Doctor of Health Sciences Next Steps

Welcome

Congratulations on accepting your admission offer into our Doctor of Health Sciences online program at MCPHS.

We’re excited to provide you with a world-class online healthcare education experience. Before you begin your online program, review the information and resources below to prepare you as you begin your MCPHS online education. We will continue to post specific information on this page, so be sure to check back often.

Message from the Program Director

Read a welcome letter from Anthony Lacina, DHS, MPH, MEd, CHES, Program Director. Learn more about the Doctor of Health Sciences online program and how Anthony, along with faculty and staff, support you during your time as an MCPHS student.

Doctoral Evidence-Based Healthcare Capstone Project

The Doctor of Health Sciences online program is an innovative 54-credit program created to meet the needs of current health professionals in today’s evolving and integrative healthcare field.

The program culminates with an Evidence-Based Healthcare Capstone Project, offering students the opportunity to acquire the skills and knowledge to advocate for best practices and promote the translation of existing evidence in their practice.

The capstone project encompasses 12 credits of the 54-credit curriculum and consists of four courses taken consecutively that focus on research methodology and evidence-based practice theory. Students may choose to perform a needs assessment, draft a policy manual, write a research proposal, design a curriculum, and more.

Download our project guidelines PDF to learn more about the capstone project.

View successful examples of past capstone project presentations below:

  • Patricia Murray: Can student-submitted video recordings of mock patient encounters provide faculty with the opportunity to authentically evaluate clinical skills in online Family Nurse Practitioner programs?
  • Ahmad AL-Musa: In a primary care setting, does shifting the responsibilities of primary care screens from clinical to non-clinical (front-line) staff help enhance quality outcomes?
  • Ethan Parten: To improve hand hygiene compliance, will the implementation of RFID hand hygiene compliance monitoring devices in a surgical ICU that captures 100% of hand hygiene opportunities identify the actual barriers to compliance and result in a reduction in hospital-acquired infection rates?