An innovative approach to global doctoral leadership training for working health professionals

The University of North Carolina Doctoral Program in Health Leadership – the world's first executive DrPH program – prepares mid-career professionals for senior-level positions in organizations working domestically and internationally to improve the public's health. The three-year, cohort-based distance program confers a DrPH in Health Administration. With the exception of three short visits to Chapel Hill in each of years one and two, learning takes place in participants' homes and offices, away from the UNC campus. Students connect with faculty and peers mainly via computer, making substantial use of Internet video. The distance format allows working professionals to complete training while remaining in-country and continuing full-time employment. We describe program policies and procedures, funding, results of program evaluations, challenges and successes after three years of operation. Lessons learned may assist others as they evaluate the feasibility of creating similar programs. We are working now to extend the program model to accelerate the pace and reach of urgently needed doctoral-level leadership training around the world. To do so, we are developing a global consortium of partner programs. We envision that consortium members will share curriculum and technology best practices, faculty and school resources, encourage student exchange, and function as a unified network, collaborating with public and private stakeholders on strategic efforts to build health leadership and management capacity within the U.S. and globally. A critical need exists for additional programs able to attract and prepare top health leaders. We present one model for what may be a new era in health leadership education.