Omar B Lateef, President and CEO at Rush University System for Health | rush.edu
Omar B Lateef, President and CEO at Rush University System for Health | rush.edu
For students seeking to advance in academia or research, earning a PhD can be an important step toward career and personal development.
Paula Jo Belice, PhD, OTR/L, assistant professor in the Department of Health Sciences, stated, “Many of our PhD students are already leaders or are on the cusp of becoming great leaders in their own professions. Our program gives them that added push to develop as leaders, often by challenging their assumptions. Our curriculum is designed to help students examine their beliefs and explore other perspectives.”
Rush University Medical Center offers a fully online PhD in Health Sciences program. Students appreciate the flexibility this format provides while still engaging in collaborative activities and discussions with peers from various allied health disciplines nationwide.
Belice noted, “Our PhD students develop as leaders by fostering innovation and contributing research to their field." She also emphasized the importance of peer support within the program: “Our PhD students support and motivate each other because nobody understands what it takes to go through a PhD program except another PhD student.”
The process of pursuing a doctorate often leads to significant intellectual and personal growth. According to Belice, “You don’t go into our PhD program and come out the same person.” She highlighted that working on dissertations is frequently transformative for students.
Graduates from the program not only reach their own goals but also aim to address broader challenges within health care, such as quality and equity. Belice explained, “Health care requires strong, skilled leaders right now to navigate the challenges that existed before and after the pandemic. Leaders must have a vision that guides people toward solutions.”
Rush University Medical Center is located in Chicago, Illinois. Founded in 1837, it serves as both a training hospital and includes a pediatric ward. The current president is Dr. Omar Lateef (https://www.rush.edu/about-us/rush-university-medical-center).
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