Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH)
Preparing Students for Integrated Healthcare
About the Campbell University DBH Program
The Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine offers a Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) degree designed for professionals seeking to advance their expertise in the integration of behavioral health into primary and specialty care medical settings. Integrated Behavioral Health (IBH) is a holistic approach to healthcare that combines medical and behavioral health services within a single setting. This model aims to address both physical and mental health needs simultaneously, recognizing that these aspects of health are interconnected.
The DBH program is a practical doctorate that aims to:
- Equip students with the skills to apply practice-based research that addresses real-world challenges in integrated behavioral health.
- Provide comprehensive knowledge of behavioral health theories, brief interventions, evidence-based practices, and the latest advancements in the field.
- Develop practical skills in assessment, intervention, and evaluation within integrated care settings, ensuring graduates are prepared to work in, implement and lead effective behavioral health programs.
- Foster the ability to work effectively with medical providers and other healthcare professionals to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care.
The DBH program provides an interdisciplinary curriculum covering a range of topics including behavioral health integration, health behavior/health behavior change, teamwork and collaboration, brief behavioral health intervention, psychopharmacology, medical terminology, body systems, pathophysiology of common chronic illnesses, leadership, and interprofessional education/practice. The program is committed to providing students with the best possible preparation to take the knowledge and skills earned in the DBH program into the workforce and make a positive impact through creative and innovative problem-solving, expert professional practice, and effective leadership in the organizations and environments where they work.
DBH Learning Outcomes
The DBH program emphasizes the development of advanced knowledge and professional skills to produce graduates who are prepared for meaningful and purposeful careers. Upon completion, graduates will be able to:
- Establish rapport quickly and to communicate effectively with consumers of healthcare, their family members, and other healthcare providers.
- Function effectively as a member of an interprofessional team that includes behavioral health and primary care providers, specialty care providers, nurses, healthcare consumers, family members, and others involved in patient care.
- Conduct brief, evidence-based and developmentally appropriate screening for behavioral health and common physical health issues in primary care and conduct or arrange for more detailed assessments when indicated.
- Create and implement interprofessional integrated care plans, ensuring access to an array of linked services, and effectively exchange information with consumers, family members, and providers.
- Provide a range of brief-therapy interventions, psychoeducation, health promotion and wellness services, focused prevention, treatment, treatment adherence, and recovery services, as well as longer-term treatment and support for consumers with persistent illnesses.
- Provide services that are relevant to the culture of the consumer and their family.
- Function effectively within the organizational and financial structures of the local system of healthcare.
- Assess and continually improve the services delivered as an individual provider and as an interprofessional team.
Why Choose the DBH program at Campbell?
The DBH program at Campbell University provides a broad knowledge base in eight core areas, in a format that allows for maximum accessibility for adult learners and busy professionals.
- Leverage the flexibility of completing your Doctor of Behavioral Health degree online in a program specifically designed for the needs of online and adult learners.
- Benefit from accelerated 8-week terms that allow you to complete your degree sooner and put your new skills to work faster.
- Get your degree from the only DBH program in the country housed within a medical school.
- Benefit from a team-oriented and collaborative approach to training that draws upon the expertise of experienced behavioral health educators and practitioners, physicians, physiologists and pathophysiologists, psychiatrists, anatomists, and other healthcare professionals within the school of osteopathic medicine.
- Learn from instructors who bring industry experience, academic and research expertise, and experience in online instruction to the program.
- Get more personal experience with a designated faculty mentor and small class sizes, allowing greater connection/interaction with your instructors and peers.
- Benefit from an online program utilizing a cohort model, that:
- Builds a Sense of Community: Start, work through, and finish the program with a cohort of individuals with similar interests and career aspirations, leading to strong connections and a more collaborative learning environment.
- Fosters Peer Support: Benefit from a cohort that provides a built-in support system, offering academic and emotional support, which can be particularly helpful when balancing school with other responsibilities.
- Enhances the Learning Experience: Engage with and regularly interact with the same group of peers, leading to more meaningful discussions and a richer educational experience.
Careers with a Doctor of Behavioral Health Degree
A Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH) degree from Campbell University prepares graduates for a variety of careers in healthcare settings where behavioral health is integrated with primary care, specialty care, or working toward integration. Additionally, the DBH degree enhances private practice through consulting work, wellness services, health behavior change interventions, and physician/healthcare professional burnout prevention/intervention. The following career paths exist for DBH graduates.
- Administration and Leadership of Integrated Behavioral Health Programs
- Clinical Director: Overseeing the clinical operations of behavioral health departments, managing staff, and ensuring quality care.
- Integrated Behavioral Health Clinician: Working within primary and specialty care settings to provide behavioral health services alongside medical care.
- Behavioral Health Specialist: Providing specialized behavioral health services, often in community health centers or outpatient clinics.
- Health Services Manager: Leading and managing programs that integrate behavioral health with other health services, often within larger healthcare organizations.
- Chief Wellness Officer: a senior executive responsible for overseeing and promoting the overall physical, mental, and emotional well-being of an organization’s employees.
- Consultant: Advising healthcare organizations on best practices for integrating behavioral health into primary and specialty care settings.
- Private Practice: Direct services to patients/clients focused on wellness, health behavior change, brief intervention, and collaboration with medical practices.
- Academic Positions: Educating and training in behavioral health in medical schools, medical residency programs, and university based behavioral health/mental health programs.