phd health outcomes research

PhD in Health Economics & Outcomes Research

For the 2025 admissions cycle, GRE scores are required for all applicants.

Application Deadline: December 15, 2024

Upcoming phd information session:, thursday, october 17, 2024 at 9:00 am pacific time.

In this session, you can learn more about the application process, program structure, core competencies, career outcomes, and more. The session is led by Professors Anirban Basu & Josh Carlson. Register today! You can also watch the recording of our October 2023 information session here . Access the webinar slides. 

Opportunity

The CHOICE Institute at the UW School of Pharmacy teaches you how to influence health policy and how to advance your research all the while modeling excellence.

Our program offers an exceptional educational experience alongside highly engaged peers , faculty, and alumni . Our program is selective, accepting up to four new doctoral students a year. This allows for extraordinary access to our world-class faculty as well as peers who will challenge and engage you.

At UW, the six health sciences disciplines are co-located, allowing for innovative cross-discipline collaborations. Based in the biotech center of Seattle, The CHOICE Institute partners with numerous affiliate institutes, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Institute for Health Metrics Evaluation, and many more . Faculty and students in pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, nursing, social work, and public health are uniquely positioned to take advantage of breakthrough research and medical technology opportunities.

Financial Support

Doctoral students admitted into the program are guaranteed to have their tuition funded for the first two years, through a combination of fellowships, research, or teaching assistantships. While students are responsible for securing the remainder of the funding for their program, funding opportunities are always available. See Funding Opportunities for more details. Research assistantship also provides health insurance at no charge for students; coverage is available for spouses and dependents for an additional fee. (You can find more information on the Graduate Appointee Insurance Program and other benefits through UW Human Resources .)

Students train in the academic disciplines essential to the comparative evaluation of medical interventions. This affects health outcomes as well as medication safety and effectiveness; students also train in the provision of economic value estimates and the applications of these to health policy. Students delve into pharmacoepidemiology and learn the importance of health technology assessment (HTA) in evaluating the consequences of different health technologies. The impact of these health technology evaluations is seen in fields across the board, from genomics to geriatrics.

CHOICE faculty, post-doctoral fellows and students conduct comparative effectiveness research, medication safety research and studies on the cost-effectiveness of healthcare interventions and health insurance, allowing them to estimate value propositions and improve decision making by patients, clinicians, and policymakers, creating a more personalized medicine experience. The program is patient-centered and relies on real-world evidence and data science, allowing students to delve into the depths of pharmacoeconomics. Students learn from leaders in the field and each other, all while enjoying the vibrant Pacific Northwest as a backdrop.

Graduate training in the program prepares students for career opportunities in:

• Academic and big data research, informatics and teaching
• Pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device industries
• Professional associations, health care insurance providers, and governmental agencies
• Health-systems and managed care organizations
• Non-profit organizations geared toward global health or pharmaceutical policy change

Prerequisites

• Students with master’s degrees in related fields such as epidemiology, economics, statistics, or public health are encouraged to apply. Students with professional degrees in pharmacy, medicine, or a health-related field who have strong quantitative skills are also supported.
• The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required, and special weight is given to exceptional scores on the quantitative and analytical portions.
• Other admission prerequisites include meeting the minimum Graduate School requirements. 

See Application Information for more detailed requirements and instructions.

Doctoral Degree Program Requirements

Students complete courses in the fields of biostatistics, clinical trial design and analysis, health economics, epidemiology, and health policy in order to gain an in-depth understanding of the complex and interdisciplinary environment of outcomes research as a foundation.

Total minimum credits required: 115

• Minimum of 73 credits of core coursework (47) and seminar (12)
• 27 dissertation credits
• 14 Elective Credits
• Independent Study

Milestones:

• Preliminary exams
• General Exam (dissertation proposal defense)
• Dissertation Defense

An overview of our core program can be found in the Gr aduate Student Handbook . 

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Health Outcomes Research, Ph.D.

• Learning Outcomes
• Requirements

Health outcomes research is a rapidly expanding, interdisciplinary field that provides evidence and guidance for understanding the endpoints of treatments, interventions and health care practices, be they clinical, functional, quality-of-life or economic. Saint Louis University’s Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Health Outcomes Research is a program that trains researchers in the areas of health outcomes research, health services research and health data science to meet the changing needs of the health care system.

The goal of SLU's program is to prepare robust clinical and health outcomes researchers. Students receive a solid foundation in:

• Research methodology
• Data management
• Statistical analysis
• Data science
• Scientific writing and presentation

In addition to coursework, students work collaboratively with their mentor, research and clinical faculty and other students to produce high-quality research throughout their program.  

Curriculum Overview

The program requires a total of 48 credits for completion; 36 credits of coursework and 12 dissertation credits. Additionally, students must pass a written comprehensive exam, an oral examination/proposal of the dissertation and a public presentation and defense of the dissertation.

Fieldwork and Research Opportunities

The department partners with clinical faculty in the  SLU School of Medicine  and conducts research in numerous clinical areas, including diabetes, oncology, pediatrics, otolaryngology, infectious disease and health care quality. Additionally, our faculty have expertise in health data science, research methodology, biostatistics, epidemiology, survey design and outcomes measurement. Students have the opportunity to work with their primary mentor, our faculty and clinical faculty on both short- and long-term research projects.

Graduates are prepared to work as academics and researchers at universities, medical centers, government and nongovernment health agencies, hospital systems, insurance and other areas of the health industry.  

Admission Requirements

Applicants should have a master’s degree from an accredited college or university in social science, biomedical science, public health, or related discipline. Successful candidates will have maintained a minimum 3.5 GPA in graduate coursework and scored at least at the 50th percentile for GRE verbal and quantitative reasoning. Students must also demonstrate evidence of interest in an area of research and identify a willing and suitable faculty mentor.  

Application Requirements

Begin your application for this program at  www.slu.edu/apply . 

• Application form and fee
• Transcripts from most recent degree(s)
• Professional statement
• Résumé or curriculum vitae
• One letter of recommendation
• GRE required

Requirements for International Students

Along with the general admission requirements above, the following must be provided by prospective international students:

• Demonstration of  English Language Proficiency .
• A letter of financial support from the person(s) or sponsoring agency funding the time at Saint Louis University.
• A letter from the sponsor's bank verifying that the funds are available and will be so for the duration of study at the University.
• Academic records, in English translation, for postsecondary studies outside the United States. These must include the courses taken and/or lectures attended, practical laboratory work, the maximum and minimum grades attainable, the grades earned or the results of all end-of-term examinations, and any honors or degrees received. WES and ECE transcripts are accepted.

Application Deadline

Applications to the program are considered on a rolling basis.

Additional charges may apply. Other resources are listed below:

Net Price Calculator

Information on Tuition and Fees

Miscellaneous Fees

Information on Summer Tuition

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, apply by Feb. 1.

For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services .

Accreditation 

Saint Louis University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and has been continuously accredited since 1916.

• Graduates will be able to effectively review, summarize and synthesize literature related to clinical aspects of health outcomes.
• Graduates will be able to apply appropriate data management strategies related to clinical aspects of health outcomes.
• Graduates will be able to critically evaluate clinical aspects and health care-specific methodological designs.
• Graduates will be able to demonstrate a thorough and ethical approach to conducting academic research.
• Graduates will be able to effectively communicate study results related to clinical aspects of health outcomes.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

Roadmaps are recommended semester-by-semester plans of study for programs and assume full-time enrollment unless otherwise noted.  

Courses and milestones designated as critical (marked with !) must be completed in the semester listed to ensure a timely graduation. Transfer credit may change the roadmap.

This roadmap should not be used in the place of regular academic advising appointments. All students are encouraged to meet with their advisor/mentor each semester. Requirements, course availability and sequencing are subject to change.

Health Services and Outcomes Research, Ph.D.

Degree offered.

• Doctor of Philosophy

Nature of the Program

What is health services and outcomes research.

The Health Services and Outcomes Research program emphasizes population-based, health services delivery and outcomes, and policy research.

Health services research examines how people get access to health care, how much care costs, and what happens to patients as a result of this care. The main goals of health services research are to identify the most effective ways to organize, manage, finance, and deliver high quality care; reduce medical errors; and improve patient safety. (AHRQ, 2002)

Outcomes research refers to the scientific design, data collection, and analysis of the end results of medical care. It focuses on quality, cost-effectiveness and the effect of treatment on quality of life in patients. Outcomes research evaluates the effectiveness of health interventions through changes in outcomes such as improvements in patient functional status, satisfaction with care, and mortality. Apart from traditional experimental and quasi-experimental designs, outcomes research methodology embraces epidemiological research designs (such as retrospective or prospective, longitudinal or cross-sectional, case-control or cohort study designs), pharmacoeconomic modeling (such as decision analysis, cost-benefit analysis, cost-effectiveness analysis), health data science (such as predictive modeling, machine learning), and survey research methods (such as quality of life measurements, satisfaction with care).

Why study Health Services and Outcomes Research?

With health care costs increasing five fold in the last two decades, there has been increasingly greater accountability demanded of health care systems and providers. There has been growing recognition that resources are limited, and health care interventions have to be cost-effective, and not just efficacious in clinical trials. Three particular factors have contributed to growing interest in determining effectiveness of health care interventions: (1) unexplained differences in quality of care or effectiveness by region, population, and type of systems; (2) the desire to control rising health care costs and spread the availability of services to those who do not currently have access; and (3) concern that cost-containment strategies and improving quality of health care are two competing goals.

How is Outcomes Research used?

Data collected from outcomes research provide patients, providers, payers, and decision makers information about what does and does not work in real life settings. It provides other measures of effectiveness such as what treatment provides the best return on investment, and from a patient perspective, what is the most preferred or satisfying treatment option. Comparative effectiveness research of technology and drugs; structure of healthcare delivery, process, quality and outcomes; pharmacovigilance; patient-centered care; and evaluating the intended and unintended consequences of health policy are some of the major aspects of outcomes research.  Overall, outcomes research will lead to better use of limited resources, informed decision-making by patients, providers, and payers; development of guidelines for better disease management - especially for chronic diseases, and better health policy decisions.

What are the goals of the graduate program in Health Services and Outcomes Research?

The focus of Health Services and Outcomes Research is to prepare highly qualified graduate students for careers in academia, industry, government, and institutional settings such as insurance companies through training in health outcomes and policy research. Areas of specialization include: pharmacoeconomics, health services research, machine learning, pharmacoepidemiology, health behavior and risk.  The core courses include pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, patient-centered outcomes, large data analysis, econometrics, social and behavioral theory, machine learning, survey methods and the evaluation of health policies, programs and interventions. Several courses include research projects that result in peer-reviewed publications. Based on your research experience and interests, you can select your area of emphasis, which include quantitative, behavioral, health policy, epidemiology, health management, disease management, data science and/or healthcare administration. The coursework and research experiences are designed to equip you with the conceptual thinking, analytical and problem-solving skills necessary to find innovative solutions to complex healthcare problems.

What are the job opportunities for graduates of the program?

Job opportunities for individuals with a Ph.D. in this field are excellent and growing. Our students have had 100% job placements at reputable universities, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, clinical research organizations and in the managed care industry. Please visit the Alumni section of our website at pharmacy.hsc.wvu.edu/PSPalumni to view job placements of our Ph.D. graduates. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this program offer a Master's degree? This program does not at this time have a terminal Master's degree.

How long does it take to finish a PhD degree in this field? Typically, a student starting without a research Master’s degree could take anywhere from 4 to 5 years to complete all of the degree requirements. Students who already have a research Master’s degree take less time, about 3 to 4 years.

Is financial assistance available? A limited number of teaching and research assistantships (with a stipend of $30,000 per year) are available within the department. Several fellowships may also be available to apply for depending on criteria for eligibility. These include an annual stipend and full tuition waiver with the student required to perform 20 hours/week of assistantship duties. Students with assistantships have to pay approximately $675/semester towards the use of the recreation center, the public rapid transport system (PRT), and other such conveniences. The assistantships are available to students for at least 3 years as long as they are performing well in their duties, and making satisfactory progress toward their degree objective. The stipends are sufficient for graduate students to live comfortably and devote sufficient time to their educational program and research training. These assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis each year with the highest ranked applicants given the first offer of available assistantships. Some qualified students may be also offered admission without an assistantship. These students are provided guidance to seeking other campus employment opportunities subject to Immigration and Naturalization Services’ regulations in case of foreign students.

Is a BS in Pharmacy or Pharm.D. degree (or a pharmacy background) required for admission? No. Generally, a professional degree in pharmacy, medicine, or a health-related discipline is preferred. Students with Master's Degrees in related fields such as epidemiology, economics, and public health are also encouraged to apply. Students with a Master’s degree in marketing management, psychology, or sociology with a demonstrated interest or experience in health care may also apply.

What is the entry date into the program? Because of the sequence of core courses, students are admitted in the Fall semester only, which typically begins in the middle or last week of August every year. In very rare instances, a student may be admitted in the Spring semester if they already have a research Master’s degree, and if the PSP faculty agree that the circumstances of his/her admission warrant special consideration.

How do I apply to the program and what is the application deadline? All application materials, transcripts, test scores, three letters of recommendation, curriculum vitae of educational qualifications and training and job experiences, and statement of purpose must be submitted to WVU Graduate Admissions ( https://app.applyyourself.com/AYApplicantLogin/fl_ApplicantConnectLogin.asp?id=wvugrad ) by February 1st  of the year for consideration of admission in the Fall semester of that year. It is best to start the admission process by September of the year before the Fall semester that you want to be considered to give yourself sufficient time to complete the process and not be affected by unexpected delays. Reviews are completed by the middle or end of March, and applicants are notified of acceptance or rejection with a signed acceptance from those offered an admission required no later than April 15.

