DrPH

Available online

Anna Nelson, DrPH, MPH
Program Director

The Doctor of Public Health in Health Education is designed for individuals who desire to add depth to their health education specialization and develop research, writing, professionalism, management and leadership capabilities. The emphasis in health education offers advanced knowledge and competencies in the health education process and includes planning and evaluation of health behavior change, advocacy and communication, and critical analysis.

The program emphasizes the practice of healthy lifestyle behaviors and community health education. The online technology-mediated format is targeted toward working professionals and requires specific hardware and software specifications.

The curriculum consists of synchronous learning, online courses, blended courses, and a visit to the campus during the research process for defenses of proposals, dissertation, and graduation. Students are also welcomed to take a course or two on-campus during the summer months.

The DrPH in Health Education is designed to provide advanced knowledge, skills and research capacity. Graduates are prepared for university level teaching and planning, as well as the management and evaluation of health education programs domestically and globally.

Individually planned and mentored, this program requires a master’s degree in public health or a related field. Graduates are typically employed in leadership roles in government, private, or academic settings.

DrPH

Jimmie Banta, PhD
Program Director

The primary focus of this program is to enhance the skills and abilities of those in positions of leadership; to develop competencies in policy development, analysis, and implementation; applied to health care and social determinants of health—to add to the body of knowledge about leadership through observation, reflection, and research; and to bring together leaders who desire to learn, mentor, and model exemplary leadership. Program participants are expected to demonstrate a commitment to the core values of Loma Linda University: compassion, integrity, excellence, freedom, justice, self-control, and humility. This program, in part, meets the great need for leaders of integrity who are agents of change, with understanding in both research and practice.

The Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.) degree is the highest professional degree for the public health generalist. Participants will focus on public health practice and demonstrate broad knowledge related to professional skills. Consistent with our intentional interdisciplinary approach to doctoral education, this degree program offers learners the opportunity to customize an academic plan designed to fulfill their program requirements through unique core courses and a variety of electives offered by the School of Public Health. With approval to develop their academic plan, learners may also identify courses offered throughout Loma Linda University. Drawing from resources in the School of Public Health and the program faculty’s training and expertise in management, leadership, and policy, participants are able to develop leadership skills and competencies in selected policy areas, such as:

1. Health services and health care
2. Systems design and organizational change
3. Health disparities and health equity
4. Food and nutrition
5. Mother-infant health
6. Poverty and social welfare
7. Behavior and mental health
8. Water, air quality, and the built environment
9. Nonprofits and philanthropy
10. Resource development and generation

DrPH

Jimmie Banta, PhD
Program Director

The primary focus of this program is to enhance the skills and abilities of those in positions of leadership; to develop competencies in policy development, analysis, and implementation; applied to health care and social determinants of health—to add to the body of knowledge about leadership through observation, reflection, and research; and to bring together leaders who desire to learn, mentor, and model exemplary leadership. Program participants are expected to demonstrate a commitment to the core values of Loma Linda University: compassion, integrity, excellence, freedom, justice, self-control, and humility. This program, in part, meets the great need for leaders of integrity who are agents of change, with understanding in both research and practice.

The Doctor of Public Health (Dr.P.H.) degree is the highest professional degree for the public health generalist. Participants will focus on public health practice and demonstrate broad knowledge related to professional skills. Consistent with our intentional interdisciplinary approach to doctoral education, this degree program offers learners the opportunity to customize an academic plan designed to fulfill their program requirements through unique core courses and a variety of electives offered by the School of Public Health. With approval to develop their academic plan, learners may also identify courses offered throughout Loma Linda University. Drawing from resources in the School of Public Health and the program faculty’s training and expertise in management, leadership, and policy, participants are able to develop leadership skills and competencies in selected policy areas, such as:

1. Health services and health care
2. Systems design and organizational change
3. Health disparities and health equity
4. Food and nutrition
5. Mother-infant health
6. Poverty and social welfare
7. Behavior and mental health
8. Water, air quality, and the built environment
9. Nonprofits and philanthropy
10. Resource development and generation

DrPH

Hildemar Dos Santos, MD, DrPH
Program Director

The Preventive Care Program is designed to prepare high level specialists for wellness and lifestyle management intervention. Emphasis is on academic preparation, practical skills, and administrative abilities in developing, implementing, and evaluating programs and protocols designed to address a wide spectrum of health issues—particularly those dealing with chronic disease. These programs and protocols include health risk appraisal, nutritional assessment and recommendations, exercise testing and prescription, and smoking cessation counseling.

