Mission, Vision, & Program Objectives

Doctor of Community Health

Mission Statement

The Doctor of Community Health program at Southwestern Oklahoma State University's College of Pharmacy is dedicated to educating and empowering advanced scholar-practitioners who will lead transformative community health initiatives focused on innovation and entrepreneurship in our healthcare system.

We prepare professionals to address the growing population health management needs through interdisciplinary academic experiential learning, enabling students to acquire the knowledge, competency, and skills necessary to qualify for and succeed in key executive, administrative, and consultant roles in industry, higher education, and entrepreneurial enterprises.

As part of our commitment to advancing the health and wellness of culturally diverse populations, particularly in rural and underserved Oklahoma communities, we create, disseminate, and apply knowledge and innovation to tackle complex community health challenges while promoting health equity and sustainable healthcare solutions.

Vision Statement

To be the premier doctoral program in community health that transforms healthcare delivery across Oklahoma and beyond by producing innovative leaders who bridge the gap between academic excellence and practical community impact.

We envision a future where our graduates drive significant improvements in population health outcomes, reduce health disparities, and create sustainable, innovative healthcare solutions that address the quadruple aim of healthcare: better outcomes, lower costs, improved patient experience, and improved clinician experience.

Program Objectives

The program is designed to build and enhance the skills of a Scholar-Practitioner. A scholar-practitioner develops a comprehensive ability to intertwine rigorous academic research with practical, real-world applications. The program's learning objectives cultivate a scholar-practitioner mindset, enabling students to generate evidence-based solutions and directly apply scholarly insights to address complex challenges within the healthcare sector. Through this blended approach, students will contribute to the body of knowledge in community health and drive impactful innovation and effective practices in healthcare environments.

At the completion of the DCH program, our graduates will be a:

1. Community Health Equity Leader: Advance a deep analytical understanding and integration of the multifaceted influences on health, including social determinants, psychodynamics, and disparities in health outcomes.
2. This proficiency emphasizes the application of ethical standards and cultural competency to promote and provide fair healthcare services that are sensitive to the varied needs of diverse populations. It involves a commitment to ethical practice in addressing health inequities and fostering community well-being.
3. Health Policy Analyst and Advocate: Sharpen the ability to expertly scrutinize health data and informatics, using this analysis to not only improve healthcare operations and patient outcomes but also to spearhead the launch of innovative health sector enterprises.
4. This proficiency merges data-driven decision-making with policy analysis and public advocacy to influence health legislation and promote the establishment of groundbreaking health businesses. It is designed to empower students to become leaders who can navigate and shape the health policy landscape while fostering entrepreneurial innovation within the healthcare industry.
5. Design Reasoning Vanguard: Cultivate the capacity to fuse critical decision-making skills with strategic design reasoning to develop and execute healthcare strategies that bolster patient care and optimize the healthcare delivery system.
6. This proficiency entails applying sophisticated design reasoning principles to conceive cohesive, patient-first solutions that raise the standard of patient experiences and enhance the efficiency of healthcare services.
7. Healthcare Innovation Architect: Evaluate and formulate innovative strategies in modern healthcare, focusing on process consultation, avocation, and sustainability to create transformative and efficient healthcare services.
8. This proficiency aims to cultivate groundbreaking and streamlined healthcare services through innovation that drives systemic transformation and operational excellence.
9. Community Health Venture Pioneer: Develop and master the capacity to critically assess and construct pioneering approaches within contemporary community health landscapes.
10. This proficiency stresses not only the ideation and execution of entrepreneurial strategies that push for progressive and sustainable health service models, but also equips students with the acumen to design, launch, and manage their own healthcare-focused ventures. Embracing a comprehensive grasp of process consultation, learners will become adept at facilitating and inspiring organizational evolution, creating innovative and efficient healthcare systems that lead to transformative community health improvements.
11. Collaborative Innovation Leader: Guide and unite interdisciplinary teams towards entrepreneurial innovation, leveraging collective expertise to introduce novel business ventures and elevate healthcare practices.
12. This proficiency focuses on cultivating strong leadership and strategic coordination to foster an environment where innovative ideas and strategic partnerships thrive, ultimately transforming the healthcare landscape.
13. Operational Virtuoso of Healthcare Excellence: Assess and integrate principles of quality and innovation to foster operational excellence in healthcare, leading to enhanced efficiency and patient care.
14. This proficiency is dedicated to boosting organizational efficiency and improving patient care through strategic enhancements and the adoption of cutting-edge practices in healthcare operations.
15. Healthcare Fiscal Steward: Evaluate financial planning strategies and allocate resources effectively for community health programming, ensuring long-term sustainability of healthcare projects and initiatives.
16. This proficiency focuses on securing the longevity and sustainability of healthcare projects and initiatives through strategic financial oversight and optimal resource distribution.
17. Community Health Field Project: Synthesize program knowledge and skills in a comprehensive scholar-practitioner project that addresses a complex community health issue.
18. This proficiency ensures that students apply multidisciplinary approaches and innovative thinking to design, implement, and evaluate interventions or initiatives that have a meaningful impact on community health challenges. The focus is on developing actionable solutions grounded in evidence-based research, while also demonstrating leadership and strategic project management within real-world settings. Additionally, the proficiency incorporates a strong emphasis on implementation research and the utilization of qualitative methods to ensure the effectiveness and sustainability of community health interventions.