health policy phd

• PhD in Health Policy

In This Section

• PhD in Public Policy
• PhD in Political Economy & Government
• PhD in Social Policy
• Job Market Candidates

The PhD in Health Policy is a highly interdisciplinary program that will develop the specialized skills you need for a research and teaching career in health policy.

The program is collaborative at its core, with its curriculum drawing from six Harvard schools:

• Harvard Business School
• Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
• Harvard Kennedy School
• Harvard Law School
• Harvard Medical School
• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

With more than 100 Harvard faculty members from these schools integrated in the program, you have access to the insights of leading experts across the full academic and professional spectrum.

Balance broad and specialized knowledge.

As a PhD in Health Policy student, you take courses throughout Harvard’s specialized schools. This allows you to become familiar with the conceptual frameworks, vernacular and perspectives of researchers from other disciplines.

At the same time, developing specialized skills in a discipline is a hallmark of the program, which is why you specialize in one of five concentrations:

• Decision Sciences
• Methods for Policy Research
• Political Analysis

The PhD in Health Policy degree is awarded by the  Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences (Harvard Griffin GSAS). Our graduates leave the program well equipped to make an impact in academia, government agencies, research institutes, think tanks, foundations, and multinational corporations. 

• Current Students

Health Policy PhD

Impact population health at a systems level.

Health policy is an interdisciplinary field that examines the organization and financing of health systems and services; the impact of health policies on population health; and the economic, social and behavioral determinants of health. It involves the investigation of all systems that affect population health, not just the medical care system. The purview of health policy is global.

The mission of our program is to prepare students for research careers in health policy and health services research; teaching; and public service in university, governmental and public policy settings. This program is distinguished by its interdisciplinary application of the social and behavioral science disciplines to real world health issues. Graduates are prepared to play lead scientific roles in addressing the many challenges facing health care and public health systems in the United States and countries around the world.

Students must successfully complete a health services research readings and methods seminar (two semesters), five specialty field courses, three quantitative research methods courses, and three additional graduate elective courses.

The program includes three specialty fields:

The Health Economics specialty field draws on economics, epidemiology and statistics to understand the causal relationship between different aspects of health and the health care sector. With an emphasis on quantifying relationships, health economics covers a broad range of study areas including health production, demand and supply of health services, health care financing, behavioral responses to institutional or policy incentives, policy evaluations and other efficiency, and equity issues surrounding health.

The Organizations & Management specialty field trains scholars in organizational behavior and political science in regards to health. Theories and methods in organizational sociology, political science and social psychology are central to the study of health organizations. Specialty field courses in macro-organizational theory, micro-organizational theory and organizational analysis of the health sector are required. This specialty field emphasizes the management of health care and public health organizations and systems, the implementation and dissemination of policies and practices within and across organizations, and the role of policy-making institutions as platforms for the creation and modification of health policies.

The Population Health Sciences specialty field trains students for research careers in the social, behavioral, and economic determinants of health and the study of interventions, policies, and practices that impact the health of populations and vulnerable communities. The specialty field emphasizes addressing the social and behavioral determinants of health through quantitative research informed by theoretical frameworks in economics, psychology, demography, and social epidemiology. Training in innovative methodologies for establishing causal relationships in quasi-experimental research is a cornerstone of the Population Health Sciences specialty field. Students will learn and integrate cutting-edge methods from key areas of strength at Berkeley: biostatistics, social science methods such as econometrics and formal demography, and the rapidly evolving set of data science innovations such as machine learning that are being advanced at Berkeley including in the Division of Computing, Data Science, and Society. The explosion of health sector data availability, along with Berkeley’s innovation hub positioning, make this an excellent track for students looking to become quantitative experts who can lead research across a wide variety of population health science and health policy questions.

Students have access to all of UC Berkeley’s disciplines and professional schools, in addition to UCSF faculty and research programs. This is a full-time program geared for careers in academia and research and students typically complete it in four to five years. Our program is administered by Berkeley Public Health and the doctoral degree is granted by UC Berkeley’s Graduate Division.

Graduates can achieve and demonstrate expertise in the following major academic outcomes:

• Develop domain expertise in core works in health policy and the selected specialty field.
• Understand central social science theoretical frameworks and debates shaping health policy.
• Demonstrate substantive knowledge of the specialty field sufficient to design and teach graduate-level courses in that field.
• Demonstrate the ability to conduct rigorous quantitative research.
• Plan and conduct independent research using advanced research methods.
• Demonstrate the mastery of academia and grant writing, conference presentation, IRB procedures and ethics in research.
• Engage in intellectual exchange among students and faculty across the university to enhance interdisciplinary research and training.

Qualifications

A master’s degree is not a requirement for this program, however, entering students should have completed introductory coursework in statistics, microeconomics, epidemiology and public health. Students without master’s-level coursework in these areas are required to take relevant courses at UC Berkeley or otherwise demonstrate mastery of these areas.

Graduates are well-prepared to assume academic careers in research and teaching. Many of our graduates move directly to positions in academia, government or research organizations. Other graduates receive postdoctoral fellowships to continue specific training in their area of interest and research.

To apply to the Health Policy PhD program, please complete the UC Berkeley Graduate Division admissions application . This program does not use the SOPHAS application.

Submissions of GRE scores are optional but strongly recommended for this program. Especially if you have no other evidence of quantitative, verbal, or analytical abilities in your application. If not submitting a score, competitive applicants will need to provide alternative evidence of strong quantitative capability and should speak to their analytical and quantitative preparation for the PhD program in their application based on past coursework (e.g. statistics, microeconomics, math) and/or professional experience.

Please submit a writing sample and provide a list of publications and/or presentations related to your academic or professional background (include the PubMed ID if applicable).

If your work is published as a website or part of it, please provide the URL. Your writing sample can be a written assignment, journal article, report, Op-Ed, commentary, conference abstract, or other publication. Please enter your most recent citation first.

This is a quantitatively-oriented health policy program. Prospective applicants primarily interested in qualitative methods are advised to explore related programs such as the UC Berkeley PhD in Social Welfare or Medical Anthropology, or the UCSF Sociology program. Prospective applicants instead primarily focused on computational methods should also consider related UC Berkeley PhD programs in Biostatistics or Computational Precision Health.

Core Faculty

The core PhD program faculty members of the School of Public Health, the Haas School of Business, School of Social Welfare, the Goldman School of Public Policy, and the Departments of Economics, Sociology, and Political Science.

Emeriti Faculty

Emeritus faculty of the Health Policy Faculty Group are Professors of the Graduate School and may serve on dissertation committees as Chair, inside members, or as an Academic Senate Representative. Their availability to students, however, may be limited compared to core faculty group members.

Health Policy Research Centers at UC Berkeley and UCSF

Health Policy PhD students have access to a wide range of resources at UC Berkeley and UCSF, including highly regarded research centers. Below are brief descriptions of a selected list of research centers most closely aligned with the Health Policy PhD program. These Centers include faculty from a wide variety of backgrounds and disciplines who bring expertise in health services research and provide settings for intensive training and mentorship opportunities for trainees.

• The  Berkeley Center for Health Technology (BCHT) , co-directed by Dr. James Robinson (Director) and Dr. Tim Brown (Associate Director), promotes the efficiency and effectiveness of healthcare through research and education on the development, insurance coverage, payment, and appropriate use of medical technologies. The focus of BCHT is on biopharmaceuticals, implantable medical devices, insurance benefit design, and payment methods. Research initiatives include leadership roundtables, case studies of leading organizations, and econometric analyses of public and private data sources. BCHT helps stakeholders design a healthcare system that combines innovation and entrepreneurship with economic efficiency and social fairness.
• The UC Berkeley  Nicholas C. Petris Center on Health Care Markets and Consumer Welfare , co-directed by Dr. Richard Scheffler (Director) and Dr. Brent Fulton (Associate Director), focuses on consumer protection, affordability and access to healthcare, especially for low and middle-income individuals. The Petris Center also focuses on and the role of information in consumer choice, and regulation and competition within healthcare markets.  The research center is named after former California State Senator Nicholas Petris, who advocated strongly on behalf of California consumers for affordable, accessible, and quality healthcare.
• The UC Berkeley  Center for Healthcare Organizational and Innovation Research (CHOIR) , co-directed by Dr. Hector Rodriguez (Director) and Dr. Amanda Brewster (Associate Director) aspires to help make the U.S. healthcare system among the most responsive in the world through practice-based research and dissemination of evidence. CHOIR emphasizes innovations in healthcare delivery and assessment of organizational performance to improve the technical quality of care delivered, patient experience and outcomes of care, population health, and cost. CHOIR works to maximize their “voice” and impact through webinars, roundtables, and discussions with private and public sector action and thought leaders.
• The  Laboratory for Systems Medicine , directed by Dr. Ziad Obermeyer, applies methods from machine learning, biostatistics, and econometrics to the complex world of medical diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes. The center translates large observational datasets into new ways to understand and improve the life and death decisions that providers and patients make every day, in the US and across the world.
• The Center on the  Economics and Demography of Aging (CEDA) , directed by Professor William Dow, was founded in 1993 to promote interdisciplinary research on the economic and demographic aspects of aging.  In response to the growing demand from government agencies, Congress, and academic researchers for timely, accessible, and practical information as well as basic research. At the central core of CEDA is a group of outstanding formal and mathematical and statistical demographers who apply their skills to a variety of research areas, including biodemography, demographic modeling and forecasting, and intergenerational transfers including fiscal accounting. This central core is enriched by other themes, notably psychological and behavioral economics with applications to economic and health-related behaviors.
• The  UC-Berkeley Opportunity Lab (O-Lab) , co-directed by Professor Ben Handel and Professor Hilary Hoynes serves as the central research hub for Berkeley scholars conducting rigorous, data-driven research on social and economic inequality in the United States. Our network of faculty and graduate students work across disciplines and study a wide array of topics, from the role of childhood food security on long-term economic security to the disparate impacts of climate change on low-income communities.
• The UCSF  Center for Vulnerable Populations  at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital carries out innovative research to prevent and treat chronic disease in populations for whom social conditions often conspire to both promote various chronic diseases and make their management more challenging. Beyond the local communities it serves, CVP is nationally and internationally known for its research in health communication and health policy to reduce health disparities, with special expertise in the social determinants of health, including literacy, food policy, poverty, and minority status, with a focus on the clinical conditions of pre-diabetes, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.  CVP is at the frontline of practice-based research on chronic diseases for the diverse and disadvantaged populations of San Francisco and the Bay Area. UCSF faculty mentors Drs. Margot Kushel, Courtney Lyles, and Urmimala Sarkar are core CVP faculty.
• The  Healthforce Center  at UCSF was founded in 1992 to help healthcare leaders and  policymakers better understand the health workforce and develop successful strategies and policies. The Center’s dynamic leadership training programs have touched thousands of people across the entire healthcare ecosystem who continue to make significant and meaningful change in healthcare. UCSF Professor Janet Coffman and Professor Joanne Spetz are core faculty of the center.

