Dual-Degree Programs

A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Health Administration dual degree program provides a solid foundation in both medicine and healthcare administration. This program equips graduates with necessary clinical skills for treating patients and provides in-depth training in healthcare leadership and management. Physicians with an MHA are prepared to transition from an exclusive clinical focus to a physician executive managerial role in a healthcare organization.

Program benefits

• The MHA-trained physician will have in-depth knowledge and skills in: performance management and measurement, analytic thinking for solving problems in healthcare systems, health communications, process and quality improvement, project management, human relations management, strategic planning, professional and social responsibility, financial skills, and information technology.
• The MHA-trained physician will be prepared for a variety of healthcare leadership roles.
• The MHA-trained physician will rely on a population health management perspective for improving healthcare systems.

Potential career paths

• Vice president for medical affairs
• Chief medical officer (CMO)
• Physician-in-chief
• Chief clinical officer (CCO)
• Chief patient safety officer (CPSO)
• Chief quality officer (CQO)
• Chief medical information officer (CMIO)
• Chief health information officer (CHIO)

Faculty advisors

Mike Kennedy, Ed.D.
mike.kennedy@unthsc.edu
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Tessa Bryan Ed.D., MBA
Tessa.Bryan@unthsc.edu
College of Public Health

A Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Public Health dual degree program provides a solid foundation in both medicine and public health. This program equips graduates with necessary clinical skills for treating patients and provides an in-depth understanding of how public health approaches are employed to improve the health of populations, including efforts to reduce health disparities. Physicians who are MPH-trained often work in government agencies as regional medical directors or local health authorities where they manage public health programs and advise policymakers on a range of healthcare and public health issues.

Program benefits

• The MPH-trained physician will have in-depth knowledge and competencies in: epidemiology and biostatistics, health policy, behavior and community change strategies, community program planning and evaluation, structural determinants of health in society, and public health leadership.
• The MPH-trained physician will have expanded professional opportunities, particularly in federal, state, and local government agencies.
• The MPH-trained physician will have the ability to engage effectively with policymakers.
• The MPH-trained physician will be prepared to transition from a clinical focus to a policy and management role in leading change in health systems.
• The MPH-trained physician will rely on a population health perspective in delivering clinical care, and in doing so will have a heightened awareness of the social, economic, racial, and environmental determinants of health.
• The MPH-trained physician will have an enhanced ability to consume and interpret health- related research.

Potential career paths

• Federal, state, and local government, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, state health departments, and county and city health departments
• Policy and advocacy for vulnerable and underserved communities
• Addressing the needs of specific priority populations, such as children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, mental illness, or drug addiction, tribal communities, etc.
• Environmental health advocacy and regulation

Faculty advisors

Matt Nolan Adrignola, Ed.D., MBA
matthew.adrignola@unthsc.edu
College of Public Health

Mike Kennedy, Ed.D.
mike.kennedy@unthsc.edu
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

The Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) and Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biomedical Sciences dual degree program provides a solid foundation in both medicine and biomedical science research. This program equips graduates with necessary clinical skills for treating patients and provides a unique set of knowledge, skills, behaviors and attitudes focused on biomedical sciences.

Program benefits

• The PhD-trained physician will have the following in-depth knowledge and competencies: biomedical scientific knowledge; communication skills; professionalism, collegiality, and career development; and research and analytic skills.
• The PhD-trained physician will have expanded professional opportunities, particularly in academic medicine, research focused companies, and federal, state, and local government agencies.
• The PhD-trained physician will have the ability to engage effectively with scientists involved in basic, translational, and clinical research.
• The PhD-trained physician will be prepared to transition from a clinical focus to a role as cutting edge scientist that can quickly and adeptly apply research findings to the clinical setting.
• The PhD-trained physician will rely on the most recent research findings in delivering clinical care.
• The PhD-trained physician will have an enhanced ability to consume and interpret basic, translational, and clinical research.