How many applications do you receive each year? The number of applications we receive vary from year to year but has shown a dramatic increase in the last few years. In recent years the numbers have ranged from 25 to 40.

How many students are accepted each year? The number of students accepted each year vary depending on the number of students who have graduated in the preceding year. Typically, 3-4 students have been admitted per year in the recent past. A total number of 13-16 students are maintained in the program to enable close mentoring and training relationships with faculty advisors.

How is an application to the graduate program evaluated? An application to the graduate program along with all supporting materials is reviewed by all members of the department graduate faculty. Each application is holistically reviewed first in terms of meeting the minimum academic (a ‘B’ average or a 3.0 GPA on 4.0 scale) and TOEFL (550 on the paper-based exam, 79-80 on the Internet exam, or 213 on the computer-based exam) criteria. Applications not meeting these criteria are immediately rejected. The subsequent reviews take place in a committee meeting in which all applications are discussed and ranked through a consensus process. While individual faculty may weigh each criteria slightly different, sustained academic excellence, good to outstanding GRE scores, past work or research experience in areas of interest, well written statement of purpose, leadership and extracurricular activities are all considered important and considered in a holistic way. Telephone or personal interview are typically required by the graduate faculty. Students ranked according to merit are offered admission with an assistantship in the order of listing until no more assistantships are available. A few additional students may be offered admission without an assistantship. A verbal offer by telephone is made to students who are offered admission with assistantships, and upon verbal acceptance of the offer, are sent formal letters of acceptance.

How are grades and GRE scores considered in the overall admissions evaluation? While sustained academic excellence is considered to be among the best predictors of academic performance, GRE scores are also important to compare students from different domestic and international education systems. For students from English speaking parts of the world, quantitative and analytical scores are given more weight than the verbal scores. Faculty participating in application reviews typically look for overall educational achievements, competitive GRE scores, extracurricular and leadership activities, and demonstrated interest in research in the chosen area of study.

What role does TOEFL play in the admission process? Since all of the education process and research training is in English, students from non-English speaking parts of the world are required to provide TOEFL scores by the University with a score of 500 on the paper-based exam, 173 on the computer-based exam, 61 for TOEFL internet-based, and 60 for IELTS considered to be minimum University requirement. Once admitted, and if awarded a Teaching Assistantship, students are also required to pass a test of spoken English before they are allowed to teach in classes or labs.

Can English Language Proficiency test be waived? Students who have received a Bachelor’s degree in Australia, Canada, Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and its territories, Liberia, Nigeria, Ghana, Nepal, India, Pakistan, Commonwealth Caribbean Countries (Anguilla, Antigua, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trinidad and Tobago, Turks and Caicos) are not required to submit language proficiency scores. Language Proficiency Score waivers may be considered for individuals with graduate degrees from these countries.

What are acceptable GRE scores? Scores on the GRE are reported in terms of percentiles. So, for example, if a student scores at the 65th percentile, this means that he or she scored at or better than 65 percent of the students who took that test. We obviously want the best students who apply.

If my GRE or TOEFL scores are not good, should I retake these exams? These tests are standardized tests, and typically, student scores do not change much on retaking of these exams. Make sure that you are familiar with the format of these tests and the time constraints for their completion. Practice books are available to familiarize yourself with the exam. If you take these exams and are not satisfied with your scores, you should retake them only if you feel certain that retaking them will help you improve your test scores. If you do retake them, Educational Testing Service will report the results of all attempts within the previous three years.

Are applicants interviewed? Applicants chosen for interview may be interviewed either by video conference (e.g., Zoom) or in person in Morgantown.

Can I transfer graduate coursework from my current institution if I have not completed a Masters degree? Yes, on admission to the graduate program and upon forming a PhD committee with an advisor, the committee will take into consideration whatever recent graduate coursework you have completed that can contribute to your plan of study given your educational goals and program needs. WVU allows up to 18 credit hours of coursework to be transferred that are not part of a degree program. See Application for Transfer of Graduate Credit to WVU

Are there examples of completed PhD dissertations from recent graduates in the Health Services and Outcomes Research program? Yes, please visit Recent MS thesis and PhD dissertations for titles completed by recent graduates.

What is it like to study at West Virginia University (WVU) and live in Morgantown? West Virginia University, founded in 1867, is located in Morgantown, West Virginia, is one of only 46 public universities that serve their state as research and land-grant institutions. Through 15 colleges and schools, WVU offers 193 bachelors, master's, doctoral and professional degree programs. WVU was ranked in the top 3% of 19,000 universities worldwide by the Center for World University Rankings.

WVU is a Doctoral/ Research University - Extensive as classified by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education -- based on the complexity and breadth of the institution's mission. As West Virginia's major research and development center and only comprehensive doctoral-granting institution, WVU faculty conducts over $150 million in sponsored contracts and grants per year.

The WVU System spans the state, including 518 buildings on 15,880 acres (main campus 430 buildings/1,456 acres). Eleven main campus buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, and WVU operates eight experimental farms and four forests throughout the state. The University's total operating budget is approximately $900 million. WVU's student body is comprised of over 31,524 students with 28,776 on the Morgantown campus. These students hail from all West Virginia counties, nearly all 50 states, and close to 100 foreign nations. Chartered in 1873, the WVU Alumni Association is made up of more than 190,000 graduates worldwide in some 135 nations. For more information about West Virginia University and a virtual tour of the campus, visit: http://www.wvu.edu/ .

Morgantown, W.Va., population 30,347 (US Census Bureau, 2021), was rated “No. 1 place to live in West Virginia” out of the best place to live in every state by Money  magazine. Morgantown was named one of the "South's Best Small Towns" by Southern Living . Morgantown is one of the "Best Affordable Places to Live" by Livability . Within easy traveling distance of Washington, D.C., to the east, Pittsburgh, Pa., to the north, and Cleveland and Columbus, Ohio, to the northwest. WVU has divisional campuses in Charleston, Keyser, Martinsburg and Montgomery.

Monongalia County in which Morgantown is located is a community of about 80,000 people in the Appalachian Mountains on West Virginia's northern border. While the state is rural and the community quiet, Morgantown is within easy traveling distance from Pittsburgh, which is 75 miles (115 kilometers) north, and Baltimore and Washington, both of which are 200 miles (325 kilometers) east. Two major four-lane highways, Interstate 79 and Interstate 68, pass through Morgantown. U.S. 19 and U.S. 119 also pass through Morgantown.

For information about the Morgantown area, students can visit the Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau homepage at www.tourmorgantown.com/ or the City of Morgantown homepage at www.morgantownwv.gov .

What if I have more questions or concerns? If your question is not addressed anywhere in the list of frequently asked questions…

• For questions about other programs, life at WVU, and other information for prospective students please visit Graduate Education at http://graduate.wvu.edu/ .
• For questions about University policies on graduate programs at West Virginia University, please visit: Undergraduate, Graduate, and Health Sciences Center Catalogs .

For application related inquiries, status of application file, confirmation of materials, scores, received, admission status, or HSOR graduate program related inquiries etc., please contact:

Khalid Kamal, MPharm, PhD Professor and Chair Acting HSOR Graduate Program Director Pharmaceutical Systems & Policy E-mail: [email protected]

For more details about the PhD program in HSOR go to:  https://pharmacy.hsc.wvu.edu/pharmaceutical-systems-and-policy/phd-program-in-health-services-and-outcomes-research/

Admissions for 2025-2026

Applicants considered for admission to the doctoral program must meet the following minimum requirements.

• A professional degree in Pharmacy (Pharm.D.), Medicine (M.D.), or a Master's degree in pharmacy administration. Students with a Master’s degree in related fields such as epidemiology, public health, health care administration, are also encouraged to apply. Students with a Master’s degree in related fields such as marketing, management, economics, psychology, or sociology with a demonstrated interest or experience in health care may also apply.
• Outstanding students with a B.S. in pharmacy or pharmaceutical sciences may be considered for direct admission into the Doctoral program
• College transcript with a minimum of a B average (3.0 on a 4.0 scale)
• GRE or GMAT scores (International applicants must meet WVU's minimum score requirements for English language proficiency ) evaluating potential for graduate studies
• Supportive letters of recommendation (at least three)
• Satisfactory personal or telephone interview (whenever possible)
• Statement (one page) of personal goals describing background, academic/ research interests and career objectives
• A resume or curriculum vitae listing educational and employment history
• Application deadline is February 1st of each year

International Applicants

International students should also be aware of the following:

• International applicants must present the Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL minimum score requirements if they are from a non-English speaking country or the official language of the country is not English.  Applicants are urged to arrange for one of these tests well in advance of the desired enrollment period.
• International students who have completed a M.S. degree or any degree in the U.S. may request a waiver for submitting TOEFL results.  They should contact the Office of International Students and Scholars for approval.
• International students should not plan to leave their country without a formal notification of admission from the Office of Admissions at WVU. International students admitted without an assistantship must submit a statement of financial status in order to be registered at WVU.
• International students admitted to the program must report to the Office of International Students and Scholars upon arrival at WVU. Students are responsible for making sure that they are in compliance with immigration requirements.

Application Process (Major Code 8980)

Deadline: february 1.

Application to the Health Services and Outcomes Research PhD program is completed electronically at https://wvu.my.site.com/wvugrad/TX_SiteLogin?startURL=%2Fwvugrad%2FTargetX_Portal__PB

Please choose Major Code: 8980.

West Virginia University requires the following information for application through the WVU online application portal. Please note that all materials are submitted through the portal. Do not send materials to the School of Pharmacy unless instructed to do so by the Office of Student Services. 

• One copy of official transcripts (original or certified; minimum of a B average or a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale) in a sealed envelope from each college you have attended.
• Original or certified copies of all degrees/diplomas/certificates received in the original language.
• Translation of an applicant’s foreign transcripts and diplomas/certificates may be sent directly to a foreign transcript service for evaluation. If using a foreign transcript service, please have the evaluated documents submitted the WVU Office of Graduate Admissions.
• Official GRE Scores and TOEFL or IELTS scores.
• Statement of personal goals describing your background, academic interests, and career objectives.
• A resume or curriculum vitae listing educational and employment history.
• Three letters of recommendation from persons who are in a position to evaluate your potential for graduate school. At least one recommendation must be from a person at the last school you attended for full-time study, unless you have been out of school for five years or longer.

Direct admission related inquiries to: Khalid Kamal, MPharm, PhD Professor and Chair Acting HSOR Graduate Program Director Pharmaceutical Systems & Policy E-mail: [email protected]

Students considered for admission will participate in an interview and will be notified of their candidacy in the spring prior to admission.

See more at:  http://pharmacy.hsc.wvu.edu/department-of-pharmaceutical-systems-and-policy/phd-program-in-health-services-and-outcomes-research/

Major Code: 8980

Curriculum Requirements

Suggested Electives

Major Learning Outcomes

The overall goals of the PhD program in Health Services and Outcomes Research are:

• To educate and train highly qualified individuals to pursue independent research in health services and outcomes research (HSOR) within interdisciplinary teams, and to function and contribute as a member of a research team.
• To prepare competent scientists able to contribute to health-related research, industrial research and development, pharmaceutical education, and scholarship.
• To advance research in pharmaceutical and healthcare delivery.
• To provide leadership for the pharmacy profession in research, graduate education, and health policy making.

The program is designed to prepare students to become independent researchers. Students will develop competencies in the scientific research process through didactic studies and conceptualizing, designing, conducting, and reporting original research.

Didactic Studies

• To learn basic principles and apply these principles to specific disciplines and related fields to cultivate a broad background of knowledge.
• To develop research skills, including scientific communication and critical thinking/problem solving abilities by participating in seminars and designated research skill courses.

Research Training

• To acquire practical experience in conducting original research, including acquisition of background information (e.g. literature research), problem development, experimental design and experimentation, collecting primary data and using secondary data, and data analyses.
• To foster research communication skills by writing abstracts for research presentations, manuscripts for publication, research grant proposals, and a thesis or dissertation.
• To gain additional insight into research and scholarship by participating in scholarly exchanges with faculty and students in the WVU School of Pharmacy, the Health Sciences Center (HSC), as well as the national and international healthcare community.

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PhD Program in Health Services and Outcomes Research

The Health Services and Outcomes Research (HSOR) program emphasizes population-based, health services delivery and outcomes and policy research. Health services research examines how people get access to healthcare, how much care costs and what happens to patients as a result of this care. Outcomes research evaluates the effectiveness of health care interventions through changes in outcomes such as improvements in patient functional status, satisfaction with care, morbidity, and mortality. Data collected from outcomes research provide patients, health care providers, and payers of health services information about what does and does not work in real life settings. Areas of specialization include pharmacoeconomics, machine learning, data science, health services research, pharmacoepidemiology, health behavior and risk. Financial support: A tuition waiver, an annual stipend of $30,000 and health insurance is provided to full-time students. Average time to graduation: 4 to 5 years

Measurement, Design, and Analysis Methods for Health Outcomes Research

Related articles, the value of applying health outcomes research to improve treatment results, how health care executives can use health outcomes research for business decision making, using health outcomes research to improve quality of care, september 23 – 27, 2024.

This program is ideal for anyone interested in getting an intensive view of the fundamentals of health outcomes research.

• —Michael Loechel
• President & Co-Founder, Axioma Group

Program Overview

• Objectives & Highlights

Credits and Logistics

Who should participate.

Health care systems around the world face growing pressures to provide more effective programs, treatments, and interventions. Health outcomes research is the scientific inquiry that provides the evidence required for optimally developing new therapies, implementing quality of care improvement protocols, and enhancing public health system capacity and capability.

In this online program, Harvard’s expert faculty in health outcomes research will guide you through the language and concepts needed to synthesize outcomes studies into useful knowledge for translation and implementation into practice. During this program you will learn the fundamentals for measuring, designing, and analyzing health outcomes research studies and data.