Current Health Policy PhD Students

• Madeline Adee
• Alexander Adia
• Calvin Chiu
• Christine Lo
• Jorge A. Morales Alfaro
• Rachel Ross
• Jaclyn Schess
• Alex Schulte
• Eleanor Tsai
• Solis Winters
• 2023–2024 Job Market Candidates

Graduates of the UC Berkeley PhD Program in Health Policy (formerly “Health Services and Policy Analysis”) hold leading research and teaching positions at academic and research institutions both within the United States and internationally. Many of our alumni hold tenured or tenure-track positions at respected universities and colleges such as Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, Cornell University, UCSF, and Dartmouth College. Our recent alumni have also successfully obtained post-doctoral appointments at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute, Kaiser Permanente Division of Research, Yale University, and Stanford University.

The following is a partial listing of PhD program alumni, their dissertation titles, and their current employment.

Jonathan Agnew, PhD Cost and Utilization of Outpatient Prescription Drugs Among the Elderly: Implications for a Medicare Benefit Owner and President, Agnew and Associates Medical Writing Vancouver, BC

Sangeeta C. Ahluwalia, PhD Professionalism among Physicians: Factors Associated with Outpatient Palliative Care Referral in a Managed Care Organization Senior Policy Researcher & Associate Director, Behavioral and Policy Sciences RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA

Jim Bellows, PhD Use of Worker’s Compensation Medical Care: Health Insurance Matters Managing Director Kaiser Permanente Care Management Institute, Oakland CA

Aman Bhandari, PhD National Estimates and Predictors of Pharmacy Utilization and Out-of-Pocket Prescription Drug Expenditures in Underserved Populations Vice President, Data Strategy and Solutions, Vertex Pharmaceuticals, Boston, MA

Claire Boone, PhD Essays in Health and Behavioral Economics Postdoctoral Fellow University of Chicago

Timothy T. Brown, PhD Three Essays on the Labor Market for Nonphysician Clinicians Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management Associate Director of Research, Berkeley Center for Health Technology University of California Berkeley, School of Public Health, Berkeley CA

Sahai Burrowes, PhD Essays on the Political Impact of Development Assistance Allocation in Malawi Associate Professor of Public Health Touro University, Vallejo CA

Drew Cameron, PhD The effect of short-term subsidies on future demand for potable water in rural Bihar, India: A randomized controlled trial Assistant Professor of Public Health (Health Policy) Yale University School of Public Health

Lawrence Casalino, MD, PhD Medical Groups and Physician Organization; Physician-Hospital and Physician-Health Plan Relationships; Physician Organization and Quality Professor Emeritus of Population Health Sciences Weill Cornell Medical College

Aaron Caughey, MD, PhD Applications from Behavioral Economics to Decision Making in the Setting of Prenatal Diagnosis Professor and Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR

Paulette Cha, PhD Essays on Health Economics and Immigration Fellow Public Policy Institute of California

Susan Chapman, PhD The Experience of Returning to Work for Employed Women with Breast Cancer Professor, UCSF School of Nursing San Francisco, CA

Ann Chou, PhD Shared decision making: The selection process of treatment options and resulting quality of life implications for women with breast cancer Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine, Health Sciences Center University of Oklahoma

Elizabeth Ciemins, PhD The Effect of Mental Health Parity on Children’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Service Utilization in Massachusetts Director of Research and Analytics American Medical Group Association Foundation, Alexandria, VA

Janet Coffman, PhD All Capitated Systems are not Alike: Effects of Organizational Structure, Culture, and Climate on Medicaid Recipients Use of Inpatient Psychiatric Care Professor of Health Policy Institute for Health Policy Studies, UC San Francisco

Carrie Colla, PhD Effects of the San Francisco Employer Health Spending Mandate Professor of Health Economics Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover NH

Leeann Comfort, PhD Applications and Extensions of Organization Theory: The Context of Accountable Care Organizations Scientist Administrator, Social Science Researcher Division of Healthcare Delivery and Systems Research Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality

David Contreras-Loya, PhD Managerial Practices and Altruism in Health Care Delivery Research Professor Escuela de Gobierno y Transformación Pública Tecnológico de Monterrey

Jan Cooper, PhD Money, Sex, and Power – An Analysis of Relationship Power in the Context of Conditional Cash Transfer Interventions to Reduce Risky Sex in Tanzania Researcher, Global Health and Policy Analysis Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Jae Corman, PhD Foreclosures and Health Senior Director of Analytics Folx Health

Alison Evans Cuellar, PhD Changing Markets and Hospital: Managed Care, Horizontal Integration and Vertical Alignment Professor of Health Administration and Policy Associate Dean of Research, College of Public Health George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

Julie Dang, PhD Two Shots to Cancer Prevention: Improving the Uptake of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine among Preadolescent Patients of a Primary Care Network Assistant Professor & Executive Director, Office of Community Outreach and Engagement UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Maria Dieci, PhD Patient vs. provider incentives for malaria care: A cluster randomized controlled trial in Kenyan pharmacies Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management Emory University

Ebbin Dotson, PhD The Business Case for Leadership Diversity in Health Care Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI

April Falconi, PhD Perimenopause as a Sensitive Period for Women’s Health and Aging: A Review of the Chronic Disease Literature and Two Empirical Tests of Significance Associate Director, Elevance Health

Kevin Feeney, PhD Essays on Cash Transfers and Health Economist, Amazon Los Angeles, CA

Sara Fernandes-Taylor, PhD Provider Communication, Self-Reported Health, and Post-Treatment Regret among Young Breast Cancer Survivors Scientist III Department of Surgery University of Wisconsin School of Medicine

Robin Flagg, PhD Governor Decision Making: Expansion of Medicaid Under the Affordable Care Act Continuing Lecturer, Division of Health Policy and Management University of California, Berkeley

Jennifer Frehn, PhD Understanding the Influences and Organization of Systems to Improve Community Health Post-doctoral Research Fellow, School of Public Health UCLA

Vicki Fung, PhD The Effects of Losing Brand-Name Drug Coverage: Changes in Use of Inhaled Steroids and Clinical Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries with Asthma Associate Professor of Medicine, Mongan Institute for Health Policy Massachusetts General Hospital Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School Boston, MA

Daniel Gentry, PhD Organizational Bureaucracy, Legitimacy, and “Thrival”: A Study of the Response by AIDS Service Organizations in Twenty California Counties to the Ryan White CARE Act of 1990 President & CEO, Association of University Programs in Health Administration

Gabrielle Goldstein, JD, PhD A Market for Ethics Counsel Nixon Peabody LLP San Francisco, CA

Julia Goodman, PhD Three Essays on Maternity Leave Policies, Utilization and Consequences Assistant Professor of Public Health OHSU & Portland State University School of Public Health

Lakshmi Gopalakrishnan, PhD Gender norms as a social determinant of health and well-being of married adolescent girls and young women in South Asia Postdoctoral Fellow UCSF

Ilana Graetz, PhD The Impact of EHR and Teamwork on Care Transitions and Patient Outcomes Associate Professor of Health Policy and Management Rollins School of Public Health Emory University, Atlanta, GA

Chaoran Guo, PhD Social Learning in Health Insurance Choices: Evidence from Employer-Sponsored Health Plans Senior Data Scientist, Netflix Los Gatos, CA

Emily Hague, PhD Antecedents and Outcomes Associated with Hospital Participation in a Clinically Integrated Network Health Policy Researcher Mathematica Policy Research, Oakland, CA

Courtnee Hamity, PhD Social Influence and Innovation Adoption in the Clinical Setting Senior Program Officer, Evaluation and Data Strategy Blue Shield of California Foundation, San Francisco, CA

Alein Haro-Ramos, PhD Racism, Illegality, and Population Health: Mechanisms, Interventions, & Community-Engaged Research UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellow Department of Health, Society, and Behavior University of California, Irvine

Zoë K. Harris, PhD Private Health Insurance Sponsored Wellness Programs:  Examining Participation in the Healthy Lifestyle Rewards Financial Incentives Program on Health Care Costs, Utilization, and Risk Behaviors Executive Director, Head of Customer Engagement Strategy & Operations Genetech

Nianyi Hong, PhD Essays on Patient and Firm Behavior in Health Economics Analyst, Congressional Budget Office Washington, DC

Thomas Huber, PhD The Role of Micro and Macro Level Organizational Coordination in Accountable Care Organizations Adjunct Professor, The Ohio State University

Dorothy Hung, PhD Behavioral Preventive Service Delivery, Productivity, and Staff Turnover in Primary Care Practices: The Role of Participation in Decision Making and the Chronic Care Model Research Scientist and Director, Center for Lean and Engagement Research, School of Public Health University of California, Berkeley

Vanessa Hurley, PhD Collaborative Learning among Health Care Practice and Systems to Improve Patient-Centered Care Assistant Professor of Health Systems Administration Georgetown University

Jenny Hyun, PhD Person-Centered Care Program Philosophy in Capitated Community Mental Health Centers in Colorado Director, Business Intelligence Vituity, Emeryville, CA

Jennifer K. Ibrahim, PhD State Medicaid Coverage for Tobacco Dependence Treatments: Implications for a Federal Mandate Dean and Professor, College of Public Health and School of Social Welfare Temple University, Philadelphia PA

