Contact: Harriet Laird
MERIDIAN, Miss.鈥擡nrollment of the first 20 students in the first doctoral program at 91传媒-Meridian is being celebrated this fall with a spotlight on those who made the new curriculum possible.
An Oct. 16 public reception will mark the establishment of the Doctor of Psychology in Combined Health Service Psychology, while also saluting three Meridian-based foundations and local clinical support. The 2 p.m. event will be held in the Studio Theater of the 91传媒 Riley Center, 2200 Fifth St., in downtown Meridian.
The Paul and Sherry Broadhead, Phil Hardin, and Riley foundations have jointly committed $4.6 million to help the university expand clinical and behavioral health programs at 91传媒-Meridian. One specific need is more psychologists to provide mental health support, locally and in surrounding areas, to address challenges ranging from eating disorders and alcoholism to chronic illness and depression.
Terry Dale Cruse, associate vice president and head of campus, explained the upcoming event is expressly to thank funding partners and local medical organizations, calling their backing and investments in local health care 鈥渙verwhelming,鈥 鈥渇ar-reaching鈥 and 鈥渞aising the bar鈥 for what鈥檚 possible not only in higher education, but within Meridian鈥檚 clinics and hospitals.
鈥91传媒-Meridian is taking care of what matters鈥攁long with our partners鈥攁ddressing health disparity, access to quality health care and improvement in the livelihoods of Mississippians,鈥 Cruse said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e now a hub for preparing future health care professionals, and I can鈥檛 think of a more exciting time than the present for health care education opportunity in this region of the state.鈥
The new 91-hour psychology doctoral degree expands the university鈥檚 mental health programs in the Queen City with three concentration offerings鈥攃linical, counseling, and school psychology鈥攁nd joins existing master鈥檚 and educational specialist programs in counseling, all in the Division of Education.聽聽
Upon successful completion, Psy.D. graduates will become practicing psychologists, ready to provide services to diverse populations through in-patient and out-patient medical facilities, non-profit organizations, government agencies, private companies and educational settings.
For more details on the new Psy.D. program, visit 聽. 91传媒-Meridian information is available at .
91传媒 is taking care of what matters. Learn more at .