Why Health Outcomes Research is Important

Outcomes research is highly valued in public health due to the breadth of issues it addresses. A diverse and growing number of organizations – employers, health care delivery organizations, insurers, pharmaceutical companies, and governments – rely on health outcomes research for generating actionable data that will help them make better decisions about the value of different therapeutic and preventative options. Well-designed and executed health outcomes research studies can provide evidence for a broad range of medical and public health practices, such as:

• Incorporating patient-centered outcomes measures such as patient preference and quality of life into the drug and device development process
• Evaluating the impact of chronic disease therapies on physical, emotional and social functioning
• Determining the cost-effectiveness of comparative medical treatments for chronic diseases
• Assessing the population health risks and benefits associated with response and mitigation strategies for infectious diseases such as influenza and COVID-19

Objectives & Highlights

Learning objectives.

As a participant, you will learn to:

• Conceptually define the meaning and purpose of outcomes research and evaluation
• Understand the role of epidemiology, health economics, psychometrics and biostatistics in conducting outcomes research
• Evaluate the usefulness of outcomes measures and the application of new technologies in medical institutions and industries, health care organizations and public health systems
• Recognize the different types of measures used in outcomes research, including clinical, health status, quality of life, work/role performance, health care utilization, and patient satisfaction
• Adopt new methods for modeling responses obtained from individuals completing questionnaires and surveys
• Interpret and understand scale performance and measurement concepts such as reliability, validity, responsiveness, and sensitivity
• Understand statistical methods appropriate for analyzing health outcomes data, such as longitudinal methods
• Synthesize and interpret findings from different types of health outcomes research studies

Continuing Education Credit

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health designates this live activity for a maximum of 16.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits ™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health will grant 1.6 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for this program, equivalent to 16.25 contact hours of education. Participants can apply these contact hours toward other professional education accrediting organizations.

All credits subject to final agenda.

All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation upon completion of the program.

Current faculty, subject to change.

Donald C. Simonson, MPH, ScD, MD, MBA

Program director.

Marcia A. Testa, PhD, MPhil, MPH

Jakob b. bjørner, md, phd, garrett fitzmaurice, scd.

Matthias Rose, MD, PhD

Sebastian Schneeweiss, MD, ScD

Alexander turchin, ms, md, john e. ware jr., phd.

All Times are Eastern Time (ET).

This agenda is subject to change.

This program will be useful to anyone involved in improving health care cost, quality, or outcomes from across the health care industry. Ideal participants include:

• Clinicians, including physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals involved in utilizing outcomes data or assessing, measuring, and evaluating outcomes
• Health care executives and administrators who review and utilize outcomes data for clinical decision-making and improving quality of care
• Insurance, managed care, and other payer executives and researchers seeking to understand the relative value of procedures and interventions
• Pharmaceutical and biotechnology executives and researchers who need to measure patient-reported outcomes to support the benefit of their products
• Other health sector researchers who are new to outcomes research and need an overview of the latest information in the field

Registration Criteria

Participants must have an advanced degree (e.g., MD, PhD, MS, MPH, PharmD) in a relevant discipline. Proficiency in written and spoken English is essential for a successful learning experience in the program.

Certificate in Health Economics & Outcomes Research

The online 9-month, part-time health economics and outcomes research (HEOR) Certificate is tailored for individuals seeking an introduction to HEOR, including professionals in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, clinicians and other health care professionals, graduate degree holders, and graduate degree students.

HEOR has become increasingly important. Providing affordable health care while maintaining the best possible health outcomes is a challenge to all governments and health care payers. This is especially true in the United States, which spends almost twice as much per capita compared to other high-income countries yet has substantially poorer health outcomes. Major drivers of the spending gap include higher administrative costs and the higher prices of devices and pharmaceuticals in the US.

As health care becomes more complex, health care decisions can be improved by combining information from economic analyses (health economics) and vital clinical data on patients (outcomes research) to evaluate health care  value . HEOR informs health care decision-making by allowing stakeholders, especially payers, health care providers, and patients, to understand the clinical, economic, and quality of life endpoints of various treatments and health care practices. Individuals seeking an introduction to HEOR, including professionals in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, clinicians and other health care professionals, graduate degree holders, and graduate degree students, are encouraged to apply.

Benefits of the HEOR Certificate Program

• The flexible online format is perfect for local or global participation
• Students experience live webinars, active discussion boards and asynchronous lectures
• Program faculty are experts in clinical investigation, clinical epidemiology, health services research, outcomes research, meta-analysis, biostatistics, drug development, and related fields.
• No thesis is required
• Faculty post all required reading materials on the course website, so there are no books or materials that participants need to purchase.

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PhD Program

The PhD in Population Health and Clinical Outcomes Research Program in the Program in Public Health  is designed to meet the training needs of PhD-prepared scientists in the fields of both population health and clinical outcomes research.  The program draws upon both the expertise of our faculty to deliver the curriculum successfully and the resources available at Stony Brook University to implement and sustain the program. 

This program   provides a multidisciplinary, integrated, applied problem-solving approach to support students in addressing the important issues within the field. The purpose of this small and highly specialized graduate degree program is to train population health and clinical outcomes researchers , academicians, and practitioners–who will advance the field on a local, regional, and national level. 

There is a growing need for well-trained researchers with the skills in population health and clinical outcome research. For example, the Affordable Care Act places great emphasis on population-based approaches to the obesity epidemic and clinical outcomes approaches to establishing comparative efficacy of treatments. We believe that these skills will be in great demand in the public, private and, academic sectors. By focusing on human subject studies and trials, in combination with best practices in clinical care and community interventions, the PhD program will extend knowledge in the areas of safety, quality, efficiency, accessibility, accountability, and equity of care by supporting opportunities for the development of new knowledge about health and disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.

Students will gain knowledge, skills, and experience by means of a series of a rigorous quantitative and analytical courses designed to develop advanced problem-solving skills. Working under faculty mentor guidance, student projects will focus on substantive current health care problems affecting population health, health policy, clinical practice, and patient-based health care decisions. Graduates will be competent in the design, conduct, and evaluation of research studies that will improve the future public health and medical care provided.

For questions and inquiries, please contact us at  [email protected] .

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Health Services and Outcomes Research  Doctoral

What is Health Services and Outcomes Research at WVU like?

Description

The Health Services and Outcomes Research (HSOR) program emphasizes population-based, health services delivery and outcomes and policy research. Health services research examines how people get access to healthcare, how much care costs and what happens to patients as a result of this care. Outcomes research evaluates the effectiveness of health care interventions through changes in outcomes such as improvements in patient functional status, satisfaction with care, morbidity, and mortality. Data collected from outcomes research provide patients, health care providers, and payers of health services information about what does and does not work in real life settings.

Areas of specialization include pharmacoeconomics, health services research, pharmacoepidemiology, health behavior and risk.

Financial support: A tuition waiver, an annual stipend of $30,000 and health insurance is provided to full-time students.

Average time to graduation: 4 to 5 years

Application Deadlines

Each graduate program sets their own term of admission and application deadline. Applicants can only apply for admission for the term displayed below. Any questions regarding the application deadline should be directed to the graduate program representative. Fall:  February 1

At a Glance

• Admission Requirements

Contact Information

• College/School: School of Pharmacy
• Department:
• Degree Designation: PhD
• Degree Program:

Interested in this major? Here are some suggested next steps:

Requirements

What are the requirements to apply for Health Services and Outcomes Research at WVU?

University Requirements

To be eligible for admission into a graduate program at WVU an applicant must submit official, bachelors degree transcripts from a regionally accredited institution and hold a GPA of at least 2.75.

WVU operates decentralized admissions. Decentralized admissions allows each graduate program to set its own application requirements in addition to the University requirements.

Program Requirements

To be eligible for admission into the Health Services and Outcomes Research graduate program an applicant must submit the following documentation:

• Letters of Recommendation - Three
• Statement of Purpose

Additional considerations for applicants:

Applications that are incomplete or are submitted after the deadline may be reviewed if openings remain.

International applicants must also submit required materials for international students .

Who do I contact if I have questions?

Graduate Admissions and Recruitment

Email:   [email protected]

Phone:  (304) 293-5980

International Admissions

Email:   [email protected]

Phone:  (304) 293-2121

Program Contact

April Morris

Office Administrator

Email:   [email protected]

Phone:  304-293-1469

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• College of Pharmacy

Prospective Students

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• Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes & Policy

Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Pharmaceutical Sciences

Application cycle for fall 2024 admission has closed. please check back for application information for fall 2025 admissions..

Download/View Program Flyer PDF

PHOP, as a research area, evaluates the cost, access, and quality of pharmaceutical care from clinical, sociobehavioral, economic, organizational, and technological perspectives. Traditional and innovative areas of pharmaceutical health outcomes research include pharmacoepidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, comparative effectiveness research, patient-centered outcomes research and translational research.

The graduate program offers structured learning and experiences in health care systems, sociobehavioral sciences, health care quality, biostatistics, advanced regression analyses, research methods and design, pharmacoepidemiology, and pharmacoeconomics. Elective courses such as patient-reported outcomes and risk adjustment provide advanced learning experiences, along with the opportunities to participate in grant proposal writing as well as teaching and research practicums.

The mission of this program is to develop outstanding graduates to assume leadership positions in the field of health outcomes research for careers in academia, government, and industry-related healthcare organizations.

Program Goals

Graduates of this program will be prepared to become scientists, directors and professors with a philosophy based on excellence in teaching, research and service in the areas of Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR).

Program Dynamics

• Yearly enrollment on a competitive basis
• Financial assistance for qualified applicants based on availability
• Collaboration with Texas Medical Center health care institutions
• Collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry

The University of Houston (UH) is an urban teaching and research institution that sets standards of excellence in education, research and service. The UH College of Pharmacy has trained pharmacists and researchers to work in health care for 75 years. The Texas Medical Center (TMC) is the world’s largest medical and health center, with 42 member institutions specializing in every aspect of health care.

This graduate program is enhanced through its interaction and collaboration with the world-renowned institutions at the TMC, such as the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and other UH colleges and departments, including the C.T. Bauer College of Business Administration's MBA program (fully accredited by the prestigious American Assembly of Collegiate Schools of Business), and the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences' Department of Economics that offers Ph.D. and nationally recognized M.A. in Applied Economics programs.

With its renowned faculty, dedication to serving the community and affiliation with the prestigious TMC, the UHCOP is an international leader in providing quality education for its graduate students.

Job Opportunities

Application and admissions.

For program admissions information, visit the PhD Graduate Admissions page here .

Recent PHOP News

2023 Headlines

Ph.D. Alumnus Wins UH Outstanding Dissertation Award for Breast Cancer Project

UH News: Examining When to Get Off Meds for Multiple Sclerosis

First-of-its-Kind Research Center Focuses on Intersection of Population Health and Pharmacoepidemiology

PHOP Student & Faculty Presentations at ISPOR 2023 PDF

Symposium Gathers Multidisciplinary Audience to Share Insights in Medication Safety, Cognitive Decline

UHCOP Graduate Student Wins AMCP Best Poster for Atrial Fibrillation Adherence Study

Ph.D. Student Awarded APhA Best Podium Presentation for Study on Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors

UHCOP Team Secures Bronze in Industry Pharmacists Organization Competition for Drug Development Plan

2022 Headlines

Aparasu to Receive 2022 Paul Dawson Award from American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

PhD Candidate Wins AMCP Poster Award for Study on Pharmacist Interventions Improving Hypertension, Diabetes Medication Adherence

Study Identifies Disparities in Diabetic Eye Care Among Minorities

Assistant Professor Appointed to State Council to Help Distribute Opioid Lawsuit Settlement Funds

PHOP Team Identifies Increased Risk of Overactive Bladder, Polypharmacy with Dementia Drug

2021 Headlines

Aparasu's Work to Assess Multiple Sclerosis Patient Medication Adherence, Relapse Rates Receives AHRQ Support

PHOP Student Earns 2nd AMCP Nexus Bronze with Anti-hypertensive Medication Adherence Research

UHCOP, UTHealth at Houston to Host NIH-funded Geriatrics Medication Safety Symposium

12 Students Complete Cougar Health Research Academy in Public Health

New Alumnus Tyler Varisco Joins Health Outcomes and Policy Faculty

Aparasu Appointed as Inaugural Lokhandwala Professor for PHOP Chair

Record 7 PHOP Students Secure Research Internships in Pharmaceutical Industry

UHCOP, Houston Health Department Partner to Train Undergraduate Student for Public Health Work

ISPOR 2021 Virtual Student-Faculty Presentations PDF

Former Dean Mustafa Lokhandwala and Wife Establish College's First Professorship in Health Outcomes and Policy

2020 Headlines

2 Ph.D. Students Awarded AMCP Nexus Meeting Medals for Research

Ph.D. Students Earn AACR Scholar-in-Training Awards for Cancer Disparities Research

Aparasu Receives $450K NIA Grant to Study Dementia Drug Prescribing Cascade in Alzheimer's Disease Patients

UHCOP Welcomes Sang Kyu Cho to Pharmaceutical Health Outcomes and Policy Faculty

STEM Advocate,  UH  Alumnus and Former NASA Astronaut Harris Keynote Speaker at SPAC 2020

2019 Headlines

ISPOR 2019 Student & Faculty Presentations (.pdf)

4 PHOP Students Earn Travel Awards to Present at ISPOR 2019

Thornton, Premier Center Receives $3.34M Grant for Prescription Misuse Prevention

Medication Safety Symposium Highlights Deprescribing, Monitoring Programs

Aparasu Receives Fulbright Specialist Assignment to Indonesian University

Inside Outcomes Newsletter 2019 (.pdf)

2018 Headlines

Ph.D. Students Earn Internships in Pharmaceutical/Health Care Industry, Government

PHOP Graduate, Candidate Among 'Best Poster' Finalists at ISPOR

ISPOR Student & Faculty Presentations (.pdf)

Houston Medication Safety Symposium Program (.pdf)

Multidisciplinary Researchers, Practitioners Discuss Opioids, Medication Burden at Symposium

Alumnus Claims Top Abstract Medal, Podium Presentation Invite at AMCP Meeting

Inside Outcomes Newsletter 2018 (.pdf)

2017 Headlines

UHCOP Team Wins Historic Repeat Win in ISPOR Student Research Competition

PHOP Student, Faculty and Alumni Presentations at ISPOR 2017 Boston (.pdf)

Research Presentations Recognized at Houston Medication Safety Symposium

April 28 Houston Medication Safety Symposium Tackles Opioid Abuse, High Risk Drugs in Older Adults

Study of Prescription Drug Monitoring Program Suggests Abuse Going Underreported

Research Team Earns $207K Grant for Study of Anticoagulants, Antiarrhythmia Drugs in Afib

PHOP Alumna Ferries Wins Humana's Jim Bloem Award

2016 Headlines

PHOP Research on Parental Stress Among ISPOR European Congress Poster Finalists

Inside Outcomes PHOP Newsletter Summer 2016 (.pdf)

Sanofi Backs Fleming's Prescriber Webinar to Boost Statin Guidelines Adoption, Adherence

Regeneron Funds Abughosh Study on Motivational Interviewing, Statin Adherence

Graduate Students Land Internships in Pharmaceutical, Consulting Sectors

PHOP Team Takes Research Competition Trophy at ISPOR International Meeting

4 PHOP Projects Among ISPOR Research Posters Finalists

PHOP Presentations at ISPOR Interational Meeting 2016 (.pdf)

PHOP Doctoral Candidate Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society

Project on COPD Patients in Medicare Gap Strikes Gold at AMCP Meeting

Aparasu Tapped for Fulbright Specialist Roster

(PDF links requires Adobe Reader; click here for free download.)