Jae Kennedy, PhD Americans Needing Assistance with Activities of Daily Living: Current Estimates and Policy Implications Professor of Health Policy and Administration Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine Washington State University, Spokane WA

Jung Kim, PhD Examining factors associated with learning and performance in primary care Graduate Medical Education organizations Assistant Professor, Health Systems Science Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine

Margae Knox, PhD Health System Efforts to Address Health Related Social Needs: Implications for Public Health, Health Services Use, and Quality Outcomes Postdoctoral Delivery Science Fellow Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente

Heather Knauer, PhD Parenting and Child Development in Rural Mexico: Examination of a Large-Scale Parenting Program Adjunct Assistant Professor School of Social Work University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI

Ada Kwan, PhD Can We Improve Quality of Care in Private Health Sectors? Evidence from a Randomized Field Experiment in Kenya Postdoctoral Researcher, School of Medicine University of California, San Francisco

Susan Lehrman, PhD Hospitals’ Participation in the Nursing Home Market Professor and Dean Emeritus, Rohrer College of Business Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey

Jing Li, PhD Altruism and Efficiency Preferences of U.S Medical Students and their Expected Specialty Choice Assistant Professor of Health Economics School of Pharmacy, University of Washington

Rui Li, PhD Effect of Financial Incentives on Physician Productivity in Medical Groups Senior Economist, Division of Reproductive Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta GA

Michael Lin, PhD Nursing Home Quality: Structure and Strategy Senior Scientist, Telligen Denver, CO

Jenny Liu, PhD Healthy Time, Home Production, and Labor Supply: The Effect of Health Shocks on Time Use within Chinese Households during Economic Transition Professor of Health Economics School of Nursing University of California, San Francisco

Christopher Lowenstein, PhD Essays on labor markets and health: Employment conditions and drug, suicide, and alcohol-related mortality among working-age adults in the United States Postdoctoral Fellow, Epidemiology Stanford University

Martin Marciniak, PhD Too Good to Be True? The Effect of Nicotine Replacement Therapy on an Individual’s Ability to Quit Smoking Vice President and Head, US Health Outcomes Chiesi USA, Inc.

Soledad Martinez, PhD Income, Health Insurance Type and the Quality of Primary Care Systems in Chile: Effects on Health Outcomes and Utilization of Services Assistant Professor School of Public Health at Universidad de Chile, Santiago Chile

Jill Marsteller, PhD The Relationship between Non-Racial Diversity in Team Composition and Performance and Creativity in a Chronic Illness Care Quality Improvement Intervention Professor, Health Policy and Management Bloomberg School of Public Health, John Hopkins University, Baltimore MD

Peter Martelli, PhD An Argument for Knowledge Variety in Evidence-Based Management Associate Professor of Healthcare Administration Sawyer Business School, Suffolk University, Boston, MA

Sean McClellan, PhD When does Adoption of Health Information Technology by Physician Practices Lead to Use by Physicians within the Practice? Health Policy Researcher Abt and Associates, Boston, MA

Rodney K. McCurdy, PhD Network Influence on Chronic Illness Care in Large Physician Organization:  A Study of the California Managed Care Network in 2001 and 2006 Professor and Program Director National University Detroit, MI

Kathryn McDonald, PhD Ambulatory Care Organizations: Improving Diagnosis Bloomberg Distinguished Professor Johns Hopkins University Schools of Medicine and Nursing

Sara McMenamin, PhD Organizational Support for Smoking Cessation Interventions in Physician Organizations Associate Professor, Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health & Human Longevity University of California, San Diego

Angela Merrill, PhD Subjective Expectations of Nursing Home Use, Medicaid, and Economic Behavior by Older Americans Principal Researcher Mathematica Policy Research, Cambridge MA

Chris Miller-Rosales, PhD Advancing Organizational Capabilities to Improve Patient Engagement in Health Care Associate, Analysis Group Menlo Park, CA

Eric Nauenberg, PhD Air Pollution and Hospitalization for Asthma in Los Angeles County: Economic and Policy Implications Associate Professor of Health Economics Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-term Care/Dept of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, University of Toronto, Canada

Zachary Olson, PhD Can a Conditional Cash Transfer Reduce Teen Fertility? The Case of Brazil’s Bolsa Familia Senior Economist, Amazon Seattle, WA

Michael K. Ong, MD, PhD The Effects of Regulatory Change on the Safety of Pharmaceutical Innovations Professor in Residence, Division of GIM & HSR Associate Chief of Staff for Research Department of Medicine, UCLA and VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, CA

Laura Packel, PhD Who Changes How: Strategies and Motivation for Risk Reduction Behaviors in the Context of an Economic-based HIV Prevention Intervention in Tanzania Research Director, McCoy Research Group University of California, Berkeley, School of Public Health

Mary Paterson, PhD Financial Status of Retiree Caregivers: An Analysis of the Asset Structure of the Retiree Caregiver Professor Emeritus, School of Nursing The Catholic University of America, Washington DC

Krista Perreira, PhD Exits, Recidivism, and Caseload Growth: The Effect of Private Health Insurance Markets on the Demand for Medicaid Professor of Health Economics University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, School of Medicine

Dana Petersen, PhD Social Capital, Social Support, and Quality of Life among Long-Term Breast Cancer Survivors Senior Researcher Mathematic Policy Research, Oakland CA

Aryn Phillips, PhD The Impact of Retail Availability on Health Behaviors: Policy Applications for the Prevention & Management of Chronic Conditions Assistant Professor of Health Policy and Management School of Public Health University of Maryland, College Park

Kathryn Phillips, PhD Public Policy and Screening: The Influence of State Policies on Utilization of Human Autoimmunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Screening Professor of Health Economics and Health Services Research UCSF School of Pharmacy, San Francisco CA

Jessica Poon, PhD Multilevel Pathways to Patient-Centered Care Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Division of Research Kaiser Permanente

Alexis Pozen, PhD Price Variation for Colonoscopy in a Commercially Insured Population Assistant Professor City University of New York School of Public Health New York NY

Brian Quinn, PhD The Effect of Community-Level Unemployment On Preventive Oral Health Care Utilization Associate Vice President, Research-Evaluation-Learning The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Princeton NJ

Nadia Safaeinili, PhD Evaluation of a statewide integrated medical and social service case management policy innovation: A multi-level assessment of equitable implementation for frontline staff and high-risk, high-need Medicaid patients Research Scientist, School of Medicine Stanford University

Robert Schell, PhD Understanding the Role of Socioeconomic, Health Behavioral, and Genetic Factors in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Associate, Analysis Group Menlo Park, CA

Julie Schmittdiel, PhD The Effect on Primary Health Care Orientation on Chronic Care Management Research Scientist and Associate Director of Health Care Delivery and Policy Division of Research Kaiser Permanente Northern California Oakland CA

John Schneider, PhD Regulation and Regulatory Reform in the U.S. Hospital Industry, 1980-1996 CEO and Founder Avalon Health Economics, Morristown NJ

Neil J. Sehgal, PhD Social Influences on Healthcare Outcomes in a Major Academic Medical Center Associate Professor of Health Systems and Population Health School of Public Health, University of Washington

Tetine Sentell, PhD Literacy, Health, and Health Services Use in a Nationally Representative Sample Chin Sik & Hyun Sook Chung Endowed Chair Department of Health Policy and Management Thompson School of Social Work & Public Health

Gordon Shen, PhD Global Mental Health Policy Diffusion, Institutionalization, and Innovation Assistant Professor of Management, Policy and Community Health The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health

Timothy Snail, PhD The Effects of Hospital Contracting for Physician Services on Hospital Performance Vice President, Charles River Associates Boston, MA

Sean Sullivan, PhD The Demand for Prescription Drugs in Elderly Americans Professor of Health Economics and Dean Emeritus School of Pharmacy, University of Washington

Aaron Tierney, PhD Virtual Diabetes and Hypertension Care in Community Health Centers: Use, Quality, and Patient Preferences Clinical Informatics Postdoctoral Fellow, Division of Research Kaiser Permanente

Yi-Wen Tsai, PhD Cigarette Taxation, National Health Insurance Professor, Institute of Health and Welfare Policy National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan

Lauren van der Walt, PhD Increasing Women’s Access to Information about Safe Abortion Methods through Local and Global Hotlines Executive Director, Optio Berkeley, CA

Megan Vanneman, PhD Consequences of Devolution: Effectiveness, Efficiency, and Equity in California’s County-based Public Mental Health Care System Assistant Professor of Medicine and Population Health Sciences University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

Todd Wagner, PhD The Economics of Consumer Health Information Director, Health Economics Resource Center Department of Veterans Affairs Professor of Surgery Stanford University

Zachary Wagner, PhD Community Health Workers to Increase Use of ORS and Zinc to Treat Child Diarrhea in Uganda: A Cluster Randomized Trial Associate Policy Researcher, RAND Corporation Santa Monica, CA

Neal Wallace, PhD A Production Function Approach to Mental Health Service Coordination in California’s Publicly Financed Mental Health System Professor of Health Systems Management and Policy OHSU-Portland State University School of Public Health

Jessica Watterson, PhD Influences on the Effectiveness of Health Information Technology Innovations in Primary Health Care Senior Research Fellow in Public Health Monash University Melbourne, Australia

Christopher M. Whaley, PhD The Effects of Consumer Information and Cost-Sharing on Healthcare Prices Policy Researcher RAND Corporation

Justin White, PhD A Team-Based Behavioral Economics Experiment on Smoking Cessation Associate Professor of Health Economics Department of Health Law, Policy & Management, School of Public Health Boston University

Frances Wu, PhD The Role of Health Information Technology in Early Accountable Care Organizations in the U.S. Research Associate, The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom

Jill Yegian, PhD Politics, Economics, and Organizational Innovation in the Small Group Market for Health Insurance Principal, Yegian Health Insights, LLC Oakland, CA

Myoungsoon You, PhD Determinants of Risk Perception among Women with a Family History of Breast Cancer Professor Seoul National University, Korea

Jim Zazzali, PhD Executive Director, Head of Health Policy and Systems Research, and Modeling Genentech

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“ No other institution but HBS could have given me the same level of access to resources that span business, health policy, and medicine. ”

Current Harvard Health Policy Faculty  

Current health policy (management) students.

