Nebraska Methodist College Blog

Top Roles for Graduates of an EdD in Healthcare Education & Leadership

Written by NMC Marketing Team | Friday, Sep. 12, 2025

Healthcare professionals may reach a point in their career where they are ready to move beyond caring for patients and advance their careers in a new and exciting direction. A Doctor of Education in Healthcare Education in Leadership (EdD) is a specialized doctoral program designed for healthcare professionals who want to pursue a career as a health educator. Healthcare educators play a vital role in inspiring and supporting the next generation of healthcare leaders. They achieve this by conducting healthcare research and developing educational programs for both prospective and current healthcare professionals.

Why an EdD in Healthcare Leadership & Education Is in Demand

The EdD in healthcare leadership and education is one of the only EdD programs that focuses specifically on this niche group of educators. As the demand for healthcare educators continues to rise, this program is gaining popularity among experienced healthcare professionals seeking to advance their careers.

Addressing the Leadership Gap in Healthcare and Academia

With an emphasis on applied research and evidence-based educational strategies, the EdD in healthcare leadership program works to bridge the gap that exists between healthcare providers and academics who work in higher education.

The Push for Evidence-Based Teaching and Organizational Change

Recognizing the fact that true organizational change comes from within, the EdD program equips healthcare educators with the ability to apply research findings to their educational programs and utilize evidence-based teaching strategies.

Preparing Leaders to Influence Both Policy and Practice

In the healthcare field, leaders play an active role in advocating for healthcare policy that can improve the quality of care provided, increase accessibility, and enhance outcomes overall. The EdD program integrates scholarly research findings with evidence-based teaching strategies, preparing future health educators and leaders to influence future policy and practice guidelines.

Academic Leadership Roles in Healthcare Education

The EdD in Healthcare Education and Leadership prepares graduates to pursue academic leadership roles in higher education and in the healthcare field, such as:

Program Director or Chair in Nursing or Allied Health Programs

With expertise in organizational behavior and evidence-based teaching strategies, program directors or chairs work to plan, develop, and implement specific healthcare programming. All programming offered must align with the organizational goals of the healthcare facility and should be implemented with the goal of improving the quality of care at the facility.

Dean or Associate Dean of Health Sciences or Public Health

A dean or associate dean is an educational leader who oversees a particular department at a college or university. Those with an EdD in Healthcare Education and Leadership may be uniquely qualified to oversee health-related departments, such as health sciences or public health.

Faculty Development and Curriculum Leadership Positions

According to the National Science Teaching Association, a curriculum coordinator is an education professional responsible for curriculum development at an educational facility. In healthcare, EdD graduates are uniquely qualified for these positions.

Instructional Design and Online Learning Strategists in Healthcare Education

Instructional designers and online learning strategists leverage their knowledge of evidence-based teaching strategies to create professional development courses and training programs for healthcare professionals.

Executive and Administrative Positions in Healthcare Systems

EdD graduates, leveraging their clinical experience and advanced understanding of organizational leadership, are well-positioned for executive and administrative roles within healthcare.

Director of Clinical Education or Staff Development

Healthcare facilities may employ directors who oversee clinical education programs or staff development programs. These directors must be able to implement evidence-based educational programming that enables healthcare providers to develop and improve their clinical, practical, and technical skills throughout their careers.

Chief Learning Officer or Director of Organizational Development

These executive-level healthcare professionals are responsible for developing organizational strategies related to education and development at healthcare facilities or educational facilities. They need to identify strategic goals and manage a team of healthcare leaders to achieve those goals.

VP of Patient Experience or Care Quality

Large-scale healthcare organizations often employ executive-level leaders responsible for overseeing and improving the patient experience at the facility. With a background in the healthcare field and an advanced understanding of the role of healthcare education in leadership development, EdD graduates are well-positioned for these roles.

Leadership Development Program Manager in Healthcare Institutions

Healthcare organizations prioritize retaining top talent. To achieve this, many depend on leadership development program managers. These managers are responsible for designing educational programs and experiences that help current employees refine their leadership and managerial skills.