PhD in Health Economics

• Admission and Financial Aid
• Requirements for Degree Completion

Located in Los Angeles on the USC University Park Campus, the USC PhD program in health economics offers students the opportunity to help shape the future of health care through groundbreaking research and innovative policy solutions. Our multidisciplinary program offers rigorous training in microeconomics, econometrics, cost effectiveness analysis, welfare economics, public finance, epidemiology and health status measurement. Students in the program work closely with our world-renowned faculty, gaining the practical research experience needed to launch their careers.

Our program offers numerous benefits to help position our students for future success. All of our PhD students are fully funded, including tuition remission and stipend, for up to five years through teaching and research assistantships or competitive fellowships.  Many of our students participate in internships that offer real world experience and networking opportunities in industry, policy analysis and consulting.  Our department’s affiliation with the Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics provides opportunities for students to work closely with distinguished faculty from across USC on impactful projects. Bolstered in part by our strong alumni network, our students are highly sought after for positions in academia, government and industry.

“I chose the Health Economics PhD program at USC for three reasons: the strong concentration of health economics faculty here as compared to traditional economics departments, the rigor of economics training compared to other applied programs, and quality of life (i.e., location in sunny Southern California and funding from a USC School of Pharmacy fellowship).”

Laura Henkhaus

Phd, health economics ’19, data scientist, hill physicians medical group.

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Ph.D. in Health Economics

The Ph.D. in Health Economics is designed to train scientists to engage in modern economic research related to questions pertinent to the health care sector and to personal and public health.  It is an on-campus program. Students take courses both from the Economics Department, which is housed in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, and from the Health Systems, Management & Policy (HSMP) Department, which is housed in the Colorado School of Public Health. The ECON coursework grounds students in rigorous economic theory and modern statistical methods, whereas the HSMP coursework connects students to institutional details of the health care sector, administrative data methods, grant writing, and the development of interdisciplinary health care research.

• All our econ programs are classified as STEM fields.
• The Ph.D. program in Health Economics is an in-person program.  Students cannot complete the degree remotely.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completing the Ph.D. degree in Health Economics, students will be able to:

• Understand the economic approach to studying the healthcare sector, health behaviors, and health outcomes.
• Understand how different markets function in the health care sector, such as the market for health care, health insurance, health labor (such as physicians and nursing), and pharmaceuticals.
• Understand the challenges in identifying causal relationships using health data. 
• Use and develop statistical and econometric models, based on economic theory, to analyze various economic issues and make policy recommendations.
• Communicate, in written form and verbally, theoretical and econometric findings to an audience of economics professionals and to a general audience. 

The Emphasis of the Program

Students begin the program with extensive training in microeconomic theory along with substantial exposure to applied econometrics and quantitative analysis. This training includes working with large and diverse data sets, and becoming proficient using statistical software. The Ph.D. core and elective courses provides the foundation for students to engage in innovative and original research in health economics, including evaluating the effectiveness of health interventions and health policy, and conducting economic cost-benefit analysis.

Financial Aid

General financial aid is managed and awarded to students through the CU Denver Office of Financial Aid (FAFSA code: 004508). You can find more information  here . The department offers specific financial assistance to Ph.D. students in form of partial tuition scholarships, teaching assistantships (TAs), research assistantships (RAs), and grader positions. These positions are awarded on a competitive basis, and are initially based on information provided in the student’s application to the Ph.D. program. Students admitted to the Ph.D. program are automatically considered for a gradaute assistantship position. No separate application or further information is needed.

Note: The University of Colorado Denver is a member of Western Regional Graduate Program . Qualified students admitted to this program who are residents of one of the 15 WICHE states may be eligible for in-state tuition.

Ph.D. Program Resources

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M.S. in Health Economics

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Contact Information

For general admissions questions contact the Graduate School at [email protected] or 303-315-0049.

For questions about the Ph.D. in Health Economics program contact the Graduate Advisor at [email protected]

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Master of Public Health

Comparative effectiveness outcomes research.

Clinical and public health research has generated tremendous knowledge on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. However, there is a pressing need to not only generate but also synthesize evidence to inform us on what works best and how to get the intervention to the people who will benefit most.

Comparative effectiveness and outcomes research (CEOR) addresses these issues by identifying interventions most effective for specific patient groups. CEOR informs the practices of healthcare providers and policymakers to make evidence-based resource allocation decisions. It has been identified as a national priority by the federal government.

Despite the pressing need for highly trained professionals in this area, few programs for CEOR exist. Our new Certificate helps to fill this void by providing students with the essential skills needed to measure and compare the expected effectiveness, risks, and costs from both clinical and public health interventions—crucial skills at a time of rising costs and tighter budgets.

Graduates may go on to positions in academia, government, research organizations/think tanks as well as the bio-pharma sector—all of which seek professionals with this valued skill set.

Admissions Eligibility

Comparative Effectiveness and Outcomes Research is open to Columbia MPH students in:

• Biostatistics
• Epidemiology
• Health Policy and Management
• Sociomedical Sciences

Applicants to this certificate must demonstrate sufficient preparation and aptitude for the required quantitative coursework. Evidence of training or skills in quantitative methods can include previous courses, other academic work requiring quantitative analysis, research and professional experience, and standardized test scores.

The Competencies for this Certificate are as follows:

• Describe the fundamental analytical and evaluative methods of CEOR and their strengths and weaknesses for addressing questions in health services and health outcomes research: retrospective and prospective observational data analysis, natural experiments, controlled experiments, decision analysis, and cost-effectiveness analysis.
• Identify and appraise appropriate data sources for addressing research questions in health services and health outcomes research.
• Compare the health outcomes or costs of different health care interventions using observational data analysis or decision analysis.
• Interpret the findings of an empirical comparative effectiveness analysis, a decision analysis, or cost-effectiveness analysis and explain their relevance to clinical or public health decision makers.
• Apply concepts in health care quality, its measurement, and its production to questions about the supply of and demand for health care services and impacts on individual and population health outcomes.

Visit the Certificates Database to learn more about core and credit requirements.

Sample Courses

Analysis of large scale data sets .

This is an applied, hands-on course designed to provide an introduction to several major health data sets and to guide students in processing and analyzing these data. It is designed to complement skills learned in other methods courses and prepare students to advance in the work force or perform independent research for a doctoral program. Students must have taken Biostatistics and have familiarity with Stata, but students comfortable with other software languages, such as SAS or SPSS, or students willing to take a NetCourse before the course begins may enroll.

Decision Analysis for Clinical and Public Health Practices 

This course is designed to provide an introduction to the methods and growing range of applications of decision analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis in health care technology assessment, medical decision making, and health resource allocation.

Related Certificates

• Applied Biostatistics
• Health Policy and Practice
• Public Health Research Methods

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• Epidemiology and Population Health Summer Institute at Columbia University

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Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences

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PhD in Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research

Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research is a PhD program in the graduate program in Clinical Pharmacy. This program is housed in the Center for Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research (CePOR, SEE-por), a school-wide center in the Skaggs School of Pharmacy. Our doctoral curriculum is designed to provide competent and highly skilled researchers in the study of patient, provider, or population-level health care and health system interventions. We most often focus on economic, clinical, and humanistic outcomes such as clinical or cost effectiveness or safety. Areas of focus available to students undertaking this course of study include pharmacoeconomics, pharmacoepidemiology, health services research, and drug policy.​​​

Core faculty are methodological experts and provide collaborative linkage to clinical experts in all pharmacy, medicine, nursing, and public health. Programs of study are tailored to student interests in disease or drug areas, such as cardiology, psychiatry, neurology, and cancer. Opportunities exist to link to more basic science colleagues depending on your topic of interests. For example, students interested in drug safety might link with toxicology faculty, or in gene-environment interactions might link with pharmacogenomics faculty.

Applications for all doctoral programs are submitted electronically through the Graduate School of the University of Colorado Denver. After signing up for an account, select 'PhD' under the 'Academic Interests' menu and scroll down to 'Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences' and select "PhD in Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research."

Application requirements are:

• A completed Graduate School application and $50.00 application fee (Domestic) $75.00 application fee (International)
• A baccalaureate degree of arts or science from an accredited college or university with a minimum GPA of 3.0.** One (1) official transcript of all academic work completed to date with awarded baccalaureate degree. University transcripts from other countries must include a transcript evaluation from World Education Services ( WES ). Applicants who complete a transcript evaluation with WES will have their application fee waived automatically.
• All applicants for the program should complete a year of study in the following subjects: economics or statistics, calculus, and biology or chemistry. In addition, courses in the following subjects are highly recommended to supplement the student's background: public health, public policy, and computer science.
• Three (3) letters of recommendation from professors or research supervisors familiar with your aptitude for graduate study

Additionally:

• The GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is not required but is optional.
• The TOEFL is required of applicants for whom English is not their first language, Duolingo and IELTS also accepted (more information on this  here )
• Please use 4875 as the Institution Code so that the test results will be sent directly to our institution
• Under special circumstances, deficiencies in important areas may be made up within the first year after entrance into the program. Normally, admission to the program will be based on an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or better. However, applicants' recommendations, research experience and additional individual accomplishments will also be considered in the admissions process.

Application opens September 1, 2024. Applications will not be reviewed until all required materials have been received. The application deadline for Fall 2025 admission is December 1, 2024 for all students.

Admission to the program may include financial support via a stipend awarded on a 12-month basis.

Although a priority of the School of Pharmacy is to provide financial support to its graduate students, payment of stipend, tuition and any fees by the School of Pharmacy or by grants, contracts or gifts to the School of Pharmacy faculty is contingent upon availability of funding, satisfactory academic progress (as defined by the UCD Graduate School, Graduate Student Handbook) and completion of required teaching duties, core courses, and examinations. The School of Pharmacy also reserves the right to review and adjust its funding policies at any time. All students are expected to work full-time toward program requirements for 12 months of the year.

Generally, the first year of financial support will be in the form of stipend support for working as a teaching assistant. Depending on availability, teaching assistantships may be offered beyond one year to students. Faculty may choose to offer research assistant scholarships to students as well. Other funding opportunities in the form of external student grants and awards also exist. Students are encouraged to talk to the faculty about funding and scholarship opportunities. Funds for travel to one meeting where students are presenting a poster or giving a podium presentation are limited to $500 per fiscal year.

Students who do not remain in good graduate standing (3.0 GPA or above) or maintain satisfactory academic progress are placed on academic probation. Probation and suspension policies are described in the UCD Graduate School, Graduate Student Handbook. Payment of stipend, tuition, insurance and fees for a student while on academic probation is at the discretion of the graduate program committee.​​

What does "pharmaceutical outcomes research" mean?

What kind of students should pursue a phd degree in pharmaceutical outcomes research why should you apply to this program.

We are looking for students who want to influence healthcare but do not want to be a provider. With the belief that the research done will allow for the application of new knowledge towards health improvement.

What makes the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research PhD program at the University of Colorado different from other PhD programs?

The benefits of this program are multi-faceted. Housed on a major medical campus, students will be able to collaborate with the schools of pharmacy, medicine, nursing, and public health. Also the University of Colorado Hospital, Children's Hospital, and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center are located on campus.

By having a small group of graduate students, they are allowed more time with the faculty members. With two faculty members from each component, students will be able to have the support necessary to complete their degree.

What are the job prospects for a graduate with a PhD degree in the pharmaceutical sciences? What can you do with this career?

Graduates of the program will have many career options within these areas:

• Pharmaceutical industry
• Government agencies
• Contract research organization (CROs)
• Organized healthcare systems

There is a critical need for individuals who are able to conduct rigorous, credible, and relevant population and patient-based research within stringent ethical and regulatory guidelines; the demand for such researchers is expected to grow given the developing health care reform and the investment in federal development and expansion on comparative effectiveness research.

