A new doctoral program at the Campbell University medical school brings behavioral health professionals into traditional healthcare settings to address mental health issues and overall health through comprehensive, team-based care.

The program, Doctor of Behavioral Health (DBH), is designed to simultaneously address mental health needs and health behavior changes via an interdisciplinary curriculum. Graduates can go on to roles such as clinical director, integrated behavioral health clinician and chief wellness officer, or they could choose academics or private practice. 

Efforts to introduce this degree began back in 2023, and Campbell University gave final approval to the program earlier this year.  

Dr. Jeff Krepps, director of Behavioral Health Education and associate professor of Behavioral Health at the med school, was integral in developing the program. He will take the lead in overseeing and administering the program. It is the only such program housed in a medical school, said Krepps, who offered an example of how that benefits students. 

“We have the chair of Pediatrics, who will talk about behavioral health and pediatrics. So, we have something that none of the other programs have …. by being here,” he said in a press release. “The other thing is we really believe integrated behavioral health fits well with the osteopathic medicine philosophy. Osteopaths are more systemic; they’re more focused on wellness. And there’s a variety of things that fits with their philosophy that we think lines up well with the integrated behavioral health movement in terms of developing those collaborative- and team-based kinds of healthcare approaches, which is something that we also feel like is going to be unique about what we’re doing here.” 

An overarching goal of the program is training professionals to work in integrated behavioral health settings while providing comprehensive health care with an interdisciplinary team. 

Another piece of the program focuses on physician and healthcare provider wellness, which is designed to combat things such as burnout and a desire to leave the profession.

During a time where there is a shortage of healthcare professionals, it is critical that individuals working in the field are able to take care of themselves as well to maintain their roles serving others. 

The DBH program is based mostly on an asynchronous learning model, though, Krepps says, the program will incorporate synchronous components, as well. Students may meet to discuss readings and engage in group projects.

The new CUSOM program, its website page says, is committed to providing students with the best possible preparation to take the learned knowledge and skills 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.

Applicants who have earned a license in a mental health-related field can apply to complete the program on one of two tracks: clinical and administrative.

“The clinical track … is more the behavioral health side of it, the mental health side of it,” Krepps said in a press release.  

That track requires a master’s degree in a mental health discipline, such as family therapy, professional counseling, or clinical social work. Applicants for the administrative track will have earned an accredited graduate degree in a healthcare or mental health related discipline.  

For the clinical track, “You have to have a mental health foundation,” Krepps said in a press release. “What our program really does is, we take that foundation they get in their master’s program, and we really try to hone in to help them utilize their skills and adapt their skills to better fit a medical environment.”

The Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine (CUSOM) will begin reviewing applications in December for the online cohort, consisting of about six students for the fall 2026 cohort and increasing to 12 students for fall 2027.