Roles in Policy, Advocacy, and Healthcare Consulting

Healthcare leaders who are passionate about advocating for improved accessibility and health equity often find themselves focusing their career paths on policy, advocacy, and consulting. These are some EdD careers that you may consider in these niche areas:

Healthcare Policy Analyst or Public Health Strategist

Health policy analysts and strategists conduct research, identify gaps in the healthcare system, and shape policy that improves health outcomes for patients.

Consultant in Health Workforce Planning or Educational Reform

Consultants can pursue an independent career, collaborating with healthcare organizations to enhance their organizational strategy, formulate effective hiring approaches, or design captivating educational programs.

Leadership Trainer for Governmental or Nonprofit Health Entities

Leadership trainers work with governmental entities or nonprofit organizations to provide interactive workshops for leaders and improve their ability to develop effective and efficient organizational strategies.

Opportunities in Research and Grant-Funded Initiatives

Those who are passionate about scholarly research may be interested in these EdD healthcare leadership careers:

Principal Investigator for Education and Leadership Studies

Principal investigators are responsible for overseeing clinical trials and research grant studies. They work to develop a research protocol and analyze the results of the study.

Researcher for Healthcare Workforce Innovation

Healthcare workforce researchers use advanced research methods to evaluate current healthcare workforce trends and develop evidence-based strategies for improving staffing levels in the healthcare field.

Grant Writer or Director of Research Initiatives in Health Education

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) states that grant writers are responsible for developing and creating proposals to secure grant funding, and those with a background in healthcare leadership and education may focus on health education research.

Career Mobility and Lifelong Impact

EdD programs that focus on healthcare leadership and education provide you with the flexibility and versatility you need to carve out a personalized career path in the healthcare field.

How EdD Graduates Drive Equity, Efficiency, and Innovation in Healthcare

Building upon their foundation as healthcare professionals, EdD graduates can apply research findings and create evidence-based education strategies that drive innovation in healthcare and promote positive outcomes for providers and patients.

Career Flexibility Across Academia, Systems, and Public Health

With an emphasis on scholarly research and organizational behavior, the EdD in Healthcare Leadership and Education empowers you to explore roles across academia, healthcare systems, and public health organizations.

Building a Legacy Through Teaching, Mentorship, and Systems Change

The unique EdD healthcare leadership careers that you can explore enables you to create a lasting legacy in the field. You will realize the impact you have on those around you by sharing your knowledge with future healthcare providers and initiating organizational change that fosters sustained success in the field.

Leading the Future of Healthcare Starts Here

The healthcare field is on the precipice of change, and effective and intuitive health educators are answering the call. As one of the most innovative EdD programs, the EdD in Healthcare Education and Leadership is preparing the next generation of industry thought leaders.

An EdD Opens Doors to High-Impact Roles Across the Sector

From executive positions in the C-suite to impactful roles in research facilities and academia, the EdD in Healthcare Education and Leadership allows you to explore high-level roles in many different industry sectors.

The Future of Health Education and Leadership Needs Visionaries

Visionary leaders who are ready to take chances, explore new ideas, and implement innovative organizational strategies are needed in the healthcare field, as it continues to grapple with the challenges of low staff levels, rising healthcare costs, and the increasingly complex needs of patients.

Prepare for the Top EdD Healthcare Leadership Careers at Nebraska Methodist College

The need for competent, intuitive, and thoughtful healthcare education administrators is on the rise, particularly as healthcare organizations strive to meet the changing needs of patients and healthcare providers. With many EdD careers to consider, now is an excellent time to explore the Doctor of Education in Healthcare Education in Leadership (EdD) at Nebraska Methodist College (NMC). This advanced degree program is ideal for experienced healthcare professionals ready to drive change as healthcare leaders and who may be interested in pursuing positions in higher education.

Request more information about our healthcare degree programs today. 

 

Sources

https://www.methodistcollege.edu/health-professions/doctoral-healthcare-education 

https://careers.nsta.org/career/curriculum-coordinator 

https://www.ziprecruiter.com/career/Director-of-Clinical-Education/What-Is-How-to-Become 

https://www.healthcareersinfo.net/profession/health-policy-analysts/ 

https://toolkit.ncats.nih.gov/glossary/principal-investigator/ 

https://www.bls.gov/careeroutlook/2014/youre-a-what/grant-writer.htm