PhD in Global Health Equity
Program: Global Health Equity
Degree: Doctor of Philosophy
Credits: 73
Length of Program: 4 Years / 8 Semesters
Term: Fall
Format: Hybrid
Our PhD in Global Health Equity is designed to equip students with tangible and current skills to help solve today’s real-world issues that are leading to disparities and inequities not just within the United States, but also globally.
Students will have the opportunity to be a part of the only doctoral program in global health equity that directly incorporates the Political Determinants of Health framework by Daniel E. Dawes. By learning from Dean Dawes himself, as well as other top-ranked faculty, who incorporate his framework into effectuating change at the most upstream levels to have the greatest impact on moving the health equity needle forward. This program will be the first to apply such a unique lens across countries that may be facing similar challenges and sharing novel approaches to developing solutions together.
What to Expect:
- The PhD in Global Health Equity requires completion of a minimum of 73 credit hours, including dissertation.
- All classes will be held virtually with select in-person sessions at our Meharry Medical College campus. This is a non-residential program, relocation to Nashville is not required.
- This program is intended to accommodate the working adult; therefore, live virtual courses are offered during the evenings.
- Students will engage with world-class faculty who are passionate health equity champions, bringing a wealth of knowledge and professional experience to the classroom from various spaces such as, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The White House, the United States Congress, World Health Organization, United Nations General Assembly, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Hospitals, Health Insurers, Biopharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Medical Device Companies, Disparities & Health Equity Research, Law & Policy, Responsible Artificial Intelligence, Geographic Information Systems, Medicine, Public Health, Management, Urban & Regional Planning, Clinical Trials, and more.
- This program aims to provide both domestic and global professional and scholarly experiences. Additionally, students will participate in distinguished lectureship series and skill-based workshops.
Students looking to participate in this program come from a variety of professions and training backgrounds
The SGH PhD candidate is well-rounded and attuned to the multifactorial origins and complexities of population health issues that the United States, and countries abroad, are facing. Students who wish to pursue this program will have already – in some way, shape, or form, begun working on this endeavor to advance health equity. At their core, these individuals are health equity champions within their own ecosystem, and will come from a variety of professional and academic backgrounds. Some examples include public health, medicine, nursing, allied health, mental and behavioral health, STEM, social sciences, political science, health law and policy, justice and advocacy work, social work, community health work, etc.
While there is no one perfect mold, the ideal candidate will be:
- self-motivated,
- bring their intellectual curiosity and lived experiences – both personal and professional, into the classroom,
- engaged in various health-related topics both in and outside of the classroom,
- and committed to the advancement of health equity for all.
This program is fully accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.
PhD Admissions Process
Step 1
Complete your free SGH application here (no application fee required):
https://student.wd12.myworkdaysite.com/meharrymedicalcollege/MMCSGH
- Complete your personal statement, please use the designated prompt below for your specific program (minimum of 500 words):
- Global Health Equity, PhD:
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- I) Discuss one area of interest that you believe is hindering the progress of health outcomes and global health equity.
- II) How will you utilize the Global Health Equity PhD degree to overcome the observed challenge(s) in your chosen area of interest. The student is encouraged to discuss lived experiences (academic, professional, or personal) in their response.
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- Complete Short Answer Questions: complete the short answer questions with a maximum of 300 words permitted per response, located on the online application
Step 2
Gather your application documents:
- Letters of Recommendation
Three letters of recommendation are required, at least two of which must be from an academic mentor (major professor, thesis advisor, etc.) who can speak to the applicant’s potential to undertake graduate studies.
- Official transcripts
Applicants must submit official transcripts of coursework attempted and completed at all previous colleges and universities whether or not a degree was earned at the institution. Please ask your institution to send official college transcripts electronically directly to the School of Global Health at sghenrollment@mmc.edu
If the institution prefers to mail transcripts, please use this address:
School of Global Health
Meharry Medical College
3401 West End Avenue
Suite 160
Nashville, TN 37203
All submitted transcripts become the property of the Meharry Medical College and will not be returned.
Test scores are not required for consideration into our program
STEP 3
Final Decision
- Once all documents have been appropriately submitted to SGH, they will be reviewed by the Faculty Admissions Committee.
- Applicants being considered for the PhD must undergo an interview, SGH will contact applicants directly to coordinate a designated date and time.
- All applicants will receive a final decision response by e-mail.
