and Tuition Information
Admission Requirements

To apply for the Doctorate of Health Sciences (DHSc) Leadership in Clinical Practice and Education program, you’ll need:

  • Completed application
  • 3.0 GPA or above on a 4.0 scale
  • Master’s degree
  • Resume/CV
  • Personal statement
  • Two letters of recommendation

See All Requirements

Tuition Information

The Doctorate of Health Sciences (DHSc) Leadership in Clinical Practice and Education program at GW consists of 48 credit hours, cost per credit $1,061, and total estimated tuition $50,928.

News

The Doctor of Health Sciences Leadership in Clinical Practice and Education program will be exhibiting at the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) Inspire 2024 Annual Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida from March 21-23, 2024.

Joyce Maring, EdD, DPT, has been selected to receive the Lucy Blair Service Award from the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) for her exceptional contributions, involvement, and impact in clinical practice and education pedagogy, as well as the physical therapy profession.

Patrick G. Corr, EdD, MEd, AFAMEE and Leigh A. Frame, PhD, MHS launch the Frame-Corr Lab.