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Program: Global Health Equity

Degree: Doctor of Philosophy

Length of Program: 4 Years / 8 Semesters

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 novelle 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 day and 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.
• Incoming PhD students will be individually matched with renowned subject matter experts and leaders to support them through their academic and professional endeavors.

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.

Admissions Requirements:

Applicants must satisfy all admission requirements. Final admission decisions will be made by the School of Global Health Faculty Admissions Committee (FAC). Admission decisions will be based on all aspects of the application, including:

(1) Prior college-level academic performance of the applicant in a baccalaureate or master’s program at a regionally-accredited institution, including coursework and independent research projects

(2) Prior and/or relevant work experience

(3) Your personal statement and short answer responses submitted via the application portal

(4) Your three recommendation letters requested through the application portal

(5) Test scores are optional: graduate level test scores may be submitted if you believe it will enhance your overall application

Application Deadlines Fall 2025

Priority Deadline for Scholarship consideration – December 1

General Deadline – March 1

*All documentation must be submitted by deadline date.

Application Process

The SGH Faculty Admissions committee cannot review any application until all documents have been received. Applicants may check the status of their application by logging into their online account.

Step 1

Complete a formal application here: https://go.mmc.edu/apply/

• Select School of Global Health to access PhD in Global Health Equity Application
• Complete Personal Statement prompt: All applicants are required to provide a personal statement answering the question below. The response should be limited to no more than one page, minimum 500 words, font size 12. 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.
• 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 (specified below)
The GRE, GMAT or any other admissions test score requirement is optional for applicants applying to the School of Global Health. Should an applicant wish to submit them for admissions consideration, please send them directly to Meharry Medical College electronically.

STEP 3

• Once all documents have been appropriately submitted to SGH, they will be reviewed by the Faculty Admissions Committee.
• Applicants being considered for the PhD in Global Health Equity 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

• 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.

To learn more about financial aid at Meharry visit: https://home.mmc.edu/financial-aid/

• 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.

• Prior Degrees: Educational equivalent of at least a bachelor’s degree in fields of or relating to health, healthcare, population health, etc., such as health administration, health science, health education, public health, clinical sciences, health policy, or other related disciplines from a regionally accredited university in the U.S. (United States). At this time this program is unable to accept international applicants. For questions please contact us at SGH@mmc.edu.
• Degrees Accepted: While we do not look for any specific degree, students applying to this program should have a vested interest in population health outcomes academically, whether directly or indirectly, and the aptitude to successfully complete the coursework. Successful admission into the program will be contingent upon a holistic approach.

• Competency in a second focus area that complements the applicant’s previous degree(s) in one of the preferred fields identified above, as demonstrated by completion of a major, minor, or certificate in one of these areas.
• Relevant coursework that provides an international perspective or relevant coursework that provides understanding of foundational health disparities and inequities, surveillance of diseases, public/health policy, and their analyses.
• Evidence of relevant research or work experience, including, but not limited to, demonstrated participation in health science, health management, health equity, public health, organizational leadership, health policy, international relations, etc., and artifacts such as authored research reports, journal publications, or grey literature that demonstrate the applicant’s research aptitude and communications ability.