Program of Merit

In the association’s early stages, a decision was made to form a Program Review Committee that would develop and implement a review process that, for eligible programs, would lead to a Program of Merit (POM) status awarded by the association. The intent was to create a status that would lead to a variety of benefits for doctoral programs in health sciences. This POM status provides:

1. A mechanism by which key stakeholders, including students and administrators, can verify that the program is consistent with nationally vetted standards for doctoral programs in health sciences;

2. Assurance to the public and employers about the quality of the programs and their graduates;

3. A way for potential students to evaluate available programs and make a fully informed decision on the choice of doctoral program;

4. Improved marketability and enhanced recruitment of prospective students for programs; and,

5. Justification for additional resources for programs.