Past graduates have gone on to be an interim dean at a Regis University and the director of pharmacy at the University of Colorado Hospital

How are current students doing?

Our students often win awards at regional and national symposium (such as Julia Slejko at ISPOR or SMDM). One holds a prestigious pre-doctoral dissertation award in health outcomes from the PhRMA Foundation. Two have completed comprehensive exams are working on defending their dissertation proposals. All these more advanced students have published manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals as first authors with the mentorship of the CePOR faculty.

Faculty comments on the program.

Heather Anderson, PhD What's great about this campus is that we are able to collaborate with other schools such as public health, nursing, and medicine. While many Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research programs have a major focus on economics, we do that and more. Our program has a strong focus on epidemiology and policy too. I actually got my PhD in epidemiology from our School of Public health and can link up students with the best courses and advise on exciting local opportunities for research assistantships.

Kelly Anderson, PhD Training at a world-class medical campus allows PhD students in the Center for Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research to engage with faculty in the center with expertise in outcomes research, drug pricing, economics, epidemiology, and health policy, and also have the opportunity to learn from and collaborate with faculty throughout the Schools of Pharmacy, Public Health, Medicine, Dentistry, and Nursing. For anyone who loves big data, our faculty also work with numerous large data sets: Medicare claims, linked EHR-claims data, and all-payer data just to name a few. As a lot of my work is focused on payment policy, I welcome the opportunity to engage students as they think about the real-world implications of their research for policy makers, health insurers, patients, clinicians, and drug companies and disseminate their findings to these key stakeholders.

R. Brett McQueen, PhD Pharmaceutical outcomes research includes aspects of multiple disciplines including math, economics, and epidemiology. I joined the faculty at CU to contribute to comparative- and cost-effectiveness research and to education both for the PhD and the PharmD programs. Our PhD program emphasizes quality over quantity. We maintain a very favorable student to faculty ratio, we offer competitive student financial support, and we strive to graduate scientific leaders in the field of outcomes research.

Kavita V. Nair, PhD Our expectations for graduate students are high and we have structured the education and training requirements to help you meet these goals. I will require a lot of you as a student but will also be your strongest advocate!

Robert Valuck, PhD, RPh I believe that the strengths of our program are the skills and the diversity of the faculty, and size and connectedness of our program with others on campus and in the state and region. With a smaller number of graduate students in our program, they are able to spend more time with faculty members. Our program is well connected with others on the Anschutz campus, and students have opportunities to collaborate both across campus, and with state agencies, provider groups, and others that have an interest in outcomes research and its applications to patient care and policy.

Advance the science of pharmaceutical outcomes research by training scientists who generate and synthesize evidence to inform practice and policy.

The goal of the PhD n pharmaceutical outcomes research is to develop methodological experts. Graduates will have the knowledge and extensive skills necessary to conduct pharmacoeconomic, pharmacoepidemiologic, health services, and drug policy research. We train individuals who can contribute to T3-T4 clinical translational pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, specifically on effective, population health, and policy studies. These contributions should ultimately benefit pharmacists and society with safe, effective, and efficient use of pharmaceutical care.​​

The Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research PhD program trains graduate students to become proficient and successful investigators who are able to:

• demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of central concepts in Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research, including the areas of pharmacoeconomics, pharmacoepidemiology, and/or drug policy.
• critically appraise existing literature and sources of information.
• formulate hypotheses based on current concepts in the field and accurately and correctly design, conduct, and interpret their own research projects.
• present research results in peer-reviewed publications and in a dissertation.
• perform research that adheres to the principles and guidelines of ethical conduct.
• communicate research results effectively through oral presentations at scientific seminars, conferences, and other venues

The program’s strengths in outcomes research are emphasized in 35 credits of several areas:

• Biostatistics
• Epidemiology
• Health Policy
• Research/Study Design
• Doctoral Thesis

The program has experience in accessing a multitude of data such as MEPS, PHARMetrics, University Health-System, Consortium and MarketScan. Students are encouraged to utilize these datasets as well as primary data collection. Students may enroll in courses not listed (e.g courses in downtown campuses and/or newly developed courses) by consulting with the program director.

Pharmacoepidemiology

Heather Anderson PhD

Robert Valuck PhD, RPh

Pharmacoeconomics.

Mike J. DiStefano PhD, MBE

Kelly Anderson PhD, MPP

R. Brett McQueen PhD

Pharmaceutical and drug related policy.

Kavita Nair PhD

Antal Zemplényi

Antal Zemplényi, PhD, is an Associate Professor at the Center for Health Technology Assessment at the University of Pécs and a senior researcher at the Syreon Research Institute, an international research corporation specializing in health policy, health economic modeling, and technology assessment. He has experience in value assessment, HTA, health economics and outcomes research, and real-world data analysis. He is the past president of the ISPOR Hungary Chapter. Antal is currently a Fulbright Scholar at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences working as a visiting research associate in the Pharmaceutical Value (pValue) initiative.

Monica Bianchini

Monica Bianchini is originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. She received a PharmD and MPH from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2017. She subsequently completed a hospital pharmacy residency (PGY-1) and Infectious Diseases PGY-2 at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Monica joined CePOR in 2019 and currently works as a clinical inpatient pharmacist. Her dissertation will evaluate opportunities to decrease syphilis rates and improve syphilis care in Colorado. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, live music, cooking, and anything outside (running, hiking, backpacking, skiing). 

Mahesh Maiyani

Mahesh Maiyani was born and raised in India. He earned his Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm) from India in 2006 and then he came to the US to pursue his Master’s in Business administration. He completed his MBA from The University of Findlay in Ohio. He has work experience in clinical trials and heath care research. He joined the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research PhD program in Fall-2021. His research interests are focused around cost effectiveness in real-world clinical settings. Mahesh enjoys hiking and spending time with family and friends.

Nai-Chia (Sammi) Chen

Sammi is originally from Taiwan. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Pharmacy from Kaohsiung Medical University. After graduation, she had worked in pharmaceutical companies and clinical research organizations for several years before coming to the US. She completed her Master’s training at the University of Pittsburgh, Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy Research, in 2022. And then she joined Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research PhD program at CU Anschutz in Fall 2022. Her research interest lies in the intersection of pharmacoeconomics, real-world evidence, and pharmaceutical outcomes. Outside the schoolwork, she enjoys cooking, baking, and snowboarding/skiing in winter.

Mouna Dardouri

Mouna was born and raised in Tunisia. She graduated with a PharmD from the University of Pharmacy of Monastir in 2016. She then worked for two years at a consulting company focusing on pharmaceuticals’ Pricing, Reimbursement and Market Access (PRMA) in Europe. After that, she was awarded with the Fulbright Foreign student scholarship and moved to Colorado, where she obtained her MPH in Global Health Systems, management, and Policy in 2022. Mouna joined the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research program in the fall of 2022. Her research interests include evaluating the use of Health Technology Assessment in the context of low- and middle- income countries and developing tools that permit equitable patients’ access to cost-effective technologies. In her free time, Mouna enjoys learning new languages, improv theatre and cooking. 

Harry Gyimah Gyamfi

Harry Gyimah Gyamfi is originally from Ghana, where he completed his Bachelor of Pharmacy at Central University before earning an MSc in International Health Economics from Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Germany. During this time, in partnership with Boehringer Ingelheim, he examined patient response burden in Clinical Outcomes Assessments during clinical trials. Harry joined the Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research PhD program in the fall of 2024. His research interest focuses on utilization of value assessment and leveraging health outcomes data to enhance patient access to innovative therapies.  Harry enjoys cooking, hanging out with friends and family and trying new outdoor activities.

Deepika Paratane

Deepika was born and raised in India, where she completed her Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy from the University of Mumbai in 2017. After graduation, she worked for a year in a clinical research organization, specializing in pharmacovigilance, before moving to the U.S. to pursue a Master's degree in Health Outcomes and Informatics at Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in Albany, NY. Upon completing her master's, she spent three years at an HEOR consulting firm, working closely with pharmaceutical clients. She joined the PhD program in Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research at CU Anschutz in Fall 2024. Her research interests focus on optimizing pharmaceutical outcomes through pharmacoeconomics, real-world evidence, and implementation science. Outside of school, she enjoys exploring new places, trying diverse cuisines, and engaging in creative activities like painting and DIY projects.

Why CU's Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research PhD Program?

“One key reason I chose to join CePOR at CU was the tight-knit group of faculty and students. Given the program is smaller, the faculty has a better opportunity to stay in touch with all the students and provide support for everyone's research, regardless if they're on the student's committee or not. The student group is also very close as we are together for weekly seminars and enjoy out-of-school gatherings when possible. Another draw of CU's POR program is the diverse expertise of our faculty and alumni. Our current faculty have a range of expertise including: pharmacoepidemiology using big data sources, pharmacoeconomics and drug pricing, rare diseases, opioid use disorder and treatment, and Medicare payment models. Recent alumni have found work in a variety of different fields from consulting to academia to the pharmaceutical industry and the public health department. The wide range of backgrounds and areas of expertise covered by our faculty and alumni provide so many resources for mentorship and future career planning. Finally, there are so many unique opportunities within CePOR to work with different data sources (e.g. electronic health records, national claims data, Medicaid claims data) and different methodology experts, so I am confident that our program could be a great fit for prospective PhD students of all backgrounds.” – Monica Bianchini, PharmD, MPH

“CU's Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research Program produces robust interdisciplinary research that spans from pharmacoepidemiology to pharmaceutical economics with a variety of collaborators, such as Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) and Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE).” – Sue Kwon, BA

“I joined the POR program because my previous research was focused on population drug utilization and the pharmaceutical industry’s impact on prescribing practices, and the POR program seemed like a natural fit for me to be able to keep learning about the areas of pharmacoepidemiology and drug related policy. What I like most about the program so far has been the core faculty in our program. They seem to truly care about student success and how we progress both academically and professionally. ” – Nick Mendola, MPH 

PhD Student Research Projects

• Comparative Effectiveness of Rare Disease Therapies Using Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis: Case Example in Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder, a Rare Neurological Disorder
• Characterizing Real-world Burden of Multiple Sclerosis and Treatment Strategies in a Colorado-representative Population
• Utilization of Cardioprotective Medication Strategies Among Women with a History of Breast Cancer
• Opportunities to Improve Syphilis Care in Colorado

Mission: To educate, increase awareness and promote growth within the 'Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research' field in general and to increase the CU Denver presence among the international society ISPOR. To collaborate across different sciences on campus and different departments worldwide.

Description: Promote pharmacoeconomics and outcomes research education by holding regular seminars on current issues in the field and presenting research at least once a year at the annual meeting in the US-Canada region.

Membership requirements: We expect members to be passionate about the kind of research that is involved related to public health, epidemiology, pharmacoeconomics, and policy. Also, attending our regular educational seminars/webinars is highly encouraged.

Activities: Details will be emailed to members soon!

Benefits: The opportunity to present research, network and collaborate with faculty from different universities around the world, professionals from industry and research organizations at a global level.

Julia Slejko, PhD ('12) Associate Professor Practice, Sciences, and Health Outcomes Research University of Maryland School of Pharmacy

R. Brett McQueen, PhD ('13) Associate Professor Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

William Padula, PhD ('13) Assistant Professor of Pharmaceutical and Health Economics, School of Pharmacy Fellow, Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics University of Southern California

David Tabano, PhD ('18) Principal Health Economist Evidence for Access (E4A) | Public Affairs & Access Genentech, Inc.

Katie Sullivan, PhD ('18) Prescription Drug Epidemiologist Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Angela Czaja, MD, PhD ('19) Associate Professor Pediatrics-Critical Care Medicine Children’s Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus

Chong Kim, PhD ('20) Associate Director Global Value & Access | HEOR Gilead Sciences

Katia Hannah, PhD ('21) Lead HEOR Specialist Dexcom

Kimberly Deininger, PhD ('22) HEOR Manager Amgen

For questions regarding graduate school programs contact:

Isabella Jaramillo Email:  [email protected]     Phone:  303.724.7263 ​​​​​

Kelly Anderson, PHD, MPP

Assistant Professor; Director, Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research PhD Program Email: [email protected] Phone: 434-466-1990

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Health Economics and Outcomes Research, MHS

Bloomberg school of public health, program overview                                 .

The Master of Health Science in Health Economics and Outcomes Research (MHS in HEOR) is an academic and research program focused on economic evaluation and outcomes research methods for healthcare. This rigorous program develops data analytic and economic modeling skills, as employed in the health policy context.  Methods in this field are used to promote the efficient and equitable allocation of healthcare resources in public health.

Health economics and outcomes research is an applied field of study that draws upon two disciplines: economic evaluation and outcomes research.  The discipline of economic evaluation is grounded on seminal theories of health economics that relate the value of healthcare to individuals and society. Statistical and decision sciences further enable researchers to build upon these theories and model the value of healthcare technologies to individuals and society. Some examples of this research include the evaluation of the value of new pharmaceuticals to existing therapies, the value of vaccines to society, or the value of a public health campaign to provide safety.

The discipline of outcomes research is grounded on seminal theories of health services that relate the role of healthcare to improving the lives of individuals and society. These theories enable researchers to identify important clinical, patient,  and  provider outcomes; design measurement techniques to capture different outcomes; and incorporate outcomes measurement into health systems. Specific examples of this research include assessing the impact of new pharmaceuticals on patient outcomes, how to measure a new approach  for  healthcare delivery, or how to validate a new patient-reported outcomes instrument for a pediatric population.  

Students enrolled in the program have the opportunity to take courses from multiple departments across the Bloomberg School, taught by faculty with expertise in a variety of disciplines, many of whom are true leaders in their respective fields. Through their coursework, experiences at seminars, and capstone projects, students are provided a multidisciplinary experience. 