Potential career paths

• Government settings, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Institutes of Health (NIH), state health departments, and county and city health departments
• Academic medicine
• Biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and consulting companies
• Hospitals, health-systems, and clinics

Faculty advisors

Rance Berg, PhD
rance.berg@unthsc.edu
College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences

Mike Kennedy, Ed.D.
mike.kennedy@unthsc.edu
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

The Master of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies and Master of Health Administration dual degree program provides PA’s with business knowledge and competencies to improve the effectiveness and operational success of healthcare organizations. PA’s with an MHA are prepared to transition from an exclusive clinical pharmacy focus to a managerial role in a healthcare organization.

Program benefits

• The MHA-trained PA will have in-depth knowledge and skills in: performance management and measurement, analytic thinking for solving problems in healthcare systems, health communications, process and quality improvement, project management, human relations management, strategic planning, professional and social responsibility, financial skills, and information technology.
• The MHA-trained PA will be prepared for leadership roles in healthcare organizations.
• The MHA-trained physician will rely on a population health management perspective for improving healthcare systems.

Potential career paths

• Health System Executive leadership
• Chief Physician Assistant
• Department Chair or Director of Physician Assistant Services
• Administrative Medical Director

Faculty advisors

Tessa Bryan Ed.D., MBA
tessa.bryan@unthsc.edu
College of Public Health

Lauren Dobbs PA-C, MMS
lauren.dobbs@unthsc.edu
School of Health Professions

The Master of Physician Assistant (PA) Studies and Master of Public Health dual degree program provides a solid foundation in both PA studies and public health. This program equips graduates with necessary clinical skills for treating patients and provides an in-depth understanding of how public health approaches are employed to improve the health of populations, including efforts to reduce health disparities.

Program benefits

• The MPH-trained PA will have in-depth knowledge and competencies in: epidemiology and biostatistics, health policy, behavior and community change strategies, community program planning and evaluation, structural determinants of health in society, and public health leadership.
• The MPH-trained PA will have expanded professional opportunities, particularly in federal, state, and local government agencies.
• The MPH-trained PA will have the ability to engage effectively with policymakers.
• The MPH-trained PA will be prepared to transition from a clinical focus to a policy and management role in leading change in health systems.
• The MPH-trained PA will rely on a population health perspective in delivering clinical care, and in doing so will have a heightened awareness of the social, economic, racial, and environmental determinants of health.
• The MPH-trained PA will have an enhanced ability to consume and interpret health- related research.

Potential career paths

• Federal, state, and local government, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, state health departments, and county and city health departments
• Policy and advocacy for vulnerable and underserved communities
• Addressing the needs of specific priority populations, such as children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, mental illness, or drug addiction, tribal communities, etc.
• Environmental health advocacy and regulation

Faculty advisors

Matt Nolan Adrignola, Ed.D., MBA
matthew.adrignola@unthsc.edu
College of Public Health

Lauren Dobbs PA-C, MMS
lauren.dobbs@unthsc.edu
School of Health Professions

The Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) and Master of Public Health dual degree program provides a solid foundation in both pharmacy and public health. This program equips graduates with necessary pharmacy skills and provides an in-depth understanding of how public health approaches are employed to improve the health of populations, including efforts to reduce health disparities.

Program benefits

• The MPH-trained pharmacist will have in-depth knowledge and competencies in: epidemiology and biostatistics, health policy, behavior and community change strategies, community program planning and evaluation, structural determinants of health in society, and public health leadership.
• The MPH-trained pharmacist will have expanded professional opportunities, particularly in federal, state, and local government agencies.
• The MPH-trained pharmacist will have the ability to engage effectively with policymakers.
• The MPH-trained pharmacist will be prepared to transition from a clinical focus to a policy and management role in leading change in health systems.
• The MPH-trained pharmacist will rely on a population health perspective in delivering clinical care, and in doing so will have a heightened awareness of the social, economic, racial, and environmental determinants of health.
• The MPH-trained pharmacist will have an enhanced ability to consume and interpret health- related research.