• Hassina Bahadurzada
• Derrick Bransby
• Crystal Guo
• Tanner Houston
• Bohan Li
• Celia Stafford
• Mitchell Tang
• Gabe Weinreb
• Olivia Zhao

Current HBS Faculty & Students by Interest

• Robert S. Huckman
• Ariel D. Stern
• Kris Johnson Ferreira
• Marco Iansiti

Recent Placement

Emilie aguirre, 2021, michael anne kyle, 2021, michaela kerrissey, 2018, a jay holmgren, 2021, lauren taylor, 2020, olivia jung, 2021, philip saynisch, 2019.

Health Policy

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The program involves more than 100 faculty members from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard Business School, Harvard Kennedy School, Harvard Law School, Harvard Medical School, and Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. You will choose your path from among five disciplines: decision sciences, economics, management, methods for policy research, and political analysis.

Students in the program have worked on a wide range of topics, including access to and utilization of health care, disability rights, physician decision-making, and health system organization. Examples of dissertations include “The Use of Information Technology in US Health Care Delivery,” “Understanding Mental Health Care Use and Outcomes among Individuals with Reduced Access to Care,” and “The Consequences of Government Provision and Regulation of Health Insurance.”

Supportive alumni can be a critical link to beginning your successful post-graduate career. Graduates of the program have secured faculty positions at institutions across the globe, including Stanford University; University of California, Los Angeles; and Yale University. Others have gone on to careers with the RAND Corporation, the Congressional Budget Office, the World Bank, and Kaiser Family Foundation.

Additional information on the graduate program is available from the PhD Program in Health Policy and requirements for the degree are detailed in Policies . 

Areas of Study

Decision Sciences | Economics | Management | Methods for Policy Research | Political Analysis

Admissions Requirements

Please review admissions requirements and other information before applying. You can find degree program-specific admissions requirements below and access additional guidance on applying from the PhD Program in Health Policy .

Academic Background

All applicants must apply to a specific concentration of the program and must indicate this choice in their statement of purpose. Up to two concentration areas may be specified. Additionally, applicants should indicate policy areas that are of interest.

Statement of Purpose

Describe your reasons and motivations for pursuing a PhD in Health Policy at Harvard. What experiences led you to your research ambitions? Concisely state your past work in your intended field of study and in related fields. Briefly indicate your career objectives. Your statement should not exceed 1,000 words. You should also include your concentration(s) and policy area(s) of interest.

Standardized Tests

GRE General (or GMAT): Optional for Decision Sciences, Economics, Methods for Policy Research, and Political Analysis. Required for Management iBT TOEFL minimum score: 100 IELTS minimum score: 7.5

Fall Grades

Fall term grades should be sent when available if attending school while applying to the program (prospective students may add this information to the Fall Grade Report, available in the Applicant Portal, after they have submitted their application).

Those interested in earning an MD/PhD in Health Policy apply through the American Medical College Application Service . Once enrolled, MD/PhD students submit application materials to Harvard Griffin GSAS prior to beginning their PhD studies.

For the coordinated JD/PhD , applicants must apply separately to each program and indicate in the application to the PhD Program in Health Policy that a concurrent application has been submitted to Harvard Law School.

Theses & Dissertations

Theses & Dissertations for Health Policy

See list of Health Policy faculty

APPLICATION DEADLINE

Questions about the program.

Stanford University

Stanford Health Policy is a joint effort of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the Stanford School of Medicine

PhD in Health Policy

To our prospective students and trainees:.

The Department of Health Policy recognizes that the Supreme Court issued a ruling in June 2023 about the consideration of certain types of demographic information as part of an admission review. All applications submitted during upcoming application cycles will be reviewed in conformance with that decision. 

The Department of Health Policy welcomes graduate applications from individuals with a broad range of life experiences, perspectives, and backgrounds who would contribute to our community of scholars. The review process is holistic and individualized, considering each applicant’s academic record and accomplishments, letters of recommendation, prior research experience, and admissions essays to understand how an applicant’s life experiences have shaped their past and potential contributions to their field and how they might enrich the learning community at Stanford.

The Application for the 2024-2025 academic year is now closed.

PhD Program Informational Video

Stanford Health Policy offers a PhD program which promises to educate students who will be scholarly leaders in the field of health policy, and will be highly knowledgeable about the theoretical and empirical approaches that can be applied in the development of improvements in health policy and the health care system. The curriculum offers courses across a wide range of health policy areas including health economics, health insurance and government program operation, health financing, international health policy and economic development, cost-effectiveness analysis and the evaluation of new technologies, health law and ethics, health systems operations, relevant statistical and methodological approaches, and health policy issues related to public health concerns like obesity and chronic disease. In addition to taking a set of core courses, students are expected to complete coursework in one of three tracks:

1. Health Economics  -  including the economic behavior of individuals, providers, insurers, and governments and the methodologic training to measure how their actions affect health and medical care,

2.  Decision Sciences  -  with quantitative techniques to assess the effectiveness and value of medical treatments and for decision making about medical care and health policies at the individual and/or collective level,

3. Evaluative Methods  –  encompassing advanced statistical, computational, and other quantitative methodologies appropriate for application in areas of interest to students such as organizational behavior, law, ethics, and data science.

Academic advising by our faculty is a critical component of our graduate students' education.

All matriculating students will be assigned a faculty advisor from the group of  CORE FACULTY  to help them design their academic program. Students will remain with this advisor until the time that they have developed other arrangements for advising.

Advisors will meet with students within the first quarter of each year to discuss students' Individual Development Plan(s) (IDPs).  Additionally, students will meet with their advisor(s) on a regular basis throughout each year to discuss course selection, progress through the program, development of research projects, and career plans.

Academic progress and student completion of program requirements and milestones are monitored by the program staff and directors and discussed at quarterly meetings of all PhD advisors. Students are expected to identify a group of normally 3 thesis advisors before or, at the latest, shortly after the time that they advance to candidacy for the degree. This group will consist of one primary and, at least, two secondary advisors, who may or may not be the same as the initially assigned faculty advisor. The Director of Graduate Studies and the Executive Committee will monitor advising arrangements to ensure that students receive adequate supervision.

For further information on advising in the program, please see the PhD Handbook.

Though circumstances may be different from one student to another, we anticipate being able to provide and/or help students obtain financial support for the first four years of the program. Individuals who are not citizens or permanent residents of the US may apply. However, due to funding restrictions we are limited in our ability to admit applicants who are not citizens or permanent residents and who do not have funding through the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program or substantial funding from another non-Stanford source.  Students who are non-citizens or non-permanent residents are strongly encouraged to apply for such funding. 

For information about the Knight-Hennessy Program, please see:  https://knight-hennessy.stanford.edu/  ( please note the Knight-Hennessy Program has earlier deadlines than the PhD program )

PhD Application Process Explained

You can watch the recording of the PhD Pre-application Information Session.

The Stanford University School of Medicine and the Health Policy Program are committed to fostering a diverse community in which all individuals are welcomed, respected, and supported to achieve their full potential. While race and ethnicity are commonly cited in relation to diversity, we recognize that there are many different aspects to identity, including culture socioeconomic and educational background, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, physical ability, life experiences, hobbies, and interests. We value diversity because we believe that interaction with people with unique backgrounds and life experiences allows us to reach a greater level of innovation in health policies, health policy research, education and clinical care.

Stanford Health Policy is committed to doing our part to contribute to a more equitable and just society. We hope prospective students from diverse backgrounds consider joining our program to help us continue to make important contributions in health policy to address these and many other problems of our day. Additionally, as a program linked with the Stanford Biosciences Programs, we support the  Biosciences Commitment to Justice and Action  and, where appropriate, will connect and participate in the activities offered in the statement.

The program works with multiple groups and offices across campus to facilitate student access, support, and connectivity. These include, but are not limited to:

Stanford Biosciences:  https://oge.stanford.edu/inclusion/  

Stanford Office of the Vice Provost for Graduate Education:  https://vpge.stanford.edu/diversity-initiatives/overview

Stanford Office of Accessible Education:  https://oae.stanford.edu

Stanford Graduate Life Office:  https://glo.stanford.edu

Stanford Student Affairs:  https://studentaffairs.stanford.edu

Doctor of Philosophy in Health Policy and Management

UCLA Fielding School of Public Health

The PhD in Health Policy and Management is an academic degree emphasizing the in-depth expertise necessary for a research career. It emphasizes the integration of theory and research in a focused substantive area (cognate). This includes classroom instruction; non-credit seminars; independent study; research projects; academic apprenticeships; and interaction with faculty, fellow students, and other professionals within and outside the UCLA campus.

Because each student has unique and specific interests, doctoral training is individualized to the needs and interests of the particular student.

The doctoral program encompasses the following major elements and stages:

• Course work in the major and cognate/minor fields
• Written qualifying examination
• Proposal for the dissertation
• Oral qualifying examination on the proposal for the dissertation (advancement to candidacy)

Dissertation

• Oral defense of the dissertation

Course Work

Students must have a minimum of 17 courses (70 units). All students are required to specialize in a particular area of study, a cognate, which requires additional coursework. Of these, 11-12 courses (46-50 units) are required, five courses (20 units) are electives, and remaining units may be fulfilled with additional electives or from the cognate coursework.

Required Courses (11-12 courses/44-50 units)

• HLT POL 200A: Health Systems Organization and Financing, I
• HLT POL 226A: Readings in Health Service Research (2 Units)
• HLT POL 226B: Readings in Health Service Research (2 Units)
• HLT POL 227B: Special Topics in Health Services
• HLT POL 225A: Health Services Research Design (6 Units)
• HLT POL 225B: Health Services Research Design (6 Units)
• HLT POL 423 Practices of Evaluation in Health Services
• HLT POL 237C: Health Services Research Methodology (6 Units)
• BIOSTATS 201A: Applied Regression
• BIOSTATS 201B: Applied Regression
• EPIDEM 100 or an equivalent introductory survey course or show proof of an equivalent graduate-level introductory epidemiology course that meets the requirements for an MPH, MS, PhD, or MD program
• One (or more) additional statistics course (200-level or above) ONLY this additional statistics course may be taken on a Pass/No Pass basis. All other courses MUST be graded.

