Fall 2025 DrPH Applications Now Being Accepted
OAKWOOD, VA (JULY 24, 2025) – The flexibility afforded through the Appalachian College of Pharmacy’s (ACP) Doctor of Public Health degree program is what Dr. Jennifer Hammons, of McClure, VA said allowed her to successfully seek and earn the degree. Hammons graduated from the program this past May, making her the first ever double doctorate graduate of the ACP program which is now accepting applications for its upcoming Fall Term through August 15, 2025.
“The program’s flexibility was key to my success,” Hammons said. “It allowed me to balance my professional responsibilities while advancing my education and deepening my impact in rural and preventative public health.
“Now more than ever, leaders in public health are needed,” Hammons continued. “The DrPH program allowed me to become a transformational leader equipped to drive change, advocate for health equity, and implement sustainable solutions in underserved communities.”
“We are very proud of Dr. Hammons and her accomplishments,” said ACP Provost and Dean Susan Mayhew. “Not only was she the first ACP student to graduate from our new Doctor of Public Health program, but she also double majored in the program, earning her DrPH in rural health and in integrative and preventative health.”
Dr. Jim Florence, ACP professor and dean of the department of public health, also extended his congratulations to Hammons on her achievements.
“We are so proud of Dr. Hammons,” he said. “As a graduate of ACP’s pharmacy program, and now the DrPH program, she exemplifies all the qualities of a truly interprofessional health expert. With her new public health degree, she will bring a set of skills useful to her already exemplary career in meeting the health needs of the communities she serves.”
“I first chose ACP because of its deep commitment to serving rural and underserved populations, aligning perfectly with my own calling to bring equitable, compassionate care to the communities I call home,” Hammons said.
Hammons completed her undergrad requirements through Southwest Virginia Community College to begin studying at ACP and went on to successfully earn her PharmD degree in 2018. She was a frequent patient and volunteer with the St. Mary’s Health Wagon, even before she began studying for her degree and later became a board of trustees member. She is currently a full-time employee at the health wagon where she serves as the director of pharmacy services and public health initiatives.
While pursuing her degrees through ACP, Hammons has also been a full-time mother and wife. Married to Shane Hammons, they have three daughters, Azzy, age 19, a student studying pre-med at Seton Hill University in Greensburg, PA; Mia, age 17; and Camille, age 15, both students at John I Burton, in Norton VA.
“Being able to double specialize in both rural health and integrative and preventative health gives me a unique lens to approach complex public health challenges — bridging evidence-based clinical care with culturally responsive, community-driven solutions tailored to underserved populations,” Hammons said.
She mentioned that her current classmates are working professionals as well, noting the flexibility of the ACP program has been a game changer. Students can pursue the degree at their own pace, which she said makes the program particularly attractive.
To be eligible for admission to the Interprofessional Doctorate in Public Health Leadership (DrPH) program at the Appalachian College of Pharmacy, applicants must meet one of the following criteria:
- Current enrollment in an approved and accredited U.S. health professions doctorate program (e.g., DO, DDS, DPT, MD, PharmD); or
- Health professions doctorate (e.g., DO, DDS, DPT, MD, PharmD) from a regionally or nationally accredited institution earned within the past 25 years; or
- Master of Public Health (MPH) degree or equivalent degree from a regionally or nationally accredited U.S. institution.
The application deadline for the fall term is August 15 and more info about the degree and how to apply may be found on ACP’s website at https://www.acp.edu/admissions-aid/drph/.
Dr. Jim Florence serves as professor and dean of the department of public health at ACP. He holds a Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) degree in preventive care and a master’s degree in public health (MPH) from Loma Linda University in California. He also holds master’s degrees in biology and theology.
“Appalachian College of Pharmacy (ACP) represents more than just a place of learning — it is a mission-driven institution rooted in the heart of Central Appalachia,” Hammons said.
“At ACP, I wasn’t just trained as a pharmacist,” she continued. “I was empowered to be a leader, an advocate and an agent for change. The college’s focus on public service, interprofessional collaboration and community health shaped me into a practitioner who understands both the science of pharmacy and the human side of healthcare. Earning both my PharmD and DrPH at ACP gave me the tools to merge clinical excellence with public health innovation — equipping me to tackle the region’s most pressing health disparities.
“In short,” Hammons said, “ACP didn’t just prepare me for a career. It prepared me for a purpose.”
The Appalachian College of Pharmacy is the only three-year Doctor of Pharmacy program in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Founded in 2003, the college accepted its first students in 2005. It is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC). Its mission is to cultivate a learning community committed to education, community outreach and the professional development of pharmacists. Its graduate pharmacists are now practicing throughout the United States.
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