STEP 4
Admitted Students
- Accept your admission decision by submitting your seat deposit. This will be sent via e-mail.
- Complete your FAFSA and make sure to send information to Meharry Medical College.
- Our central Office of Admissions and Recruitment at Meharry Medical College will contact you to begin your journey as a Meharrian.
- All applicants possessing a baccalaureate degree must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) in the last 60 semester hours (approximately two years of work).
- Applicants possessing a master’s degree must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale).
- Applicants possessing a baccalaureate degree including some graduate work, but not a graduate degree, must have earned a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a 4-point scale) individually in both sets of coursework.
Course Offerings:
Download our course offerings here.
*Courses and course titles are subject to change.
Specialization coursework (include total credit hours and course names in a list):
Students are expected to complete 58 credit hours in specific coursework geared towards varying topics related to factors affecting health outcomes, political determinants of health, health disparities and health equity, social, mental, and behavioral health, foundations in health policy and law, and health economics.
Students who enroll in the Global Health Equity, PhD program will be exposed to a wide spectrum of coursework such as but not limited to:
- Communications
- Leadership
- Advanced concepts and global applications to the Political Determinants of Health
- Managing humanitarian emergencies and crises
- Community mapping using GIS technology
- Global diplomacy
In addition, students will have the opportunity to gain exposure to health disparity/equity research abroad or domestically, through an applied learning experience.
Total: 55 Credit Hours
Dissertation:
Consistent with Meharry Medical College’s goal of developing distinctive and pioneering approaches to teaching, the School of Global Health’s Global Health Equity, Doctor of Philosophy program will pair each student up with a faculty member to guide them in the development of their doctoral thesis, research, and dissertation. Each student is expected to conduct independent doctoral-level research in each semester of years three and four respectively. The student is at liberty to choose a global health equity-related research topic of their own, and write a dissertation based on 1) their professional experience, 2) their academic experience, 3) their Applied Experiential Learning, or 4) any combination thereof. Conferral of the doctorate degree is contingent upon a student’s successful defense of their dissertation in the final semester of year four.
Celeste Philip, MD, MPH,
Associate Dean, Applied Health Practice, Professor Public Health Practice
Interim Chair, Department of Public Health
Celeste Philip, MD, MPH, is a physician leader with two decades of public health and medical experience in local, state, federal, and international settings. She…
Fazal Khan, MD, JD,
Department Chair, Population Health
Professor of Health Law, Policy, and Management
Dr. Fazal Khan, MD, JD, serves as the department chair for population health and professor of health law, policy, and management. Dr. Khan brings a…
Michael C Caldwell, MD, MPH, FACP,
Professor of Public Health Practice, School of Global Health
Associate Vice President, Vaccine Research & Education Chief Medical Officer, Dry January USA Associate Professor, Internal Medicine, and Professional & Medical Education Meharry Medical College
Dr. Caldwell joined Meharry Medical College in August 2021. He provides leadership for health communications, vaccine research & education, as well as alcohol research, education…
Wansoo Im, PhD,
Professor, Department of Population Health
Faculty Advisor, MS in Health Equity
EDUCATION Ph.D. in Urban Planning and Policy Development, Rutgers , the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ M.U.R.P in Urban and Regional Planning,…
Shaneeta Johnson, MD, MBA, FACS, FICS, FASMBS,
Professor, Global Health
As an expert in global health, robotic minimally invasive surgery, bariatric surgery, health equity, surgical sustainability, and environmental justice, Dr. Johnson brings with her a…
Cost per credit hour for the 2025-2026 academic year
The total cost per credit hour for the current academic year is estimated to be $1,626*.
Estimated annual tuition for 2025-2026: $29,278
Click here to download the SGH Tuition PDF 2025-2026
*Tuition & fees are subject to change.
*This rate is subject to change on an annual basis.
Scholarship Consideration Deadline: December 15
Completed applications submitted by December 15 will be reviewed for merit-based scholarship opportunities. Only a select number of qualified applicants will be awarded. Scholarships are competitive and dependent on the strength of the applicants completed application, supporting documents, and interview. Awardees will receive a formal SGH scholarship award letter in the spring. Please note, at this time we are only able to offer partial scholarship support to select students.
External Scholarships
Applicants are encouraged to apply for external scholarship opportunities where available.
Mahia Valle, MBA
Director, Communications and Enrollment Management
School of Global Health,