Elective Courses (5 courses/20 units)

• Students select four or more elective courses

Cognate Requirements

Cognate studies give students a depth of knowledge in a field that is complementary to health policy and management. Students are required to take PhD level coursework that satisfies the requirements of at least one cognate. Students choose a cognate from areas such as economics, epidemiology, health care outcomes research, organizational behavior, and public policy studies, or may design their own cognate with a faculty member.

Qualifying Exam

Students generally take the qualifying exam after the completion of all course work, usually in the beginning of their third year of doctoral studies. The purpose of the written qualifying exam is to prepare and evaluate students’ knowledge and application of a number of areas, and to assess students’ readiness to undertake independent research.

Dissertation Proposal

The dissertation proposal describes the student’s desired area of research, the methods that will be used to examine relevant data and how it will support the dissertation findings, and explain the dissertation’s contribution to the field.

Dissertation Proposal Defense (Oral Qualifying Examination)

The purpose of the dissertation proposal defense (also known as the oral qualifying examination) is twofold: 1) to evaluate the research being proposed for the dissertation and 2) to assess the student’s ability to conduct this research. The defense focuses on the proposal for the dissertation.

The dissertation reports the results of the research conducted based on the proposal. The dissertation should demonstrate the scientific merit of the work itself and the student’s mastery over its substance and methods. It must demonstrate that the student is qualified to conduct independent research.

Dissertation Defense

The final oral examination is a defense of the dissertation. The purpose of this examination is twofold: 1) to evaluate the research conducted for the dissertation 2) to assess the student’s ability to conduct independent research. The exam focuses on the dissertation.

The PhD is generally obtained in four or five years.

View a list of faculty in the Department of Health Policy and Management.

Many graduates of the program pursue research and teaching careers in health care management and health policy analysis.

Examples of position held by graduates include:

• Tenure-Track Faculty
• Research Director

For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the  registrar's office .

Please see the cost and aid section of our website for information on awards, scholarships, training opportunities, employment, summer internship funding, and need-based aid. Please note that opportunities listed under 'Summer Internship Funding' are only applicable to MPH students.

Desired Qualifications

In addition to meeting the University’s minimum requirements , the Department of Health Policy and Management recommends a master’s degree in public health or other appropriate graduate degree in a related field with a grade-point average of at least 3.5 for graduate studies. In addition, although not required for admission, research experience in the field is viewed favorably when competing applications are judged. Students do not need to identify a faculty mentor in order to apply for the program.

Admissions Process

Visit the application guide to learn about our admissions process.

Please note:

This information is intended as an overview, and should be used as a guide only. Requirements, course offerings and other elements may change, and this overview may not list all details of the program. 

Admission requirements listed are departmental requirements, and are in addition to the University's minimum requirements. Many programs receive more applicants than can be admitted, so meeting the minimum requirements for admission does not ensure admission. Every effort is made to ensure minimum admissions requirements are up to date - for the most up-to-date information on the University's minimum requirements, please visit the  UCLA Graduate Division .

Fees are subject to change and should be used as a guide only. For the most up to date fees and more information on fee breakdown, visit the  registrar's office.

Related Programs

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD Residential)

Our mission.

The mission of the PhD Program in Health Policy and Management is to provide students with the skills to conduct innovative high impact health services and health policy research that can be used to foster the most effective ways to organize, manage, finance, and deliver high quality health care; increase efficiency and improve patient safety. Housed in the top rated Gillings School of Global Public Health’s Department of Health Policy and Management, we offer a curriculum that provides students with rigorous training in quantitative and qualitative research methods, the academic foundation, and research experience to become independent and creative health services and health policy researchers.

PhD Student Spotlight

Friedman lead author on rural medicare patient admissions study.

HPM PhD student Hannah Friedman and HPM Professor Mark Holmes are authors of a study that suggests Medicare patients may be bypassing rural hospitals altogether and traveling longer distances to seek care at urban hospitals.

PhD Alumni Spotlight

Hpm alums and faculty author new article in health services research.

Karen Swietek is first author on " Duration of medical home participation and quality of care for patients with chronic conditions ," which also features work by alumni Lexie Grove and Chris Beadles and HPM professor Marisa Domino.

Our Training Program

During the first two years in the PhD Program in Health Policy and Management, students take courses in health services research, research design, quantitative and qualitative methods, and health policy.

• See a typical course schedule
• Options for Policy Courses

Information for Applicants

There are many reasons to attend UNC, including our student-centered culture; emphasis on professional development; outstanding and engaged faculty; our commitment to inclusive excellence ; and our culture of collaboration. It is also a great place to live. Finally, our students get top jobs in academic settings, research organizations and government agencies after graduation.

• Student-centered culture: HPM works hard to create a student-centered culture. There are many opportunities for informal interactions between students and faculty. Students also have a voice into decisions about the PhD program through the PhD Advisory Committee. This committee has four student members, one from each cohort and alumni representatives. This ensures that students have a cohort representative who can provide input into all aspects of the PhD program.
• Emphasis on professional development: UNC’s PhD program in HPM provides students with rigorous training in research and analytical methods, as well as content knowledge in health services and health policy. We also emphasize professional development skills that are essential to our graduates’ long-term success, including: evidence-based research practices; conducting research in interdisciplinary teams; writing for diverse audiences; and teaching.
• Faculty: Our faculty are recognized locally and nationally for their research and teaching. When students are admitted, they will have a commitment from a faculty member with overlapping interests who is excited to serve as the advisor and dissertation chair. This will help ensure that the student has a faculty member who advocates for and supports them, even before they arrive at UNC. See our list of faculty advisors .
• Culture of collaboration: We have strong collegial relationships with research centers, institutes, and think tanks throughout the area. At UNC, these include:
• Departments within the Gillings School of Global Public Health
• UNC Schools of Medicine , Pharmacy , Dentistry , Nursing
• Sheps Center for Health Services Research
• Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
• Carolina Population Center
• UNC Healthcare System
• Duke and North Carolina State University
• The Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care at the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center
• Blue Cross/Blue Shield of North Carolina
• RTI International
• Community Care of North Carolina
• Bristol-Myers-Squibb
• North Carolina Institute of Medicine
• Great place to live: The Research Triangle area is one of the most desirable places in the country to live. Chapel Hill has been named one of the best small towns and cities in the US and one of the best cities for college basketball fans. Durham, adjacent to Chapel Hill, was rated as one of the top 41 places in the world to visit . Chapel Hill is also within easy driving distance of the beach or mountains. With two major colleges (UNC and Duke), there are many inexpensive things to do. For example:
• UNC and Duke sporting events (free except men’s basketball and football)
• Carolina Performing Arts
• Playmakers Repertory Company
• Durham Performing Arts Center
• Great restaurants
• Professional sports, including the Durham Bulls and Carolina Hurricanes

All students must select a minor area that may be either disciplinary or interdisciplinary. They must take at least 15 credit hours in their minor area. Our minors are:

• Decision Sciences and Outcomes Research
• Financial Management
• Health Politics and Policy
• Organization and Implementation Science
• Quality and Access

UNC offers an MSPH-to-PhD track within the PhD Program. The MSPH-to PhD option complements our existing PhD program by allowing students who may lack experience in health policy or health services research and want a Master’s degree before embarking on a PhD dissertation. This program adds an additional year of coursework on to the PhD curriculum, but students receive both an MSPH and a PhD upon completion of the program. See a sample coursework schedule here .

• Institutional pre-doctoral training grants within the Department, the Sheps Center for Health Services Research , the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center , the Carolina Population Center , and NC TraCS
• A pre-doctoral fellowship through Bristol-Myers-Squibb
• Dissertation awards from the federal government
• Research Assistantships on a large range of funded research projects
• Job placement list of HPM Alumni
• Profiles of some of our current students can been seen here.
• Profiles of our students on the job market can be seen here.

Applications for Fall 2024 will open in August 2023. Please see our Application Deadlines page for specific deadline dates. Application fees may be waived for qualifying applications. Please see the graduate school Application Fee Waiver page for more information.

• Required application materials list (includes MSPH to PhD)
• Go to the application page.
• Tips for a strong application can be found here.

CAHME serves the public interest by advancing the quality of healthcare management education.

The Association of University Programs in Health Administration (AUPHA) is a global network of colleges, universities, faculty, individuals and organizations dedicated to the improvement of health and healthcare delivery through excellence in healthcare management and policy education.

The UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center is a cancer research and treatment center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Serving patients at the N.C. Basnight Cancer Hospital, UNC Lineberger is the only public comprehensive cancer center in the state of North Carolina.

Information for:

Health Policy PhD

The PhD Program in Health Policy at UC Berkeley is distinguished by its interdisciplinary application of the social and behavioral science disciplines to real-world health issues. Students select a specialty field from among three tracks (Health Economics, Organizations & Management, and Population Health Sciences) while receiving rigorous training in quantitative research methods. Students augment their training through skills and knowledge from UC Berkeley's top-ranked Economics, Political Science, and Sociology departments, as well as the Haas School of Business and the Goldman School of Public Policy. Graduates of the Health Policy program are well prepared to assume academic careers in research and teaching. The program's interdisciplinary social and behavioral sciences approach to health services and policy research is a cornerstone of the PhD program that enables students to tailor much of their coursework to their own research interests.

Contact Info

[email protected]

2121 Berkeley Way, Room 5302

Berkeley, CA 94720

At a Glance

Department(s)

Health Policy Graduate Group

Admit Term(s)

Application Deadline

December 4, 2023

Degree Type(s)

Doctoral / PhD

Degree Awarded

GRE Requirements

PhD in Health Policy and Clinical Practice

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Learn more about the innovative research opportunities offered in our PhD program:

• Program Overview

The Dartmouth Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) program is designed for those pursuing a career involving major research or leadership roles in the areas of health policy and clinical practice.

Our PhD Program offers in-depth, multi-disciplinary training in the conduct of research and teaching in the areas of special expertise at the Institute. The doctoral program is designed so that each student-researcher works closely with a faculty advisor and his or her research group to design a course of study and participate in ongoing research.