Potential career paths

• Federal, state, and local government, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, state health departments, and county and city health departments
• Policy and advocacy for vulnerable and underserved communities
• Addressing the needs of specific priority populations, such as children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, mental illness, or drug addiction, tribal communities, etc.
• Environmental health advocacy and regulation

Faculty advisors

Matt Nolan Adrignola, EdD, MBA
matthew.adrignola@unthsc.edu
College of Public Health

Rafia Rasu, PhD
rafia.rasu@unthsc.edu
College of Pharmacy

The Doctor of Pharmacy degree (PharmD) and Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) in Biomedical Sciences dual degree program provides students with an outstanding background in clinical pharmacy and biomedical sciences research.  Graduates are able to provide pharmaceutical care to patients, as well as to demonstrate knowledge, skills, behaviors, and attitudes focused on biomedical sciences.

Program benefits

• The PhD-trained pharmacist will have enhanced knowledge and competencies in biomedical scientific knowledge, oral and written communication, professionalism, and teamwork, as well as research and analytical skills.
• The PhD-trained pharmacist will have an enhanced ability to interpret basic, translational, and clinical research findings.
• The PhD-trained pharmacist will use their skills to interpret the most recent scientific literature in the development of evidence-based pharmaceutical care plans.
• The PhD-trained pharmacist will be able to engage in basic, translational, or clinical research and collaborate effectively with similarly engaged scientists.
• The PhD-trained pharmacist will have enhanced professional opportunities to lead research programs in academic, business, and government sectors.

Potential career paths

• Governmental agencies: Food and Drug Administration (FDA); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); National Institutes of Health (NIH); and state, county, and city health departments.
• Academia
• Biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and consulting companies
• Hospitals, Health-Systems, and Clinics

Faculty advisors

Xiaowei Dong, PhD
xiaowei.dong@unthsc.edu
College of Pharmacy

Rance Berg, PhD
rance.berg@unthsc.edu
College of Biomedical and Translational Sciences

The Master of Science in Applied Anthropology and Master of Public Health (MPH) dual degree program provides a solid foundation in both applied anthropology and public health. This program equips graduates to analyze public health problems using mixed research methods and frameworks unique to the field of anthropology. Applied anthropologists who are MPH-trained often work in government and non-governmental organizations as socio-behavioral researchers, health analysts, program coordinators/evaluators where they manage public health programs and advise policymakers on a range of health issues.

Program benefits

• The MPH-trained applied anthropologist will have in-depth knowledge and competencies in: culture and health, health inequities and marginalized populations, health policy, behavior and community change strategies, and public health leadership.
• The MPH-trained applied anthropologists will have expanded professional opportunities, particularly in federal, state, and local government agencies as well as international non-governmental organizations.
• The MPH-trained applied anthropologists will have the ability to engage effectively with policymakers to improve health and address social justice issues.
• The MPH-trained applied anthropologists will have the ability to effectively engage communities as partners to strengthen their capacity to change social and environmental conditions that undermine public health and maintain health disparities.
• The MPH-trained applied anthropologists will have the ability to merge anthropological theory with a population health perspective that focuses on economic, racial, and environmental determinants of health.

Potential career paths

• Federal, state, and local government, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, state health departments, and county and city health departments
• International non-governmental organizations carrying out health programming around the world, including program planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
• Policy and advocacy for vulnerable and underserved communities
• Addressing the needs of specific priority populations, such as children, the elderly, persons with disabilities, mental illness, or drug addiction, tribal communities, etc.
• Environmental health advocacy and regulation

Contact admissions

The MS/MPH dual degree program in Applied Anthropology and Public Health is jointly supported by the Department of Anthropology at the University of North Texas in Denton and the HSC College of Public Health. Applicants must apply for admission to both universities.

For more information and to apply to the MS in Applied Anthropology, visit: UNT Department of Anthropology.

Faculty advisors

Charlotte Noble, PhD
charlotte.noble@unthsc.edu
College of Public Health

Doug Henry, PhD
doug.henry@unt.edu
Department of Anthropology
UNT Denton

In addition to dual degrees, HSC offers dual enrollment programs. These programs integrate a graduate certificate into a degree program.

• Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences/Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management (PhD/HCM Certificate)
• Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Sciences/Graduate Certificate in Public Health (PhD/PH Certificate)
• Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine/Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management (DO/HCM Certificate)
• Master of Physician Assistant Studies/Graduate Certificate in Healthcare Management (PA/HCM Certificate)
• Master of Physician Assistant Studies/Graduate Certificate in Public Health (PA/PH Certificate)