Offered By: Whole Health Leadership Program
Executive Director: Tracy Gaudet, MD
Program Manager: Angela Moran, M.Ed.
The Doctor of Whole Health Leadership (DrWHL) is a 9-term (2.25 year), 51-credit hour program designed to equip healthcare providers, educators, and administrators with the knowledge and transformational leadership skills to envision and realize health system change. Students participate in asynchronous online courses, four in-person weekend intensive courses, and a doctoral capstone experience.
Students complete 51 credits as follows:
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Track-Specific Credits
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Whole Health Leadership Core Credits
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Weekend Intensive Credits
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Capstone Preparation Credits
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Capstone Credits
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Total Credits
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13
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20
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4
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8
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6
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51
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The program offers three tracks:
- Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM) Fellowship Track: Designed for clinicians interested in concurrently earning a doctorate and an integrative medicine fellowship from AIHM.
- Students earn track-specific credits through completion of Fellowship courses.
- Integrative Medicine Post-Fellowship Track: Designed for graduates of an Academic Consortium for Integrative Medicine and Health (ACIMH) recognized integrative medicine fellowship.
- Students receive 13 track-specific transfer credits for previous completion of an Academic Consortium-recognized Integrative Medicine fellowship.
- Administrators, Educators, and Non-Fellows Track: Designed for healthcare professionals or clinicians.
- Students complete track-specific credits through transfer credit, prior learning credit, and/or designated courses. Students may also work with the Program Manager to identify other courses to fulfill the track-specific credit requirement.
The DrWHL program is designed for busy working professionals. Students typically take 2-4 courses per term, depending on the track. All required courses, except for the Weekend Intensives, are delivered asynchronously online. In-person weekend intensives occur each Fall and Spring in whole health organizations and settings within the United States and will typically start on a Thursday afternoon and end by midday Sunday. In-person requirements for the doctoral capstone may vary depending on the nature of the project undertaken by the student. Students receive flexible advising, mentoring, and support throughout the program. Graduates are prepared to be transformational leaders in whole health.
This program is a hybrid delivery program. While most courses are held online, Weekend Intensive courses will require in-person attendance at locations throughout the United States. AIHM Fellowship courses may have in-person requirements. See State Authorization information in the University Catalog.
- Whole Health Principles and Practice: The graduate will be able to apply comprehensive knowledge and understanding of whole health principles, practices, and the implementation of a whole health system of care.
- U.S. Healthcare and the Imperative for Change: The graduate will be able to make an evidence-based case for the transformation to whole health, grounded in an in-depth knowledge of the current challenges in the U.S. healthcare system.
- Leading Large System Transformation: The graduate will have the knowledge to assume leadership roles in organizations committed to the transformation to whole health, influence policy development, and work to improve health and well-being, outcomes, and costs.
- Creative Solutions in the Real World: The graduate will be able to conceive of and advocate for innovative, financially viable, cost-effective, outcomes-based solutions for complex real-world problems in their fields to advance the transformation to whole health.
- Purpose, Empowerment, and Practical Skills: The graduate will demonstrate the skills needed to empower and equip others and themselves to take charge of their physical, mental, and spiritual health and live their most meaningful life.
- Interprofessional Collaboration and Whole Health: The graduate will serve as an effective member of a healthcare team and collaborate with other professionals to improve whole health and patient outcomes for individuals and the community.
The program accepts students for Fall and Spring cohorts. Enrollment is limited. Applicants are encouraged to apply early. Qualified applicants will be accepted into cohorts on a rolling basis. Applicants may be waitlisted or admitted to a future cohort based upon qualifications and other factors.
Applicants for the DrWHL degree must submit the following:
- Completed application.
- Official transcripts from the highest degree earned from an accredited institution (accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education or an equivalent foreign agency).
- Applicants without a master’s degree or higher must submit official transcripts demonstrating 30 graduate-level credit hours beyond the baccalaureate.
- Evidence of healthcare practice, education, or leadership experience: Active healthcare license or current resume demonstrating three years of educator or leadership experience.
- Personal statement of no more than 250 words describing how the program fits personal and professional goals.
- Interview if required by program.
Applicants seeking to enter the Integrative Medicine Post-Fellowship Track only: submit proof of graduation from an Academic Consortium-recognized fellowship.