The doctoral program involves a multi-disciplinary approach that integrates relevant theories, methodological strategies, and evidence from a variety of fields. Disciplines represented by the faculty include clinical medicine, decision science, economics, epidemiology, health services research, geography, political science, psychology, public health, and sociology.

PhD students are encouraged to investigate a specialized area in-depth while also gaining an informed appreciation of other core areas. They are trained in independent and team-based strategies to integrate these perspectives into research. Our PhD graduates are expected to further the development of these core areas, to lead in the design, initiation and management of effective change in health care, and to contribute to the education of future scholars in health policy and clinical practice. Graduates of the doctoral program go into academic, government, and corporate positions involving health services research and health policy. 

Recent dissertation topics that PhD students have worked on include:

• Digital technology for health promotion among individuals with serious mental illness
• Treatment decision making in multi-vessel coronary artery disease
• Serious choices: Decision-making support for seriously ill patients at risk of death
• Patient-centered communication about early abortion methods in the United States 

To learn more about the PhD curriculum and program structure, review our PhD Handbook .

Applying for the PhD Program

Admission to our PhD program is highly selective. Around 2 students will be admitted each year.

The application deadline is  December 1, 2022 . Students will apply through the online application portal for the Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies at Dartmouth. When applying to the program, select 'Health Policy and Clinical Practice' as the program of study. 

For frequently asked questions about the application process and a list of application requirements, please refer to the Guarini School of Graduate Studies Application FAQs .

Full applications will be reviewed by the PhD Admissions Committee and qualified applicants will be invited for an interview with prospective faculty advisors and members of the Admissions Committee.

"When I had the opportunity to choose between schools, Dartmouth was just the clear decision. I can go there and get this really great education, work with literal world leaders, and be in the heart of the Upper Valley… I think if I went anywhere else, I wouldn't have all of these opportunities."

Enzo Plaitano - 2nd Year Ph.D. Student 

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Receive the latest updates on applying to Dartmouth

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Ph.D. Program

Ph.d. program .

Located in Nashville, Tennessee, the scholars in Vanderbilt University's Ph.D. in Health Policy & Health Services Research program work and learn at the epicenter of the national health care industry and adjacent to an elite academic medical center.

The Ph.D. in Health Policy & Health Services Research program:

• Develops students’ expertise in using interdisciplinary methods to address a wide range of health policy and health service challenges in the United States
• Prepares graduates to work in elite academic, private sector, and governmental settings as part of multidisciplinary teams
• Pairs candidates with faculty mentors and researchers in the Department of Health Policy and across Vanderbilt

Program Information

About the Program

Training Objectives

Program Leadership

Cost & Funding Opportunities

Current Students

Admission Requirements 

Application FAQs

Program FAQs

Please visit our  Program  and  Application  FAQ pages for answers to our most commonly asked questions.

Still have questions? Contact us at  [email protected] .

PhD in Health Services Research and Health Policy

Doctoral program in health services research and health policy, rollins school of public health department of health policy and management.

The PhD in Health Services Research and Health Policy at the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University is a full-time program that trains researchers in the fields of health policy, health economics, health management, and health services research.

Students take doctoral-level classes in the Department of Economics, the Department of Health Policy and Management, the Goizueta business school, and elsewhere throughout the university. Many students also collaborate with faculty on research.

Following the completion of their coursework, students work on their independent research for their dissertation.

What You’ll Learn

Students in our program take classes in one of two tracks: Economics or Organizations and Management .

Economics Track

Students in the Economics track take graduate-level classes in the Department of Economics, alongside students pursing a PhD in economics. The economics track prepares students to apply economic theory to evaluate topics in health and health policy.

Organizations and Management Track

Students in Organizations and Management take advanced and doctoral-level courses in Emory’s Goizueta School of Business. The track prepares students to examine questions pertaining to access, quality, cost of health care and health outcomes. Students in this track will learn how theories and concepts from fields such as organizational behavior and technology management can be applied to medicine and health care organizations.

Core Courses and More

All students in the program take classes in statistical methods, research design, and health policy seminar. Students have room to take electives, which could be any graduate-level class at Emory or nearby universities (Georgia State, Georgia Tech).

For more information, please see our program brochure and handbook .

What Can You Do With a Graduate Degree in Health Services Research and Health Policy?

The program prepares students for a variety of research-focused careers in academia, think tanks, foundations, government agencies, pharmaceutical firms, and consulting.  

Our graduates are currently employed at:

• the American Cancer Society
• the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
• Emory University
• Weill Cornell Medical School
• Harvard Medical School
• IMPAQ International
• Johnson & Johnson
• MD Anderson
• National Taiwan University
• Northern Illinois University
• Northwestern University
• Taipei Medical University
• The Urban Institute
• Trilliant Health
• University of California at San Francisco
• Carnegie Mellon
• Washington University (St. Louis)
• The University of Virginia

We discourage applications from students who view a PhD as a credential or who want to focus exclusively on administration, management, or advocacy. There are other professional degrees that are better suited to those types of careers.

What Type of Research Will You Do in the Health Services Research and Health Policy PhD Program?

Students perform research on a wide variety of topics related to delivery of medical care, insurance, and the determinants of health. Some examples of the papers that students have published from their dissertations include: 

The effect of Medicaid expansion on crime reduction: Evidence from HIFA-waiver expansions. Journal of Public Economics 2017. (Heifei Wen, Ph.D. 2015)

Heuristics in the delivery room. Science 2021. (Manasvini Singh, Ph.D. 2020)

Are two heads better than one or do too many cooks spoil the broth? The tradeoff between physician division of labor and patient continuity of care for older adults with complex chronic conditions. Health Services Research 2016. (Kenton Johnston, Ph.D. 2015).

Effect of Medicaid disenrollment on health care utilization among adults with mental health disorders. Medical Care 2019 (Xu Ji, Ph.D. 2017).

Patterns of use and survival outcomes of positron emission tomography for initial staging in elderly follicular lymphoma patients . Leukemia & Lymphoma 2017 (Ashish Rai, Ph.D. 2015)

Admissions Requirements

For detailed information about admissions, please see our program brochure .

Applicants should provide:

• a transcript,
• statement of purpose,
• resume/CV, and
• three letters of recommendation.

Please note:

• GRE scores are optional.
• Applicants do not need to have a master’s degree.

Visit Emory’s Laney Graduate School website to apply now .

You do not need to contact the program or faculty prior to applying. We give equal attention to all applications, regardless of whether applicants know faculty or have had prior contact with them. We do not routinely meet with applicants prior to the application deadline. However, if you have a specific question about the program that is not addressed in this document or would like to get a better sense if the program is a good fit for you, please send your question to the director, David Howard, [email protected] .

September 11, 2023 

Application opens for Fall 2024

December 1, 2023

Application deadline

Late January-Early February, 2024

Offer letters sent to successful applicants 

Program faculty

Students have wide leeway to work with faculty at any Emory school or department. Most students work with the faculty on the list below.

Department of Health Policy and Management

Kathleen Adams (Ph.D. Economics, University of Colorado) Risk behavior, maternal and child health, insurance coverage, Medicaid policy.

Sarah Blake (Ph.D. Public Policy, Georgia State/Georgia Institute of Technology) Maternal and child health, reproductive health, implementation science.

Puneet Chehal (Ph.D. Public Policy, Duke) Medicaid and chronic illness in underserved populations.

Janet Cummings (Ph.D. Health Policy, UCLA) Mental health and substance abuse policy.

Benjamin Druss (M.D., New York University) Mental health and substance abuse policy.

Maria Dieci (Ph.D. Health Policy, UC Berkeley) Health economics, global health and development economics.

Ilana Graetz (Ph.D. Health Policy, UC Berkeley) Health information technology, quality improvement.

David Howard (Ph.D. Health Policy, Harvard) Health economics, reimbursement policy, pharmaceutical markets.

Joseph Lipscomb (Ph.D. Economics, University of North Carolina) Health outcomes assessment and improvement.

Victoria Phillips (Ph.D. Economics, Oxford) Health economics, cost-effectiveness analysis.

Adam Wilk (Ph.D. Health Policy, University of Michigan) Access to care and Medicaid, coverage and payment for kidney failure treatment.

Courtney Yarborough (Ph.D. Public Policy, University of Georgia) Substance abuse policy, pharmaceutical markets.

Affiliated faculty in other departments at Emory

Michal Hórny (Ph.D. Health Services Research, Boston University) Department of Radiology. Health insurance benefit design, costs of care, price transparency, access to care.

Xu Ji (Ph.D. Health Policy, Emory) Department of Pediatrics. Health care quality, health outcomes, access to health care.

Dio Kavalieratos (Ph.D. Health Policy, University of North Carolina) Department of Family Medicine and Palliative Care. End-of-life care, implementation science.

Sara Markowitz (Ph.D. Economics, CUNY) Department of Economics. Health economics, labor economics, maternal and child health. Ian McCarthy (Ph.D. Economics, University of Indiana) Department of Economics. Health economics, industrial organization.

Evan Saltzman (Ph.D. Managerial Science and Applied Economics, University of Pennsylvania) Department of Economics. Health economics, industrial organization.

Current PhD Students

Lamont Sutton

Nada Boualam

Sonia Tetlow

Xinyue Zhang

Marissa Coloske

Martha Wetzel

Paul George

Jingxuan Zhao

Alex Soltoff

Elizabeth Staton

Zhuoqi Yang

Cristian Ramos

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Kim Gannon Kim Gannon joined the Department of Health Policy and Management and is pursuing a disciplinary concentration in Economics. Her current work involves mental health and substance use disorder policy, specifically in harm reduction, the treatment industry, and long-term recovery. She received her BS in Economics, Mathematics, and Statistics from Michigan State University. View Full Profile

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MPhil/PhD Health Policy and Health Economics

• Graduate research
• Department of Health Policy
• Application code L4ZC
• Starting 2024
• Home full-time: Open
• Overseas full-time: Open
• Location: Houghton Street, London

The MPhil/PhD Health Policy and Health Economics at LSE covers the choice, design, analysis, and evaluation of health and social care policies, institutions and practice in Low-, Middle-, and High-Income settings. This is an interdisciplinary programme, drawing on disciplines relevant to the research topic, and the health-specific and social care-specific application of an array of social sciences.

