Healthcare educators will soon have a new degree program option through a partnership involving three highly regarded and internationally recognized Vanderbilt entities. The Master of Health Professions Education degree will welcome its inaugural class this fall, helping health education professionals develop the necessary skills to lead through a rapidly changing health sciences environment.
The MHPE degree is a unique collaboration among Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing and Peabody College of Education and Human Development. The mission of the new degree program is to train educational leaders and scholars who will contribute to the continuous advancement of health professions education and the health professions educator community.
“[rquote]This program gives students a science behind the education so they can practice their area of expertise in a scholarly way[/rquote],” said Associate Professor of Medical Education and Administration and MPHE program director John Shatzer.“Teaching is a learnable skill and is why Peabody is a strong partner in our program. They are current in educational theory and principles that will help create the bridge between the learning sciences and teaching practice.”
The MHPE degree emphasizes curriculum and evaluation, educational leadership and scholarship designed to provide the necessary tools to be excellent educational practitioners.
“We are excited about collaborating with our colleagues in nursing and medicine to integrate our knowledge with theirs in service to the health professions,” said Michael McLendon, associate dean and chief of staff for Peabody. “Peabody faculty have lent their expertise around the scholarship and practice of professional education, drawing on our long history of research in the learning sciences.”
The program seeks working health education professionals but also permits trainees at various levels to earn this degree in anticipation of a career with an emphasis on education. Students who enroll should possess terminal degrees in one of the health professions or biomedical sciences.
“The curriculum is designed for people who are interested in being faculty leaders in education,” said Linda Norman, senior associate dean for academics at the nursing school. “One of the important aspects of this program is the focus on the science of education specifically related to the clinical nature of health professions education. We look forward to participating in this program of study.”
The program models an Executive MBA weekend format with each course meeting three weekends per semester and supported by distance learning technology. The 36-credit-hour curriculum will emphasize learning and instruction; curriculum development; continuous quality improvement; organizational leadership and innovation; and research design and analysis. The Vanderbilt University School of Medicine will award the degree.
Interested applicants can visit https://medschool.vanderbilt.edu/mhpe/ or contact mhpe@vanderbilt.edu.
Media Contact: Jennifer Wetzel, (615) 322-4747
jennifer.b.wetzel@vanderbilt.edu