Applicants for the DrWHL degree must meet one of the following admissions requirements. Exceptions may be made on an individual basis with Program Manager approval.
- Be a licensed clinician or practitioner with an active license from one of the following professions: Advanced Practice Nurse, Chiropractor, Dentist, Licensed Acupuncturist, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Medical Doctor, Naturopathic Doctor, Occupational Therapist, Osteopathic Doctor, Pharmacist, Physical Therapist, Physician Assistant, Podiatrist, Psychologist, Registered Dietician.
- Be a licensed Registered Nurse, certified Midwife, or bachelor trained Physician Assistant with an active license and at least 30 graduate-level credit hours beyond the baccalaureate.
- Be a healthcare administrator or educator with a master’s degree and at least three years of leadership experience in a healthcare-related field.
In addition, students seeking to enter the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM) Fellowship Track must also be admitted into the AIHM Fellowship.
The Doctor of Whole Health Leadership (DrWHL) degree may be conferred upon those who have fulfilled the following requirements:
- Completed 51 credits within the required coursework including:
- 20 Whole Health Leadership Core course credits
- 14 Capstone course credits
- 4 Weekend Intensives credits
- 13 Track Specific credits earned through designated courses, transfer credits, and/or prior learning credit
- Earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0
- Met residency requirements of 38 credit hours earned at SCU
- Successfully completed the capstone project
- Completed all degree requirements within five years of matriculation
- Submitted a Petition to Graduate
Track 1: AIHM Fellowship
Track 2: Integrative Medicine Post-Fellowship Track
Track 3: Administrators, Educators, and Non-Fellows Track
No Advanced Standing/Transfer Credit is available to students in the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM) Fellowship Track. Credits required for degree completion are awarded only through completion of the AIHM Fellowship and all other required DrWHL program courses.
The DrWHL program awards students 13 transfer credits for prior completion of an Academic Consortium-recognized Integrative Medicine and Health (ACIMH) fellowship to fulfil the requirements of the Integrative Medicine Post-Fellowship Track. The remaining 38 credits must be completed at SCU.
The University Advanced Standing/Transfer Credit and Credit for Prior Learning policies apply to students seeking credit towards the Administrators, Educators, and Non-Fellows Track. Students are eligible for up to 11 prior learning credits based on the completion of a prior learning credit portfolio and a combined maximum of 13 transfer credits and/or prior learning credits. Transfer credits and prior learning credits are only applicable to track-specific course requirements; 38 credits must be completed at SCU.
The following residency requirements apply to students in the Doctor of Whole Health Leadership program:
- Students must complete at least 38 credits at SCU to qualify for degree completion.
- Students in the Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM) Fellowship Track complete all 51 credits through SCU’s degree program inclusive of the AIHM Fellowship.
Students are responsible for adhering to SCU policy, including course policy. Questions about apparent SCU/AIHM policy conflicts can be directed to the DrWHL Program Manager or the AIHM Director of Fellowship and Education as applicable.
Students in good standing who elect to withdraw from the AIHM fellowship may still participate in the DrWHL degree but must transfer tracks. The transfer must be done with the approval of the Program Manager and the Office of the Registrar.
Students attend four in-person weekend intensive courses over four different weekends during the program. In-person weekend intensives typically start on a Thursday afternoon and end by midday Sunday and are offered in Fall and Spring at whole health organizations and settings within the United States.
There is no additional fee for intensives. Students pay for their own travel and lodging. The program provides breakfast, lunch, snacks, and beverages during the intensives.
The Weekend Intensives consist of the following courses (4 credits):
Students develop a capstone project based on the application of whole health practice scholarship. Students are encouraged to address real-world challenges and can customize their capstone project based on professional goals and interests.
Capstone preparation is incorporated throughout the program. Preparation includes the development of individualized learning goals and objectives, a supervision plan, and a timeline. Students will also complete an initial capstone project proposal and present it to the capstone team.
The capstone project is finalized and disseminated after core coursework is completed, in the student’s ninth term, and is designed to be completed in one term. The student’s performance in producing and completing the capstone project will be formally evaluated.
- An extension is available for students needing additional time to complete the capstone project.
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