The programme trains students to undertake research that employs the tools of policy and economic analysis and qualitative and quantitative empirical techniques in order to understand, critically appraise, and evaluate the complexities of health and social care policy and practice in a global context.

You will be exposed to a range of different theoretical frameworks and methodological approaches, and will be expected to learn technical and conceptual skills, so that you will become autonomous in carrying out research in line with your progression, and will demonstrate deep and synoptic understanding of your field of study.

You are expected to take training and transferable skills courses, including the core course in Advanced Health Policy and Health Economics. You can choose other taught courses tailored to your existing academic foundations and research interests, and streamed around health policy or health economics subject areas.

You will become a member of a vibrant and exciting research community, with access to the Department of Health Policy's affiliated research centres and supervision by expert faculty. The long-established and highly regarded research centres affiliated with the Department are:  LSE Health ,  Care Policy and Evaluation Centre at LSE (CPEC) , the  National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)  School of Social Care Research (SSCR), the African Health Observatory , the  European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies , and the  Global Health Initiative (GHI) , with a total of over 70 academic staff based across these centres.

Programme details

For more information about tuition fees and entry requirements, see the 'Fees and funding' and 'Assessing your application' sections.

Entry requirements

Minimum entry requirements for mphil/phd health policy and health economics.

The minimum entry requirement for this programme is a merit (60 per cent and above, or equivalent) in a relevant master's degree.

Competition for places at the School is high. This means that even if you meet our minimum entry requirement, this does not guarantee you an offer of admission. 

If you have studied or are studying outside of the UK then have a look at our  Information for International Students  to find out the entry requirements that apply to you.

Assessing your application

We welcome applications for research programmes that complement the academic interests of members of staff in the Department. Details about the supervisory interests of staff members can be found on the Department of Health Policy’s website . If you share research interests, you are welcome to apply.

Please note that admission to the doctoral programme will not be made by prospective supervisors, but by the Department's PhD Programme Directors: Professor Andrew Street, Dr Mylene Lagarde, Dr Justin Parkhurst and Dr Huseyin Naci. Admission is subject to there being appropriate supervisory expertise and support available in the Department.

What we take into consideration

We carefully consider each application on an individual basis, taking into account all the information presented on your application form, including:

• academic achievement (including existing and pending qualifications with certified transcripts)
• statement of academic purpose
• research proposal of maximum 2,500 words
• writing sample of between 2,500 and 7,000 words. It must be typed in English. If not in English originally, you should translate the piece yourself. If an article, preference is for single-authored; if an essay, preference is for one from your most recent programme of study. The piece of written work is ideally related to your proposed topic of research or more broadly, to the discipline or area for which you are applying.

The above listed guidance is set by the Department of Health Policy and is specific to your application to the MPhil/PhD programme in Health Policy and Health Economics.

You may wish to review  the School's central guidance on supporting documents here . The  main steps of your application  are outlined by the School. You can familiarise yourself with  a range of likely interview questions  ahead of writing your application as well. You may also have to provide evidence of your English proficiency. You do not need to provide this at the time of your application to LSE, but we recommend that you do.  See our English language requirements  for further information. LSE's International Students Visa Advice Team will be able to competently advise on any visa queries you may have.

When to apply

The application deadline for this programme is 23 May 2024,  but it is advantageous to apply well before the deadline. To be considered for any LSE funding opportunity, you must have submitted your application and all supporting documents by the funding deadline. See the fees and funding section for more details.

Fees and funding

Every research student is charged a fee in line with the fee structure for their programme. The fee covers registration and examination fees payable to the School, lectures, classes and individual supervision, lectures given at other colleges under intercollegiate arrangements and, under current arrangements, membership of the Students' Union. It does not cover  living costs  or travel or fieldwork.

Tuition fees 2024/25 for MPhil/PhD Health Policy and Health Economics

Home students: £4,829 for the first year (provisional) Overseas students: £22,632 for the first year

The fee is likely to rise over subsequent years of the programme. The School charges research students in line with the level of fee that Research Councils recommend. The fees for overseas students are likely to rise in line with the assumed percentage increase in pay costs (ie, 4 per cent per annum).

The Table of Fees shows the latest tuition amounts for all programmes offered by the School.

The amount of tuition fees you will need to pay and any financial support you are eligible for will depend on whether you are classified as a home or overseas student - otherwise known as your fee status. LSE assesses your fee status based on guidelines provided by the Department of Education.

Further information about fee status classification.

Scholarships, studentships and other funding

The School recognises that the  cost of living in London  may be higher than in your home town or country, and therefore provide generous scholarships each year to home and overseas students.

This programme is currently eligible for LSE PhD Studentships , and  Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) funding . Selection for the Studentships is based on receipt of an application for a place - including all ancillary document, before the relevant funding deadline. Students that hold LSE PhD Studentships will be expected to contribute to the teaching in the Department of Health Policy.

Funding deadline for the first round of LSE PhD Studentships and ESRC funding: 15 January 2024 Funding deadline for the second round of LSE PhD Studentships: 25 April 2024

In addition to our needs-based awards, LSE also makes available scholarships for students from specific regions of the world and awards for students studying specific subject areas.  Find out more about financial support. Office of Health Economics (OHE) Studentship  

This programme is also currently eligible for a studentship funded by the  Office of Health Economics  (OHE). For further details, please  see here .

Funding deadline for OHE studentship: 25 April 2024 Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC) Studentship 

The Care Policy and Evaluation Centre (CPEC) affiliated to the Department of Health Policy is currently recruiting for two full-time MPhil/PhD studentships, with a start date of October 2024.  

The Centre hosts the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Adult Social Care (ASCRU) and is a partner in the NIHR Policy Research Unit in Economics of Social and Health Care (ESHCRU). New 5-year programmes of work will start in both Units from January 2024.   

For further details, please see here .  

Funding deadline for CPEC studentship: 28 February 2024 

External funding 

There may be other funding opportunities available through other organisations or governments and we recommend you investigate these options as well. For example:

• Wellcome Trust
• Health Foundation
• Commonwealth Fund

Further information

Fees and funding opportunities

Information for international students

LSE is an international community, with over 140 nationalities represented amongst its student body. We celebrate this diversity through everything we do.  

If you are applying to LSE from outside of the UK then take a look at our Information for International students . 

1) Take a note of the UK qualifications we require for your programme of interest (found in the ‘Entry requirements’ section of this page). 

2) Go to the International Students section of our website. 

3) Select your country. 

4) Select ‘Graduate entry requirements’ and scroll until you arrive at the information about your local/national qualification. Compare the stated UK entry requirements listed on this page with the local/national entry requirement listed on your country specific page.

Programme structure and courses

The programme is based around a set of taught courses which provide you with the skill set necessary to undertake your research in your chosen thesis area. In the first year, you will register initially for the MPhil programme, and undertake specific training in research methods as required. In subsequent years, you will continue your research under the guidance of your supervisors, participate in seminars and present your work.

Throughout the programme, you also have the option of taking relevant courses provided by the PhD Academy, and offered by other academic departments, after discussion with your supervisor/s. The preference is for students to select from the courses offered by the Department of Health Policy or the Department of Methodology. However, courses from other departments may be taken, subject to the approval of the supervisor/s and that of the hosting departments. 

Advanced Health Policy and Health Economics The PhD programme will be centred around this core course. Alongside a set of traditional and bespoke lectures, the course includes a series of seminars given by faculty in the Department of Health Policy and external speakers, thereby guaranteeing exposure to different materials, research areas, and theoretical and analytical techniques. The course will provide you with insights into the breadth of work in the areas of health and social care policy and health economics, and will act as a supportive critical forum for discussion of each PhD student's work-in-progress. The course features a journal club where key articles are critically appraised. In the second and third years of enrolment, full-time students will be required to participate in work-in-progress seminars where students present work relating to their theses and contribute fully to discussions on their colleagues' work, and will be encouraged to attend external conferences.

Optional courses to the value of one unit

Second year

Advanced Health Policy and Health Economics See above

Fourth year

For the most up-to-date list of optional courses please visit the relevant School Calendar page .

You must note, however, that while care has been taken to ensure that this information is up to date and correct, a change of circumstances since publication may cause the School to change, suspend or withdraw a course or programme of study, or change the fees that apply to it. The School will always notify the affected parties as early as practicably possible and propose any viable and relevant alternative options. Note that the School will neither be liable for information that after publication becomes inaccurate or irrelevant, nor for changing, suspending or withdrawing a course or programme of study due to events outside of its control, which includes but is not limited to a lack of demand for a course or programme of study, industrial action, fire, flood or other environmental or physical damage to premises.  

You must also note that places are limited on some courses and/or subject to specific entry requirements. The School cannot therefore guarantee you a place. Please note that changes to programmes and courses can sometimes occur after you have accepted your offer of a place. These changes are normally made in light of developments in the discipline or path-breaking research, or on the basis of student feedback. Changes can take the form of altered course content, teaching formats or assessment modes. Any such changes are intended to enhance the student learning experience. You should visit the School’s  Calendar , or contact the relevant academic department for information on the availability and/or content of courses and programmes of study. Certain substantive changes will be listed on the  updated graduate course and programme information page.

Supervision and progression

Supervision.

You will have a Supervisory Team, consisting of a primary and one or two secondary Supervisors. It is a requirement that at least one of the Supervisory Team is a member of the Department’s teaching faculty.

The primary supervisor will be based in the Department of Health Policy, encompassing the affiliated research centres and units: LSE Health, the Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU at LSE), the National Institute for Health Research School for Social Care Research (NIHR SSCR) and the European Observatory on Health Systems and Policies.

The role of primary supervisor is to help define the area of research, advise on sources, choice of materials and methods, and advise on attendance at courses and seminars. Later on, the primary supervisor will discuss the preparation and writing of the student's thesis. This supervisor will also attend to administrative matters, including the annual progress reviews, appointment of examiners, and arrangements for examinations.

