Healthcare education is evolving, and so are the leaders who shape it.
Logan University is relaunching its Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Health Professions Education program in Spring 2027 with a redesigned curriculum that better reflects today’s educational landscape while maintaining the flexibility working professionals need.
Designed as a 60-credit, cohort-based doctoral program, the Ed.D. equips healthcare educators with the knowledge and practical skills to advance into leadership roles in higher education, faculty development and academic administration. Students may begin the program in either the spring or fall and progress through the curriculum alongside a cohort of peers, fostering collaboration, networking and shared professional growth.
The revitalized program introduces several enhancements that strengthen both the academic experience and its connection to the real-world challenges facing healthcare education.
“We envision this program as a flagship doctoral experience for allied health professionals who are ready to move from clinical expertise into positions of academic and organizational influence,” said Cory Viehl, PhD, LPC, NCC, ACS, BC-TMH and dean of Logan University’s College of Health Sciences. “The revitalized Ed.D. reflects Logan’s commitment to developing the whole person and advancing whole-person health across every dimension of the healthcare enterprise.”
One of the most significant changes is a curriculum intentionally organized around the competencies healthcare educators need to succeed in today’s academic environment.
The revised program is built upon four pillars:
- Healthcare Faculty Development
- Curriculum Assessment and Design
- Academic Leadership and Administration
- Applied Educational Research
Together, these pillars provide students with a comprehensive foundation in teaching, curriculum design, organizational leadership and scholarly inquiry while preparing them to improve educational outcomes within their own institutions.
To further support these areas, Logan has introduced three new courses that address emerging priorities across healthcare education:
- Faculty Development and Clinical Education Models
- Higher Education Governance, Finance and Policy
- Workforce Development and Interprofessional Collaboration
These additions broaden the program’s focus beyond classroom instruction, preparing graduates to lead organizations, mentor faculty and strengthen collaboration across healthcare disciplines.
Recognizing that many doctoral students balance full-time careers with graduate education, the revised Ed.D. offers greater flexibility in how students complete coursework.
Courses are delivered in both 15-week and accelerated seven-week formats using a combination of asynchronous learning and live synchronous sessions. This intentional course design allows students to engage deeply with course content while maintaining the flexibility needed to balance professional and personal commitments.
Students also benefit from Logan’s cohort model, progressing through the program alongside colleagues who share similar professional goals and experiences.
Another hallmark of the redesigned program is a more intentional approach to doctoral research.
Rather than completing a traditional dissertation centered primarily on theory, students will complete a formal Dissertation in Practice (DiP), allowing them to investigate and solve a meaningful educational challenge within their own professional setting.
The result is research that not only fulfills doctoral requirements but also creates lasting impact within healthcare education.
“Together, these pillars equip graduates with the knowledge, skills and scholarly foundation to lead programs, develop faculty and drive meaningful change across the health professions education landscape,” Dr. Viehl said. “Through interprofessional collaboration and a structured Dissertation in Practice, we are preparing graduates not just to succeed in health professions education, but to shape it.”
Applications for Logan University’s Doctor of Education in Health Professions Education program are now open. Prospective students interested in advancing their careers as educators, academic leaders and scholars can learn more by contacting the Office of Admissions at Admissions@logan.edu