141st APHA Annual Meeting

In This section

283239
Accelerating solutions to complex problems in health policy and practice: An implementation science approach to applied doctoral dissertations in health administration

Wednesday, November 6, 2013 : 1:10 PM - 1:30 PM

Suzanne Hobbs, DrPH, MS , Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC
Sandra Greene, DrPH , Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC
Mona Kilany, MSPH , Department of Health Policy and Management, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Gillings School of Global Public Health, Durham, NC
The Doctoral Program in Health Leadership at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has since 2005 prepared mid- to senior-level practitioners for highest-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. Coursework is completed in the first two years; dissertation in year three. Since program inception, 40 doctoral dissertations have been successfully defended. Another 48 students are at varying stages of dissertation development.

Dissertations are characterized by several distinguishing features. In each case, students identify a substantial and complex organizational or policy problem, preferably within the organization in which they work. They use a scholarly and systematic approach to devise a strategy that brings to bear concepts in implementation science, including leadership principles, to create a plan to guide organizational or policy change. These applied dissertations culminate in the creation of plans that, if implemented, would improve the public's health.

Analysis of completed dissertations reveals several important differences and commonalities in content areas, research aims, study designs and methods, time to completion, and approaches to the plans for change. Future plans include additional support, long term monitoring and evaluation of plans for change implemented by graduates over time. Our experiences may be helpful in informing other schools' efforts to design practice-based doctoral programs in health leadership as well as academic components of nascent programs in implementation science.

Learning Areas:
Administration, management, leadership
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health administration or related administration
Public health or related education
Public health or related public policy
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
Describe an approach to practice-based doctoral dissertations that include a plan for organizational or policy change aimed at improving the public’s health. Analyze differences and commonalities among diverse, practice-based doctoral dissertations in health administration. Assess the potential for lessons learned to inform the design and development of other practice-based doctoral programs in health leadership and programs in implementation science.

Keywords: Health Futures Curriculum, Career Development

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was a principal creator of the program under discussion and have directed the program for the past seven years.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.