The MHS program can be completed both full-time (9 months on-site in Baltimore or online) or part-time (2-3 years online). The curriculum requires a minimum of 64 course credits and a mentored research experience (the Capstone project).

STEM Designated Program

The MHS in HEOR program is STEM-designated (NCES CIP 51.2007. Pharmacoeconomics).  View more information.

Program Administration

Program Director: Jeromie Ballreich , PhD, MHS Assistant Director: David Earle, MLA

Bachelor's/MHS Program

Johns Hopkins University, in conjunction with the Bloomberg School, offers a combined Bachelor's degree and Master of Health Science (MHS) in Health Economics and Outcomes Research degree. The combined degree program has been tailored to prepare students for a career in economic evaluation and outcomes research methods for healthcare. 

JHU undergraduate students have the unique opportunity to seek early admission to the MHS in Health Economics and Outcomes Research degree. The combined Bachelor's/MHS program emphasizes a solid foundation in public health and is focused on economic evaluation and outcomes research methods for healthcare. Students in this program will receive co-advising from both schools to optimize their academic experience.

Successful applicants to the Bachelor's/MHS program will have taken an undergraduate course in economics or microeconomics.

For further information on the Bachelor's/MHS in Health Economics and Outcomes Research program, contact Assistant Director David Earle or visit our website .

MHS Program Requirements

Course location and modality is found on the BSPH website .

Program Core Curriculum

The MHS-HEOR program curriculum requires 64 credits of coursework, which includes both required and elective options. Students may complete the curriculum in four full-time terms, or may complete it part-time over the course of two to three years.  Elective courses should be chosen in consultation with the program or academic adviser. All requirements, including elective courses, must be completed for a letter grade if the course is offered for a letter grade. Any exceptions must be approved by the program director prior to the start of the term.

Course meets one or more CEPH learning objectives .

Required for both 1st and 2nd terms.

In order to meet the graduation requirement, students are required to take elective coursework. With so many elective options available, all students should meet with their program advisor prior to registering to determine the right options to meet their program goals. 

Capstone Project

Students will complete a mentored capstone (scholarly article) as the culminating requirement for the program. To facilitate this, each student will enroll for the MHS Capstone in the 4th term. The capstone is an economic analysis of a topic with health policy implications. The capstone project is completed under the guidance of a BSPH faculty member and maybe done individually or as a group. All students are required to submit a written product and give an oral presentation of their capstone work in the 4th term.

MHS Program Policies

Satisfactory academic progress.

Satisfactory academic progress is measured by the following as they relate to one another:

• To maintain satisfactory academic performance and good academic standing, all master's and certificate students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 2.75, and all doctoral students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.00 and grades of A, B, or P (pass) in all courses required by the school or by the student’s department.
• Written documentation of successful completion of all Bloomberg School and departmental  degree requirements  within the established time limitations
• Confirmation of satisfactory performance by the student’s department and/or adviser as required. Each term, the progress of students is reviewed, and those students not making satisfactory progress in terms of the cumulative grade point average and completion of requirements within established deadlines are identified for all academic departments. Students may not graduate unless in good academic standing. Additional policies regarding continuation in a program while not in good academic standing are left to individual programs. Whether a D is considered acceptable to serve as a prerequisite will be determined by the course’s sponsoring department

IMPORTANT : Students receiving federal loans and federal work-study funding must adhere to the  Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy   posted on the Financial Aid Office website.

Course Waivers

In rare cases, students may request a waiver or substitution of a required program course.  Any request must be submitted in writing according to the guidelines outlined below at least one week prior to the start of the academic term and be approved in writing by the student's Program Director.

Examples of when a substitution might be appropriate:

• A student has successfully completed a  graduate level  course with a grade of "A" or "B" that covered the same content areas as the required course. (The completed graduate-level course syllabus must be submitted with the request.)
• A course or series of courses fulfills a general area of the required curriculum, such as biostatistics or epidemiology, but the student wishes to take a different course or series that is equally or more advanced than the normal requirement and that better aligns with their overall academic and career goals.

Course substitutions must abide by the following principles:

• A strong rationale must be made for how the substitution will benefit the student's overall academic and career goals.
• The resulting curriculum meets the requirements of the learning competencies of the student's program. 

Procedure for making a substitution request:

• The request for substitution must be submitted to the student's Program Director in writing at least one week before the substituted course is to be offered.
• A brief rationale for the substitution must be provided in writing.
• A completed course-by-course curriculum plan for the degree must accompany the request.
• Approval or denial will be provided by the Program Director within one week of being received. Decisions on course substitutions may not be appealed. As such, students should be prepared to complete the required curriculum if the request is denied.
• Waiver or substitution decisions are communicated to the HPM Office of Academic Affairs for documentation.

MHS Learning Outcomes

The learning outcomes for the MHS in HEOR are met through required and elective coursework and a mentored research capstone. Upon successful completion of the program, students will be able to:

• Apply statistical methods including statistical inferences and regression methods to solve economic and public health problems.
• Measure and calculate health outcomes; differentiate between methods of theoretical economic evaluation and applications of economic evaluation.
• Evaluate and apply methods in health economics and economic evaluation in public health research.
• Apply economic theory and mathematical microeconomic modeling within the field of health economics.
• Apply economic methods for policy and decision-making.
• Assess the analytical methods in public health, including cost-effectiveness analysis, in the fields of health services research and health policy.

According to the requirements of the Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH), all BSPH degree students must be grounded in foundational public health knowledge. Please view the list of specific CEPH requirements by degree type .

College of Pharmacy

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PhD in Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research

Students in the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research Program are highly motivated with backgrounds in a pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, health economics, or other healthcare fields.

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Welcome  

The University of Utah College of Pharmacy is part of the University of Utah Health Sciences Center, with state-of-the-art classroom, research and library facilities available to students pursuing graduate education. The Department of Pharmacotherapy has a long, rich history in the provision of high quality post-graduate training for pharmacy practitioners and outcomes researchers. Students in the Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacotherapy Outcomes Research Program are highly motivated with backgrounds in a pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, health economics, or other healthcare fields.

International students

Final deadline december 15th , us residents, why choose the pharmacotherapy phd program at the university of utah, students graduate with core competencies in health economics, epidemiology, research design, and statistics. they are also prepared to be independent outcomes researchers trained to generate evidence to support health policy decisions regarding pharmaceuticals and related technologies., graduates of our program currently apply these skills in a broad range of career settings including the pharmaceutical industry, academia, institutional pharmacy, community pharmacy, and managed care organizations..

PhD Program Curriculum

Download phd program student handbook, awards & financial aid information.

Nathorn Chaiyakunapruk

Director, Graduate Program, PhD

Linda O'Connor

Education Coordinator

Phone: 801.585.1065

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PhD in Health Services & Policy Research

For contact information, please visit the School of Public Health website .

The Doctor of Philosophy in Health Services & Policy Research (PhD) degree program offered by the Department of Health Law, Policy & Management is designed to provide individuals with excellent research skills for use in academic, industry, or government settings. Students have the opportunity to collaborate with senior faculty in innovative research crucial to the improvement of healthcare delivery, treatment outcomes, and government policies. Graduates are known for their excellent methodological skills and substantive knowledge of healthcare settings and policies, competencies that enable students to translate research findings into practical applications.

The doctoral program supports a focus on quantitative methods and qualitative methods, while fostering facility with mixed methods designs.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the PhD in Health Services & Policy Research (HSPR), the graduate is able to:

• Analyze key factors that have the potential to influence health and provision and use of health services. These may include policy, organization, and financing of healthcare services. They may also include social, economic, cultural, political, and biological factors that influence population health, health equity, and the use of services.
• Critique, adapt, and develop theoretical analyses of health services and policies, including explanations of their structures and processes, the use of health services, the effectiveness and implementation of health policies, and the effects of health services and policies on individual and population health and health equity. This may be done by drawing upon the foundational fields of sociology, economics, anthropology, political science, psychology, demography, epidemiology, management, and/or organizational science.
• Develop original, relevant, and important research questions to pursue in HSPR that are grounded in both a critical analysis of prior HSPR literature and relevant theoretical perspectives.
• Identify and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of possible study designs that can appropriately address specific HSPR questions. Appropriate methods may employ experimental or observational approaches, qualitative or quantitative analytic techniques, and a variety of data types.
• Based on relevant theory and selected research question(s), develop an HSPR design, specifying study constructs, research objectives, hypotheses, and methods that reliably and validly measure outcomes of interest. Select optimal analytical approaches, in combination as necessary, to investigate hypotheses.
• Acquire and manage appropriate data to answer HSPR questions. Collect and manage primary health and healthcare utilization data and/or assemble and manage existing data from public and private data sources in accordance with an original research design.
• Apply appropriate analytical techniques to data in order to investigate HSPR questions. Utilize appropriate combinations of analytic techniques to enrich data analysis and interpretation.
• Develop, document, and employ procedures that ensure the reproducibility of the science, the responsible use of resources, mutual accountability with collaborators, and the ethical treatment of research subjects.
• Effectively communicate the process, findings, and implications of HSPR using multiple modes, including via peer-reviewed publications, oral presentations, and electronic media. Translate findings to multiple stakeholders and audiences including funders, research participants, colleagues, policymakers, news media, and managers.

Program Requirements

The doctoral program includes the coursework requirements outlined below, which typically total at least 42 units. Students with an earned master’s degree may take fewer courses, if course waivers are granted based on previous relevant graduate coursework. However, in all cases, students are required to take no fewer than 32 units of PhD coursework in residence at Boston University post-matriculation into the PhD program. A minimum grade of a B is required in all PhD coursework.

Foundations of Public Health

Effective public health requires expertise from many disciplines, and students need to have a broad foundation of knowledge across these diverse disciplines in order to collaborate effectively with other health professionals.

SPH PH 700 Foundations of Public Health (0 units) is an online course designed to provide students with foundational knowledge in the profession and science of public health and factors related to public health. PH 700 meets the foundational knowledge criteria (as outlined by CEPH) for all SPH students.

Core PhD Courses

• SPH PH 842 Research Theory and Design (2 units)
• SPH PH 843 Quantitative Methods for Health and Social Policy Research (2 units)
• SPH PH 844 Introduction to Qualitative Methods for Health and Social Policy Research (2 units)
• SPH PM 820 Introduction to Quality Measurement and Evaluation (2 units)
• SPH PM 822 Advanced Quantitative Methods for Health and Social Policy Research (4 units)
• SPH PM 828 Advanced Qualitative Methods (4 units)
• SPH PM 842 Health Economics for Health and Social Policy Research or equivalent (4 units)
• SPH PM 846 Advanced Quantitative Policy and Program Implementation and Evaluation (4 units)
• SPH PM 864 Contemporary Structures of Health Services (2 units)
• SPH PM 866 Theory in the Analysis of Health Services (2 units)

Additional Course Requirements

• Healthcare Policy
• Implementation Science/Organizational Change
• Quality/Outcomes

Students are required to complete all the requirements for graduation within seven years of matriculation. PhD students are required to successfully complete the qualifying process, and complete and orally defend a dissertation.

Students who have completed the PhD coursework must register for SPH PM 980 Continuing Study each fall and spring term until the dissertation is defended and accepted. PM 980 is ungraded and 0 units; it allows a student to be certified as full time and carries the equivalent of a 2-unit tuition charge plus the fee for student health insurance (unless waived). Students must adhere to dissertation submission deadlines and requirements.

All PhD students must adhere to the Doctoral Graduation Calendar in preparing and submitting the dissertation.

All SPH students will need a laptop or tablet for classes, purchased according to the recommendations of the Medical Campus Information Technology professionals.

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Health Outcomes Research, Ph.D. and Medicine, M.D. Dual Degree

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Saint Louis University's M.D./Ph.D. program in Health Outcomes Research stands at the forefront of training physician-scientists to tackle complex healthcare issues. This innovative dual-degree program integrates intensive medical education with advanced research training, empowering students to investigate and address critical questions in healthcare delivery, patient outcomes, and healthcare policy.

Students in this program benefit from a comprehensive curriculum that combines clinical rotations with rigorous research methodologies. They engage in cutting-edge research projects under the mentorship of esteemed faculty, gaining hands-on experience in analyzing health data, conducting clinical trials, and developing innovative approaches to improve healthcare quality and accessibility.

Graduates of SLU's M.D./Ph.D. program emerge with a deep understanding of both clinical practice and scientific inquiry, equipped to drive impactful change in healthcare systems. They are prepared to lead interdisciplinary teams, collaborate across specialties, and translate research findings into tangible improvements in patient care and healthcare policy.

With access to state-of-the-art facilities, a supportive academic community, and opportunities to collaborate with leading healthcare organizations, SLU's M.D./Ph.D. program in Health Outcomes Research empowers future physician-scientists to make meaningful contributions to the field, shaping the future of healthcare for generations to come.

For additional information, see the catalog entries for the following SLU programs:

Medicine, M.D.

Health Outcomes Research, Ph.D.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

For priority consideration for graduate assistantship, apply by Feb. 1.

For more information, visit the Office of Student Financial Services .

Accreditation 

Saint Louis University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and has been continuously accredited since 1916.

Admission Requirements

Students must first be admitted to the School of Medicine before being considered for acceptance into the M.D./Ph.D. in Health Outcomes Research. Questions about admission to the dual-degree program can be directed to the M.D./Ph.D. program director.

Most trainees are chosen in the early spring to begin their research training by mid-June before commencing their first year of M.D. studies in mid-August. Other qualified individuals may apply after starting their M.D. training.

Applicants to the M.D./Ph.D. program are screened by the steering committee for the M.D./Ph.D. program.

Program Requirements

Students begin their program by completing the first and second years of their M.D. studies. By the winter of their second year of medical studies, students will select a Ph.D. mentor from SLU’s Department of Health and Clinical Outcomes Research.

