Highlighting the LECOM School of Health Services Administration and its Graduates

Wednesday, 17 July 2024

The LECOM Doctor of Health Administration (DHA) Program was established in July of 2020 to prepare health professionals to become innovative leaders and problem solvers within the healthcare industry, blending the theoretical with the practical.

The extensive DHA coursework is delivered during a 3-year period, and it provides students with the holistic knowledge needed to transition into careers that improve and influence health systems and related organizations.

This terminal degree program requires 72 credit hours of study beyond the master's degree. Students take classes in core healthcare studies, electives, research, and dissertation preparation. Doctoral candidates work with a committee of faculty advisors throughout the process, preparing them for their public oral defense of their original dissertation research.

The United States Department of Education classifies Research Doctoral Degrees, such as the Doctor of Health Administration, as equivalent to a Ph.D. The Ph.D. is just one of the many degree titles associated with Research Doctoral Degrees.

One difference between the DHA and Ph.D. is that the DHA dissertation employs an applied approach rather than a strictly theoretical approach.

The Doctor of Health administration was first introduced in the United States in the late 1990s as an advanced professional doctorate focused upon professional knowledge, applied research, health administration, and leadership.

LECOM heartily congratulates the nine Class of 2024 graduates who have earned the LECOM DHA:

Ashley Taylor

Title of Research:

Exploring Barriers to Accessing Mental Health Resources in the Erie School District

Ashley Matejka

Title of Research:

Charting the Course: Exploring the Health and Wellness Programming for Coast Guard Service Members and their Families

Darya D. Sahebzamani

Title of Research:

Building a Culture of Competence, Collaboration, and Consistency In Processes among Nurse Leaders and Environmental Service Leaders

Daniel P. Ireland

Title of Research:

The Impact of Employee Engagement on Patient Satisfaction

Christina E. Quan

Title of Research:

The Impact of Provider Burnout on the Quality of Healthcare Services

Daniel A. Nick

Title of Research:

Cognitive Challenging Card Games: An Opportunity for Improved Senior Care Outcomes?

Kelvin Brannon, Jr.

Title of Research:

Evaluating the Factors that Increase the Likelihood of Success in Advance Care Planning

Nicole Santiago

Title of Research:

Leadership Styles, Demographic Factors, and Their Relationship to Burnout Among Healthcare Administrators

Seth M. Herrick

Title of Research:

Dynamics of Generational Workplace Values: Implications for Job Satisfaction and Nursing Employment Stability in Rural Healthcare