The program seeks to demonstrate and elucidate the intimate connection between mind and body. Graduates address the combined influences of nutrition, exercise, stress, smoking and other lifestyle factors on the promotion of health and the prevention of disease.

The program is exclusively for health practitioners who have a health professions license to practice in the US. Physicians, nurses, dentists, physical therapists, registered dietitians, occupational therapists, etc. can apply for this program. Health professionals who are not physicians are not able to practice medicine when awarded this degree.

PhD

Michael Orlich, MD, PhD
Program Director

The aim of this program is to prepare students with a strong background in health science such as medicine or public health for a career in research and teaching at academic and non-academic institutions, governmental agencies, research institutes, non-profit organizations or private industry.

The curriculum is designed to fulfill program requirements while addressing the nature of the student’s proposed research program, as well as the student’s interest and academic needs as determined by advisors. Ph.D. degree students are expected to write scientific journal articles as part of their training. In addition to participating as a teaching assistant and/or a laboratory assistant, the student will also deliver course lectures. The student is responsible for identifying an appropriate faculty member to serve as his or her research mentor.

PhD

Michael Orlich, MD, PhD
Program Director

The aim of this program is to prepare students with a strong background in health science such as medicine or public health for a career in research and teaching at academic and non-academic institutions, governmental agencies, research institutes, non-profit organizations or private industry.

The curriculum is designed to fulfill program requirements while addressing the nature of the student’s proposed research program, as well as the student’s interest and academic needs as determined by advisors. Ph.D. degree students are expected to write scientific journal articles as part of their training. In addition to participating as a teaching assistant and/or a laboratory assistant, the student will also deliver course lectures. The student is responsible for identifying an appropriate faculty member to serve as his or her research mentor.

Sujatha Rajaram, PhD
Program Director

The Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in nutrition prepares you for a career in academia, governmental agencies, research institutes, nonprofit organizations, and private industry. The program is designed to provide an advanced curriculum in nutrition, professional skills, and competencies required to support careers in teaching and research.

A LEGACY OF OVER 50 YEARS IN PLANT-BASED NUTRITION RESEARCH

The Loma Linda University School of Public Health has a rich history of plant-based nutrition research. We engage in interdisciplinary research across public health disciplines and the Basic Sciences. This collaborative way of working is how we continue to promote and build on our core legacy of vegetarian and plant-based nutrition. Some key studies include:

• Nutritional epidemiology studies relating plant based diet patterns to health outcomes and longevity (the Adventist health Study)
• Several clinical trials with plant foods (nuts and soy) intervention and health outcomes
• Vegetarian nutrition education research
• Environmental impact of plant based diets compared to animal inclusive diets.

Areas of curricular strength and research emphasis include: 

• Plant-based diets and the health of the individual
• Populations and the plane
• Nutritional epidemiology
• Diet and chronic disease risk reduction 
• Community nutrition

LEADING THE CONVERSATION ON PLANT-BASED NUTRITION

Guided by its Nutrition faculty, the School of Public Health hosts the International Congress on Vegetarian Nutrition (ICVN), the premiere scientific conference on the health effects of plant-based diets held every 5 years. The conference is designed to provide a review of the accumulated findings, and introduce theoretical concepts, practical applications, and implications of vegetarian dietary practices for both the prevention of disease and the promotion of health, as well as for the furthering of research endeavors. The theme for the 7th ICVN was Plant-foods for the health of people, populations and the planet.

THE 7TH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON VEGETARIAN NUTRITION

In February 2018, we hosted the 7th International Congress on Vegetarian Nutrition, on the campus of Loma Linda University. Since 1987, the congress has been held only every 5 years and is the premier scientific conference on the health effects of plant-based diets. It brings together international scientists, physicians, nutritionists, dietitians, and other health professionals to showcase the latest advances in basic science, epidemiology, and clinical trials in vegetarian nutrition. Proceedings for the 7th ICVN are underway.