Completion of all Ph.D. candidacy requirements and oral defense of the doctoral dissertation is followed by a transitional clerkship that facilitates re-entry into the third and fourth years of M.D. studies.

Up to 9 credits, with approval from Ph.D. mentor, from the M.D. program will count towards the completion of the Ph.D. in Health Outcomes Research.

Trainees in this program should complete all requirements for both degrees within seven to eight years and students are expected to complete both the M.D. and Ph.D. components on a full-time basis.

Continuation Standards

Students must maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 in all graduate/professional courses.

For more information about the health outcomes research Ph.D. or this degree program, contact:

Department of Health and Clinical Outcomes Research [email protected]

Graduate Programs

Health services research.

Doctoral students in Health Services Research improve population health by focusing on health care delivery systems, providers, the economic forces that shape consumer and provider behavior, and the policy environment in which these relationships exist.

Additional Resources

Health Services Research faculty are members of the Department of Health Services, Policy, and Practice and at the  School of Public Health , and are aligned with world-class research centers, such as the Center for Gerontology and Healthcare Research, the Center for Evidence Synthesis in Health and the Center for Long-Term Quality and Innovation, and the Center for Health System Sustainability and Information Futures Lab. 

Major areas of faculty activity include long term care research, pharmaceutical health services research, eliminating racial disparities, evaluation of state and national policies, and end of life care. Strengths of the program include its student-centric approach to learning, high faculty-to-student ratio, and hands-on experience conducting supervised research.

Application Information

Application in  SOPHAS

Application Requirements

Gre subject:.

Not required

GRE General:

Official transcripts:, letters of recommendations:, personal statement:, additional requirements:.

• Application Fee

International Applicants:

• Language Proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS if applicable)
• Transcript Evaluation (if applicable)

Comprehensive application requirements are detailed on the School of Public Health's  admissions requirements website .

Dates/Deadlines

Application deadline, completion requirements.

24 credits (or 16 with a prior relevant graduate degree), successful completion of written comprehensive exams in methods and a substantive area, and successful defense of an independent dissertation.

Alumni Careers

Contact and Location

Department of health services, policy & practice, mailing address.

• Program Faculty
• Program Handbook
• Graduate School Handbook
• Public Health Career Outcomes

Most students complete this programme in 4 years full-time

Further your knowledge of key topics that impact people's health, wellbeing and performance.

This course gives you the opportunity to undertake original, extensive research under expert supervision.

Research expertise

Lifelong health and wellbeing.

• Exercise physiology
• Cancer Immunology

Improving Human performance

• Computational Biomechanics
• Clinical Biomechanics and Rehabilitation
• Gait Analysis
• Injury Prevention
• Sport Psychology
• Motivation and Behavioural Change

A Fair and Vibrant Society

• Inequalities in physical culture, sport, and health
• Tobacco Control

See what some of our current students are researching

Read more about our Health and Wellbeing (interdisciplinary pathway)

Find out what our research graduates go on to do

Department of Health

• Programme structure

Most students complete this programme in 4 years. You cannot take less than 2 years to finish your research and the maximum time you are allowed is normally 4 years.

You may start this programme at any time. Most students start in September.

Occasionally we make changes to our programmes in response to, for example, feedback from students, developments in research and the field of studies, and the requirements of accrediting bodies. You will be advised of any significant changes to the advertised programme, in accordance with our Terms and Conditions.

Your academic progress and general welfare will be monitored by your supervisor.

Academic milestones

• Registration
• Candidature
• Confirmation
• Give notice of intention to submit a thesis / portfolio
• Submission for examination
• Examination (Viva Voce)
• Examiners report
• Final submission of thesis / portfolio
• Programme content
• Doctoral skills online
• Doctoral skills workshop
• Research project
• Supervisory team

Research content

Our Department produces high-quality research with a strong focus on application and real-world implication. You can study any topic in which we have research expertise . Details of research staff expertise and interests are available on individual staff pages , as well as on our current research students page.

Professional Development

Professional development is a crucial element of doctoral study, not only in supporting your research but also as part of your longer term career development. Our DoctoralSkills workshops and courses will help you build your skills and help you succeed in your doctorate.

Read more about professional development support

Assessment methods

Assessment description.

You will be expected to carry out supervised research at the leading edge of your chosen subject, which must then be written up as a substantial thesis.

The final stage of the PhD degree is the oral or viva voce examination, in which students are required to defend the thesis to a Board of Examiners.

• Entry requirements

Academic requirements

• First or 2:1 Honours degree (or equivalent) in an appropriate subject, from a recognised university.
• A Masters degree or appropriate research training is also desirable. We consider applicants without Masters or appropriate research training on a case by case basis. We might require applicants to satisfactorily complete one of our Masters programmes, or to attend some/all of the units of our MRes programmes while undertaking the MPhil or PhD programme.

English Language requirements

You will normally need one of the following:

• IELTS: 7.0 overall with no less than 6.5 in all components
• The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic): 69 with no less than 62 in any element
• TOEFL IBT: 100 overall with a minimum 24 in all 4 components

You will need to get your English language qualification within 24 months prior to starting your course.

If you need to improve your English language skills before starting your studies, you may be able to take a pre-sessional course to reach the required level.

Two references are required. At least one of these should be an academic reference.

• Fees and funding

Fees and funding information for Health PhD

Your tuition fees and how you pay them will depend on whether you are a Home or Overseas student.

Learn how we decide fee status

Tuition fees are liable to increase annually for all University of Bath students. If you aren't paying your fees in British pounds, you should also budget for possible fluctuations in your own currency.

Find out more about student fees

Funding options

Find funding for Doctoral Research

Payment options

You can pay your tuition fees by Direct Debit, debit card, credit card or bank transfer.

Paying your tuition fees

• Application information
• Programme title Health PhD
• Final award PhD
• Mode of study Full-time
• Course code RHHL-AFM07
• Department Department for Health as part of the ESRC South West Doctoral Training Partnership (SWDTP) in economic and social science
• Location University of Bath Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY

3 months prior to the intended start date (for international applicants) or 2 months prior to the intended start date (for home applicants). For example, for an end of September start, the deadline is 30 June (international) and 31 July (home).

• Regulator The Office for Students (OfS)

Applicant profile

See our guide about how to apply for doctoral study

Immigration requirements

If you are an international student, you can find out more about the visa requirements for studying in the UK .

For additional support please contact the Student Immigration Service for matters related to student visas and immigration.

• Programme enquiries

Doctoral Admissions

• Apply for this programme
• Related programmes
• Health PhD part-time
• Health, Wellbeing and Society PhD full-time
• Health, Wellbeing and Society PhD part-time

On this page

• iSchool Connect

Jiangping Chen

Jiangping Chen CV

Interim Executive Associate Dean and Visiting Professor

PhD, Information Transfer, Syracuse University

Room 112E, 501 E. Daniel St.

(217) 333-3280

[email protected]

• https://idealabunt.github.io/home/index.html

Other professional appointments

2023-2024 Co-Chairs, ALISE Council of Deans, Directors, and Chairs

Research focus

Honors and awards.

• Regents Professor, University of North Texas, 2024
• Outstanding Department Award, University of North Texas, 2022
• LIBINF Top 10 Cited Article (IF 2019-2020), ELSEVIER, 2022
• Star Performer Award, University of North Texas, 2021
• Recognition of Service Award, Association for Computing Machinery (ACM), 2018
• ISI/ASIS&T Doctoral Dissertation Proposal Award, 2003

Dr. Chen is currently the interim executive associate dean and visiting professor at the iSchool. Before joining UIUC in August 2024, she was Regents professor and the chair of the Department of Information Science in the College of Information at the University of North Texas (UNT). She conducts interdisciplinary research, spanning information science, data science, and health informatics. She is the founder of UNT's Intelligent Information Access (IIA) Lab, which explores methods for access, interaction, and analysis of large, distributed, heterogeneous, multimedia, and multilingual information. 

Her professional contributions include authoring numerous publications, including a monograph on multilingual digital libraries,  journal articles, book chapters, and conference proceedings as well as giving invited presentations and talks. She served as the editor-in-chief for The Electronic Library for seven years and as chair of the Joint Conference on Digital Libraries (JCDL) in 2018. Dr. Chen holds a PhD in information transfer from Syracuse University, a master's degree in information science from the Library of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and a bachelor's degree in information science from Wuhan University.

Publications & Papers

Selected publications

Ogbadu-Oladapo, L., Chung, H., Li, J., & Chen, J. (2023). An investigation of the use of theories in misinformation studies. Proceedings of 2023 annual conference of the American Society for Information Science and Technology , London, UK, October 27-31. https://doi.org/10.1002/pra2.790 . Nguyen, H., Ogbadu-Oladapo, L., Irhamni, A., Chen, H., & Chen, J. (2023). Fighting misinformation: where are we and where to go? Proceedings of iConference 2023 , Barcelona, Spain, March 27-29. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28035-1_27 . Wu, A. & Chen, J. (2022). Sustaining multilinguality: case studies of two multilingual digital libraries. The Electronic Library , 40(6), 625-645. https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-03-2022-0061 . Chen, H., Wu, L., Lu, W., Chen, J., & Ding, J. (2022). A comparative study of automated legal text classification using random forests and deep learning. Information Processing and Management , 59(2). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ipm.2021.102798 . Chen, H., Nguyen, H., & Chen, J. (2021). Demystifying COVID-19 publications: researchers, topics, diseases, and therapeutics. Journal of the Medical Library Association , 109(3), 395-405. https://doi.org/10.5195/jmla.2021.1141 . Chen, J. (2020). Beyond information organization and evaluation: how can information scientists contribute to independent thinking. Data and Information Management , 4(3), 171-176. https://doi.org/10.2478/dim-2020-0017 . Wang, C., Huang, R., Li, J., & Chen, J. (2020). Towards better information services: A framework for immigrant information needs and library services. Library and Information Science Research , 42(1), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lisr.2019.101000 . Brenda, R., Knudson, R., Chen, J., Cao, G., & Wang, X. (2018). Metadata records machine translation combining multi-engine outputs with limited parallel data. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology . 69(1), 47-59, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1002/asi.23925 . Chen, J. 2016. Multilingual Access And Services For Digital Collections . Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. https://www.amazon.com/Multilingual-Access-Services-Digital-Collections/dp/1440839549 .   

• Data Analytics and Human Centered Data
• Digital Libraries
• Information Retrieval
• Natural Language Processing, Text Mining, Text Analysis, Computational Linguistics
• Privacy, Security, and Trust

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Combination of Social Determinants and Improvements in Population Health Outcomes

• 1 Section of Health Equity, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
• 2 Division of General Internal Medicine and Clinical Innovation, Department of Medicine, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, New York
• Original Investigation Social Risk and Clinical Outcomes Among Adults With Type 2 Diabetes Rebekah J. Walker, PhD; Joni S. Williams, MD, MPH; Sebastian Linde, PhD, MPhil, MSc; Leonard E. Egede, MD, MS JAMA Network Open

Walker et al 1 apply latent class analysis to integrate multilevel data on known social risk factors to define clusters or phenotypes of these social risk factors. Importantly, they include 26 factors in the domains of socioeconomic status, neighborhood and built environment, food environment, education, social and community context, and psychological and behavioral risk factors in their analysis. They identify 5 unique clusters of social risk factors and assess the associations of each cluster with diabetes-related outcomes, including glycemic control, blood pressure, and quality of life. Clusters varied in their associations with high blood pressure, poor glycemic control, and poor mental health–related quality of life.

This study 1 is notable because prior work 2 has shown that the socioeconomic, environmental, behavioral, and psychosocial neighborhood context impacts the health of its residents over and above individual-level risk factors. For example, neighborhood socioeconomic factors have been shown to be associated with cardiovascular health, independently of individual-level socioeconomic factors. 3 In addition, the presence and density of green space and quality of food outlets is associated with behaviors that influence diabetes and other cardiovascular risk factors. 4 Prior research 5 also shows that the neighborhood psychosocial environment—for example, social cohesion, community engagement, and community well-being—influences health long-term cardiometabolic risk. For example, after adjusting for individual-level clinical, behavioral, and socioeconomic risk factors, higher county-level well-being is associated with lower rates of preterm birth. 6 As such, measures of socioeconomic, neighborhood, and psychosocial factors at multiple levels should be included in assessing risk for poor health outcomes.

Although these associations have been reported independently, these social risk factors do not exist in isolation. These factors are all associated with structural and systemic racism, as well as mass incarceration, which together influence neighborhood-level and individual-level social risk profiles. Furthermore, these factors are interrelated and have influence over the life course. Recent studies 7 reported that higher neighborhood-level exposure to mass incarceration is associated with lower life expectancy. Another study 8 examining associations between neighborhood factors in childhood and incident hypertension through age 50 years reported that a 1-SD increase in childhood neighborhood incarceration rate was associated with 12% greater odds of incident hypertension in adulthood. Moreover, accounting for childhood neighborhood factors, including incarceration, explained the majority of the racial differences in hypertension onset in adulthood.

As such, more fully characterizing the combined risk that individual-level and neighborhood-level social risk factors, at various critical time points in the life course, confers on diabetes and other health outcomes is essential to understanding their true impact. These novel social risk clusters identified by Walker et al 1 are an important first step in defining additional, clinically relevant information on diabetes and cardiometabolic risk that can be used at the individual and population levels. For example, these social risk clusters could be used to inform point-of-care clinical risk scores, as well as more holistic population health program development or community health improvements on the right combination of factors. The latter is advantageous, because intervening on a single social risk factor alone is likely to be insufficient to effectively lower the risk of poor diabetes outcomes. Analogous analyses could be performed to assess associations of these social risk profiles with other health outcomes.

