The Ph.D. in Rural Health Sciences program at Mercer University School of Medicine is a three-year, multidisciplinary curriculum that requires 64 hours to complete, including 40 hours of traditional didactics/seminar, six hours of field-based practicum and at least 18 hours of dissertation. The curriculum draws from the fields of medicine, psychology, sociology, epidemiology, statistics, communication, management, economics and political science.
All Ph.D. students spend a summer semester immersed in a medically underserved rural Georgia community to design, implement and evaluate the impact of a novel health promotion initiative, and will additionally complete their dissertation research within a rural Georgia community.
Mission
To conduct rigorous, multidisciplinary research to improve the health outcomes of rural communities, contributing to evidence-based practices and informed decision-making.
Vision
Pioneering Rural Health Excellence: To create a future where rural health experts are equipped with interdisciplinary expertise and collaborate seamlessly with communities to create sustainable and equitable health solutions.
Guiding Principles
To achieve its mission and vision, the program has four Guiding Principles: rural focused, multidisciplinary, team-based and community-oriented.