The Ed.D. in Healthcare Leadership is a comprehensive 60-credit asynchronous program designed for professionals who wish to excel in healthcare education, training, and workforce development. With no residency requirement, this program allows students to advance their education while developing advanced competencies in education theory, curriculum design, educational program management, organizational behavior, and professional development in education. Students will gain practical experience through a capstone project or dissertation, allowing them to apply research to solve organization-specific issues by creating products, implementing programs, or developing solutions. Graduates will be equipped to lead and advocate for educational and organizational change within healthcare settings, preparing them for roles such as Teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels, Graduate or Continuing Medical Education Director, Director of Human Resources, Chief Executive Officer, or Chief Medical Officer in academic institutions.
Graduates of the Ed.D. in Healthcare Leadership will be able to:
The Ed.D. in Healthcare Leadership is a comprehensive 60-credit asynchronous program designed for professionals who wish to excel in healthcare education, training, and workforce development. With no residency requirement, this program allows students to advance their education while developing advanced competencies in education theory, curriculum design, educational program management, organizational behavior, and professional development in education. Students will gain practical experience through a capstone project or dissertation, allowing them to apply research to solve organization-specific issues by creating products, implementing programs, or developing solutions.
Graduates will be equipped to lead and advocate for educational and organizational change within healthcare settings, preparing them for roles such as Teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels, Graduate or Continuing Medical Education Director, Director of Human Resources, Chief Executive Officer, or Chief Medical Officer in academic institutions.
The following outlines all requirements to apply for the E.Ed. Healthcare Leadership program.
May 30. 2027
Bachelor’s Degree: A Baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
Master’s Degree: A master’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, or if a master’s degree has not been completed, a minimum of 30 graduate-level credits.
Minimum Grade Point Average (GPA)
To apply follow these steps:
A minimum of 300 words (1500 max) describing principal areas of academic interest, capabilities, experience, and reasons for pursuing the Doctorate degree.
Official transcripts from all post-secondary institutions attended are required. Applicants must submit official transcripts of coursework attempted and completed at all previous colleges and universities whether a degree was earned at the institution. Final transcripts from all colleges/universities attended must be sent directly to Meharry Medical College, Office of Admissions & Recruitment electronically via admissions@mmc.edu. All submitted transcripts become the property of the Meharry Medical College and will not be returned.
Standardized Test: Standardized test scores are optional for admission and not required.
Two academic or professional letters of recommendation from individuals who are qualified to certify the applicant’s abilities and/ or character (i.e. mentor, academic advisor, employment supervisor).
Transfer applicants are considered on a case-by-case basis. For more information, please contact Dr. Michelle Steele at msteele@mmc.edu.
Additional Requirements for International Applicants: International applicants must hold a degree comparable to a regionally accredited U.S. baccalaureate or master’s degree in addition to:
International applicants must also meet the same minimum prior coursework requirements as domestic applicants. Applicants submitting transcripts from international colleges and universities are required to have them verified for U.S. degree program equivalency before being considered for admission. Verification from the following organizations is acceptable:
International Education Services (IES),
World Education Services (WES),
Global Credential Evaluators (GCE), or
Educational Credential Evaluators (ECE). The decision of the verifying organization must be transmitted directly to Meharry Medical College in electronic form. International applicant must provide an English proficiency test score from the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Scores must be submitted directly and electronically to Meharry Medical College.
For more information, please contact Dr. Michelle Steele, Chair of Applied Education, SOGS AppliedEdAdmissions@mmc.edu
Q. What is the start date for the program?
A. Our program starts the first Monday in August. Orientation is held during the last Thursday and Friday in July. Specific times, dates and locations will be shared with you after you have been officially admitted to the program.
Q. What resources are provided to students?
A. Students have access to a variety of resources, including the library, which provides books and online materials, tutoring services through the Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA), mental health support, and student affairs services. The Admissions office also offers important information about MMC admissions. For the School of Graduate Studies, Ms. Nicolle Patterson, the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs, oversees professional development resources, and Dr. Sakwe, the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, are key contacts for students.
Q. Are GRE scores required to apply for admission to the program?
A. No, GRE scores are not required.
Q. What is the class schedule?
A. All classes are scheduled asynchronously, allowing students to complete coursework on their own time.
Q. Are MMC faculty able to write letters of recommendation for students?
A. Yes.
Q. How do students interact with faculty and the program director as a virtual program?
A. Faculty and staff are available for virtual office hours. Students email faculty for individual meetings that are set up in Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or by phone. For those students who reside in Nashville, meetings can be scheduled to be in person. For urgent matters you can contact Dr. Allyson Fleming at afleming@mmc.edu or by calling 615 327-6009
Q. Should I move to Nashville?
A. No, you do not have to move to Nashville. Residency in Nashville is not a requirement for the program.
Q. Do I have to complete the Life Insurance Beneficiary, Proximity Card forms?
A. Yes. All students must complete the Life Insurance Beneficiary Form. This does not require any action regarding your insurance coverage. The institution carries a policy and must have emergency contact information on file in the case of an emergency for all members of the Meharry community. The Proximity Card form is used to create your campus ID. The ID badge is used for access to all buildings on campus and is recommended by Campus Security if you plan to be on campus for any appreciable amount of time.
Q. Can we waive health insurance if we have it already?
A. Yes. Please contact studentinsurance@mmc.edu for details on how to waive.
Q. How do I complete my Background Check?
A. The Background Check is initiated via an email from a third-party agency Meharry retains for this service. You will receive an email under separate cover approximately three weeks prior to the start of the academic term. You cannot initiate the background check independently as the Office of Admissions and Recruitment is responsible for supplying the class roster for the company that provides the service.
Q. How do I get through the portal set-up process?
A. The portal set-up process is initiated once an applicant receives an offer of admission from the School of Graduate Studies. You will receive an email directly from the Office of Admissions to begin the set-up process. If you have not received an email, please check your spam email before contacting the admissions office. You must enter the correct start term and academic program. Once that has been done, within 24-48 hours you should receive an email prompt to check your portal page. At that time, you should see a checklist item entitled “Reply to Offer of Admission”. Complete that item and then notify the Office of Admissions and Recruitment so that we may verify the portal set-up. Once the set-up has been verified, your portal page should then allow you to submit your enrollment deposit. That is the end of the set-up process. All questions about set-up should be directed to admissions@mmc.edu.
Q. Do I have to resend official transcripts to Meharry if I have already sent them to CAS? A. Yes, if you are admitted to a program. The transcripts sent through CAS are fine for evaluation and review, but the Offices of the Registrar and Financial Aid require official transcripts as support for eligibility. The preferred method of transcript delivery is electronic to admissions@mmc.edu, but for those whose institutions do not send electronically, the proper address is:
Meharry Medical College
Office of Admissions & Recruitment
Division of Student Affairs
Cal Turner Family Center for Student Education
1005 Dr. D. B. Todd Jr. Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37208
Q. I have not received my last transcript yet; do I still need to send that to you?
A. Yes, send us your final transcript as soon as you receive it. For the application process, the latest transcript available to you is fine. You will need to send your final transcript to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment
Tuition Rate: $1,250 per credit hour (60 credit hours for the Ed.D. program)
Please note, fees are not included in the tuition cost.
Financial aid options are available.
Tuition assistance is available for MMC employees.
*Tuition rates may increase annually
Michelle Steele, EdD
Program Chair Applied Education
AppliedEdAdmissions@mmc.edu