Published: August 29, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.25957

Open Access: This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC-BY License . © 2024 Roy B. JAMA Network Open .

Corresponding Author: Brita Roy, MD, MPH, MHS, Section of Health Equity, Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, 5800 3rd Ave, Ste 2-004, Brooklyn, NY 11220 ( [email protected] ).

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

See More About

Roy B. Combination of Social Determinants and Improvements in Population Health Outcomes. JAMA Netw Open. 2024;7(8):e2425957. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.25957

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Press releases

First All-Female TAVI Trial Shows Excellent Outcomes for Women Receiving Edwards Valves

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Edwards Lifesciences (NYSE: EW) today announced the results from the RHEIA Trial, a first-of-its-kind trial focused exclusively on outcomes for women receiving transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). Presenting one-year results during a Hot Line session at the ESC Congress 2024, investigators reported superior outcomes for women receiving the Edwards SAPIEN 3 or SAPIEN 3 Ultra valves as compared to those receiving surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR).

"Women are an underrepresented group in the diagnosis and treatment of severe aortic stenosis and this landmark study provides important insights into their treatment options,” said Hélène Eltchaninoff, M.D., head of the department of cardiology at the University Hospital of Rouen. “The transcatheter and surgical arms achieved remarkable results and the performance of the transcatheter valves adds to a growing body of evidence on the treatment options available to women.”

In the evaluation of composite 1-year endpoints, TAVI was found to be superior to SAVR with 8.9% of TAVI patients experiencing death, stroke or rehospitalization versus 15.6% in the SAVR cohort. The independently run RHEIA Trial included 443 female patients with an average age of 73, randomized to TAVI or SAVR to investigate outcomes of Edwards TAVI compared to surgery in an all-comers female patient population suffering from severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. The RHEIA Trial, which was investigator initiated and supported by Edwards, was conducted across 48 sites in 12 European countries.

“We are proud of this high-quality clinical research to inform patients’ decisions about the treatment of their heart valve failure,” said Larry Wood, Edwards’ corporate vice president and group president, transcatheter aortic valve replacement and surgical structural heart. “The outstanding success of the TAVI group points to the importance of valve selection for women undergoing aortic valve replacement – especially those women with small annuli – to preserve their options for a future valve-in-valve procedure, ensuring the lifetime management of their disease.”

About Edwards Lifesciences

Edwards Lifesciences is the global leader of patient-focused innovations for structural heart disease and critical care monitoring. We are driven by a passion for patients, dedicated to improving and enhancing lives through partnerships with clinicians and stakeholders across the global healthcare landscape. For more information, visit Edwards.com and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube.

This news release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. We intend the forward-looking statements contained in this Proxy Statement to be covered by the safe harbor provisions of such Acts. These forward-looking statements can sometimes be identified by the use of forward-looking words, such as “may,” “might,” “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “should,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “goal,” “continue,” “seek,” “intend,” “optimistic,” “aspire,” “confident” and other forms of these words and include, but are not limited to, statements made by Mr. Wood and statements regarding expected product benefits, patient outcomes, post-treatment reduction of invasive procedures, objectives and expectations and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on estimates and assumptions made by management of the company and are believed to be reasonable, though they are inherently uncertain and difficult to predict. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and we do not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of the statement. Investors are cautioned not to unduly rely on such forward-looking statements.

Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements based on a number of factors as detailed in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These filings, along with important safety information about our products, may be found at Edwards.com .

Edwards, Edwards Lifesciences, the stylized E logo, Edwards SAPIEN, Edwards SAPIEN 3, Edwards SAPIEN 3 Ultra, RESILIA, SAPIEN, SAPIEN 3, and SAPIEN 3 Ultra are trademarks of Edwards Lifesciences Corporation. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Media Contact: Howard Wright, 949-250-2790 Investor Contact: Mark Wilterding, 949-250-6826

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Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

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Master of Science (M.Sc.)Surgical and Interventional Sciences (Thesis): Surgical Outcomes Research (45 credits)

The M.Sc. in Surgical and Interventional Sciences; Surgical Outcomes Research program focuses on the science of measuring and improving the outcomes of surgical patients. The program addresses research methods, biostatistics, and strategies to measure and improve postoperative outcomes. The thesis component of the program must focus on a topic in the field of surgical outcomes research.

Required Courses (33 credits)

Offered by: Surgery ( Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences )

Administered by: Graduate Studies

Experimental Surgery : Comprehensive overview of strategies to measure and improve outcomes after surgery. Traditional and modern approaches to measure surgical outcomes, including clinician-reported, patient-reported and performance-based outcome measures. Contemporary strategies to improve postoperative recovery; topics include minimally invasive surgery (laparoscopic, robotic), enhanced recovery pathways and prehabilitation.

Terms: Winter 2025

Instructors: Fiore Junior, Julio Flavio; Gillis, Chelsia (Winter)

3 hours/week.

Students will be required to attend mandatory visits to surgical outcomes research labs at McGill.

Language of instruction: English

Restrictions: Open to students enrolled in the M.Sc. in ExperimentalSurgery; Surgical Outcomes Research program. Other students require permission of the instructors.

Experimental Surgery : Independent research work under the direction of the Thesis Supervisor and the Supervisory Committee.

Terms: Fall 2024, Winter 2025

Instructors: There are no professors associated with this course for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Experimental Surgery : Written and oral presentation of thesis proposal to the research Supervisory Committee.

Complementary Courses (12 credits)

3 credits from the following:

Offered by: Epidemiology and Biostatistics ( Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences )

Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Principles and methods of epidemiology, as applied to clinical practice and clinical research. Key principles of testing and measurement in the clinical context, as well as study design, analysis, and inference in the clinical research setting.

Terms: This course is not scheduled for the 2024-2025 academic year.

Course offered during the Summer Session only.

Restriction: Restricted to McGill Medical Residents and Clinical Fellows or permission of the instructor for other clinicians.

Due to the intensive nature of this course, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the third lecture day and withdrawal is the sixth lecture day.

Offered by: Medicine ( Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences )

Experimental Medicine : Foundations for conducting clinical research including the principles underlying clinical studies, an overview of key methods in clinical research and the critical interpretation of peer-reviewed literature.

Terms: Fall 2024

Instructors: Rahme, Elham; Almeida, Nisha; Sewitch, Maida; Grover, Steven; Menzies, Richard Ian; McDonald, Emily; Fishman, Jennifer; Sebastiani, Giada; Ahun, Marilyn; Fortier, Isabelle (Fall)

There are no set prerequisites, but it is expected that the student will have some background in mathematics; understanding functions and basic algebra is essential.

Epidemiology & Biostatistics : Basic principles of statistical inference applicable to clinical, epidemiologic, and other health research. Topics include: methods of describing data, statistical inference for means, statistical inference for proportions, non-parametric statistics, correlation and introduction to linear regression.

Instructors: Levis, Brooke (Fall)

Prerequisite: Permission of instructor

Restriction: Restricted to students registered in the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, Human Nutrition, Medical Residents, and Clinical Fellows.

Course not opened to students registered in the Epidemiology and Biostatistics programs.

Due to the intensive nature of this course during the summer session, the standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines do not apply. Add/drop is the third lecture day and withdrawal is the sixth lecture day. The standard add/drop and withdrawal deadlines apply for sections of this course offered during the Fall or Winter semesters.

Experimental Medicine : Topics covered include: 1) An overview of common research designs based on examples from research currently undertaken in the Division of Experimental Medicine; 2) Types of data arising from these designs; 3) Basic methods for data analysis; and 4) Application of these methods to student research projects.

Instructors: Dendukuri, Nandini (Fall)

Restriction: Must be registered for graduate or postdoctoral studies in the Faculty of Medicine or the Faculty of Science.

6 credits from the following:

Epidemiology & Biostatistics : The aim of this course is to provide students with basic principles of regression analyses applicable to the health sciences so that they can understand and use appropriate statistical regression techniques for continuous and discrete data. The course will cover: Linear regression: Regression for two or more explanatory variables, Polynomial regression, Dummy variables, Inference for regression parameters, Confounding and collinearity, Effect modification, Model-checking, Model selection, Prediction. Logistic and Poisson regression: Logistic regression for one or more variables, Interpreting odds ratios, Inference for logistic and Poisson regression parameters, Confounding and interactions in logistic regression, Model selection, Prediction. A very brief overview of survival analysis.

Prerequisite(s): EPIB 507 or permission of the instructor.

Restriction(s): Course not open to students registered in the Epidemiology, Biostatistics or Public Health programs. Not open to students who have taken EPIB 591 when topic was “Regression Analysis for Health Sciences".

Epidemiology & Biostatistics : This course will provide a detailed description of the systematic review process, discuss the strengths and limitations of the method, and provide step-by-step guidance on how to perform a systematic review, and how to critically appraise systematic reviews. Specific topics to be covered include: formulation of the review question, searching of literature, quality assessment of studies, data extraction, meta-analytic methods, and report writing. The course will also cover statistical issues of meta-analysis.

Instructors: Filion, Kristian (Fall)

Prerequisite(s): EPIB 601 and EPIB 607 , or equivalent, or permission of the instructor.

Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 619 . Not open to students who have taken EPIB 675 when topic was 'Knowledge Synthesis'.

Experimental Surgery : Introduction to artificial intelligence (AI) applied to issues in medical diagnosis, therapy selection and learning from health data. Various AI methods, electronic medical records, and ethical/security concerns. Machine learning approaches including deep learning and reinforcement learning without delving too deeply into the technical details.

Instructors: Hooshiar, Amir; Fevens, Thomas; Barralet, Jake (Fall)

Offered by: Family Medicine ( Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences )

Family Medicine : Introduction, discussion, and practice of qualitative methodologies and methods for conducting rigorous and reflective qualitative research projects in health, with particular focus on family medicine education and health professions education.

Instructors: Rodriguez, Charo (Fall)

Prerequisite(s): Permission of the instructor if graduate student is outside of the Department of Family Medicine or the Institute of Health Sciences Education.

Course will be given in English. Course work may be submitted in English or French.

Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken or are taking HSED 625 or PSYT 625 .

PPHS : Key health policy topics in developed economies using analytic frameworks and tools from economics. Major topics include health insurance, health care financing, and the roles of individuals and public and private institutions in the health care system.

Restriction(s): Not open to students who have taken EPIB 527 .

NOTE: This course is open to graduate students and advanced undergraduates from all departments, with the permission of the instructor. A background in introductory economics is useful, though not required.

Or other relevant 500-, 600-, or 700-level courses upon approval of the student’s Research Advisory Committee.

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Concentration in Health Economics and Policy

Offered By: Department of Health Policy and Management

Onsite | Full-Time | 4 - 5 years

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About the Concentration in Health Economics and Policy

The concentration in Health Economics and Policy prepares doctoral students to address the most pressing challenges in health and health care through innovative, rigorous and interdisciplinary research in the field of health economics. This program integrates traditional training in economics with practical training in health policy and health services research to train the next generation of health economists.

The curriculum offers a broad exposure to the health economics literature and public health disciplines, and stresses the policy implications of these fields of research. The curriculum stresses a foundation in applied modern microeconomic theory, economic evaluation, quantitative methods and econometrics, including PhD-level courses from the Department of Economics in the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.

Doctoral students are paired with a faculty adviser from the Health Economics concentration with similar research interests. Faculty in the Health Economics concentration are working in a variety of research areas including understanding health insurance design, the economic implications of health and health care disparities, market forces and health care prices, pharmaceutical economics, and payment design and access. Doctoral students will also have the opportunity to work with other faculty within the Department, as well as faculty from other Departments including International Health, Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Biostatistics, the School of Medicine, School of Nursing, the Carey Business School, and the Department of Economics. Students also often work with various centers and initiatives across the University, including the Hopkins Business of Health Initiative.

What Can You Do With a Graduate Degree In Health Economics And Policy?

The program prepares students for successful research careers as health economists. Former students have gone onto careers in academia, government, research-oriented non-profits, and the private sector. Visit the  Graduate Employment Outcomes Dashboard to learn about Bloomberg School graduates' employment status, sector, and salaries.

View a list of selected recent graduates and dissertation titles for the PhD Concentration in Health Economics and Policy.

Curriculum for the Concentration in Health Economics and Policy

Browse an overview of the requirements for this PhD program in the JHU  Academic Catalogue  and explore all course offerings in the Bloomberg School  Course Directory .

Admissions Requirements

For general admissions requirements, please visit the How to Apply page.

Standardized Test Scores

Standardized test scores are  not required and not reviewed  for this program. If you have taken a standardized test such as the GRE, GMAT, or MCAT and want to submit your scores, please note that they will not be used as a metric during the application review.  Applications will be reviewed holistically based on all required application components.

Matthew Eisenberg, PhD, MPhil,

uses applied health economics methods to study how consumers make decisions about their healthcare.

Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) with the JHU PhD Union, the minimum guaranteed 2025-2026 academic year stipend is $50,000 for all PhD students with a 4% increase the following year. Tuition, fees, and medical benefits are provided, including health insurance premiums for PhD student’s children and spouses of international students, depending on visa type. The minimum stipend and tuition coverage is guaranteed for at least the first four years of a BSPH PhD program; specific amounts and the number of years supported, as well as work expectations related to that stipend will vary across departments and funding source. Please refer to the CBA to review specific benefits, compensation, and other terms.

Need-Based Relocation Grants Students who  are admitted to PhD programs at JHU starting in Fall 2023 or beyond can apply to receive a need-based grant to offset the costs of relocating to be able to attend JHU.   These grants provide funding to a portion of incoming students who, without this money, may otherwise not be able to afford to relocate to JHU for their PhD program. This is not a merit-based grant. Applications will be evaluated solely based on financial need.  View more information about the need-based relocation grants for PhD students .

Questions about the program? We're happy to help. [email protected]