The secondary supervisor is likely to be based in the Department of Health Policy, or may be based in another department at LSE. The secondary supervisor's role involves keeping in touch with the student's work, providing additional specialist inputs from time to time, contributing second opinion in the face of difficult choices, and stepping in for the primary supervisor in case of absence or illness.

Progression and assessment

You are required to undertake Major Review (also known as the Upgrade) in the Spring Term of your first year. Following Major Review, a decision is taken whether to upgrade you from MPhil to the PhD programme. In order to earn the upgrade, you need to meet a number of criteria, including achieving a certain grade in taught courses, submitting a 5,000-word thesis document detailing your thesis proposal.

For students who successfully upgrade to PhD enrolment, there will be another review in second and third year of full-time study. Students will need to meet specific criteria to progress to each following year.

Student support and resources

We’re here to help and support you throughout your time at LSE, whether you need help with your academic studies, support with your welfare and wellbeing or simply to develop on a personal and professional level.

Whatever your query, big or small, there are a range of people you can speak to who will be happy to help.  

Department librarians   – they will be able to help you navigate the library and maximise its resources during your studies. 

Accommodation service  – they can offer advice on living in halls and offer guidance on private accommodation related queries.

Class teachers and seminar leaders  – they will be able to assist with queries relating to specific courses. 

Disability and Wellbeing Service  – they are experts in long-term health conditions, sensory impairments, mental health and specific learning difficulties. They offer confidential and free services such as  student counselling,  a  peer support scheme  and arranging  exam adjustments.  They run groups and workshops.  

IT help  – support is available 24 hours a day to assist with all your technology queries.   

LSE Faith Centre  – this is home to LSE's diverse religious activities and transformational interfaith leadership programmes, as well as a space for worship, prayer and quiet reflection. It includes Islamic prayer rooms and a main space for worship. It is also a space for wellbeing classes on campus and is open to all students and staff from all faiths and none.   

Language Centre  – the Centre specialises in offering language courses targeted to the needs of students and practitioners in the social sciences. We offer pre-course English for Academic Purposes programmes; English language support during your studies; modern language courses in nine languages; proofreading, translation and document authentication; and language learning community activities.

LSE Careers  ­ – with the help of LSE Careers, you can make the most of the opportunities that London has to offer. Whatever your career plans, LSE Careers will work with you, connecting you to opportunities and experiences from internships and volunteering to networking events and employer and alumni insights. 

LSE Library   –   founded in 1896, the British Library of Political and Economic Science is the major international library of the social sciences. It stays open late, has lots of excellent resources and is a great place to study. As an LSE student, you’ll have access to a number of other academic libraries in Greater London and nationwide. 

LSE LIFE  – this is where you should go to develop skills you’ll use as a student and beyond. The centre runs talks and workshops on skills you’ll find useful in the classroom; offers one-to-one sessions with study advisers who can help you with reading, making notes, writing, research and exam revision; and provides drop-in sessions for academic and personal support. (See ‘Teaching and assessment’). 

LSE Students’ Union (LSESU)  – they offer academic, personal and financial advice and funding.  

PhD Academy   – this is available for PhD students, wherever they are, to take part in interdisciplinary events and other professional development activities and access all the services related to their registration. 

Sardinia House Dental Practice   – this   offers discounted private dental services to LSE students.  

St Philips Medical Centre  – based in Pethwick-Lawrence House, the Centre provides NHS Primary Care services to registered patients.

Student Services Centre  – our staff here can answer general queries and can point you in the direction of other LSE services.  

Student advisers   – we have a  Deputy Head of Student Services (Advice and Policy)  and an  Adviser to Women Students  who can help with academic and pastoral matters.

Student life

As a student at LSE you’ll be based at our central London campus. Find out what our campus and London have to offer you on academic, social and career perspective. 

Student societies and activities

Your time at LSE is not just about studying, there are plenty of ways to get involved in  extracurricular activities . From joining one of over 200 societies, or starting your own society, to volunteering for a local charity, or attending a public lecture by a world-leading figure, there is a lot to choose from. 

The campus 

LSE is based on one  campus  in the centre of London. Despite the busy feel of the surrounding area, many of the streets around campus are pedestrianised, meaning the campus feels like a real community. 

Life in London 

London is an exciting, vibrant and colourful city. It's also an academic city, with more than 400,000 university students. Whatever your interests or appetite you will find something to suit your palate and pocket in this truly international capital. Make the most of career opportunities and social activities, theatre, museums, music and more. 

Want to find out more? Read why we think  London is a fantastic student city , find out about  key sights, places and experiences for new Londoners . Don't fear, London doesn't have to be super expensive: hear about  London on a budget . 

Quick Careers Facts for the Department of Health Policy

Median salary of our PG students 15 months after graduating: £38,000          

Top 5 sectors our students work in:

• Health and Social Care  
• Education, Teaching and Research            
• FMCG, Manufacturing and Retail              
• Government, Public Sector and Policy   
• Consultancy

The data was collected as part of the Graduate Outcomes survey, which is administered by the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA). Graduates from 2020-21 were the fourth group to be asked to respond to Graduate Outcomes. Median salaries are calculated for respondents who are paid in UK pounds sterling and who were working in full-time employment.

Recent doctoral graduates who were supervised by staff in the Department of Health Policy went on to be employed in international organisations such as the WHO, IMF, World Bank, European Union, OECD, African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank, and the United Nations. Some joined national and regional Ministries of Health, the English NHS - and others went on to work with consultancy firms, pharmaceutical companies, and think tanks such as The King's Fund and the Health Foundation.

Further information on graduate destinations for this programme

Support for your career

Alongside leading organisations' career presentations and events, LSE Careers also offers  resources and bespoke advice to assist PhD students with their career progression within or outside of academia. 

If you have any questions about the programme, please contact:  [email protected] .

Find out more about LSE

Discover more about being an LSE student - meet us in a city near you, visit our campus or experience LSE from home. 

Experience LSE from home

Webinars, videos, student blogs and student video diaries will help you gain an insight into what it's like to study at LSE for those that aren't able to make it to our campus.  Experience LSE from home . 

Come on a guided campus tour, attend an undergraduate open day, drop into our office or go on a self-guided tour.  Find out about opportunities to visit LSE . 

LSE visits you

Student Marketing, Recruitment and Study Abroad travels throughout the UK and around the world to meet with prospective students. We visit schools, attend education fairs and also hold Destination LSE events: pre-departure events for offer holders.  Find details on LSE's upcoming visits . 

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University of Washington

Health Systems and Population Health

School of public health.

• Health Services Doctor of Philosophy
• Academic Experience
• Academic Programs

Advance the Future of Public Health Research

3-5 years / full time / seattle, wa.

The University of Washington Health Services Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) program trains the next generation of health services researchers and prepares them to become leaders in the field. Our graduates pursue research careers in top-tier universities, research and policy-making organizations, the health care industry, and government agencies. Recognizing the complex issues facing health services today and tomorrow, Health Services Ph.D. faculty and staff are committed to training students who will contribute to the health of diverse populations by producing high-quality, collaborative research on important topics and translating the results to practice and policy.

The Health Services Ph.D. program consistently ranks among the best in the United States. Our program offers exceptional instruction in research methods, evaluation, health care systems, health policy research, anti-racism, and the social determinants of health (the conditions of where people live, learn, work, worship and/or play).

Join our program and help make a difference in public health research.

Gain Unique Training

Our interdisciplinary Ph.D. program stands apart from others because of our team, curriculum, dedication to including anti-racist pedagogy in classrooms, and ongoing support for students and alumni.

Advance Public Health Research

All Ph.D. students are required to write a dissertation that significantly advances the state of knowledge in their chosen field, including having work published in academic journals.

Receive Expert Mentorship

Faculty are involved locally, nationally, and internationally in health services research and policy. They play an important role in improving health and shaping health care systems and policy worldwide.

Join Our Success

Our program attracts and welcomes strong scholars from unique and diverse backgrounds who have a passion for research. We aim to match each incoming student with funding and strong mentorship.

Application Dates

Application Opens September 1, 2024

Deadline December 15, 2024

Note: The program is no longer accepting applications for Autumn 2024 entry.

Information Sessions

Prospective Health Services Ph.D. students can register for and attend an information session to learn more about the program.

Stay Up-to-Date

Considering the Health Services PhD program? Sign up to receive email updates about upcoming application deadlines and more.

Alumni Connections

Health Services Ph.D. alumni can stay connected, learn about what their peers are doing, and support future public health professionals.

Our Social Media

Support students.

Help support future public health leaders today! Make a gift to a scholarship fund, such as the Health Systems Excellence, Equity, and Distinction (HSEED) Award.

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Concentration in Health and Public Policy

Offered By: Department of Health Policy and Management

Onsite | Full-Time | 4 -5 years

• MAS Application Fee Waiver Requirements
• Master of Arts (MA) in Geography and Environmental Engineering
• Master of Arts and Master of Science in Public Health (MA/MSPH)
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About the Concentration in Health and Public Policy

The concentration in Health and Public Policy is designed for students interested in preventing leading public health problems through the development, analysis, implementation, and evaluation of public health policies. Students in this concentration consider a broad array of public health policies which affect health, safety and quality of life and acquire skills that enable them to conduct rigorous research to inform policy solutions, effectively translate their scholarly work to policy and practice, and emerge as leaders in public health policy. The emphasis on prevention policy makes this concentration one of the few nationwide with a cadre of faculty advancing policy research to prevent leading public health problems.

Students in Health and Public Policy may choose specialized areas identified to help focus their electives in such a way as to best provide the background needed for their dissertation work. Areas include Environmental and Occupational Health Policy, Injury Prevention and Control, Social Policy and Health, and the Practice of Prevention.

Environmental and Occupational Health Policy

Factors in the human environment that affect health require a multidisciplinary approach for evaluation. Environmental and Occupational Health Policy integrates courses from the Departments of Epidemiology, Environmental Health and Engineering, and Health Policy and Management to provide a foundation for the application of science to occupational and environmental policy. Evaluation, development, and refinement of policies at local, state, federal and international levels are emphasized.

Injury Prevention and Control

In conjunction with the Center for Injury Research and Policy, students focus on injuries of all types, including road traffic injuries, falls, burns, drowning and violence. The epidemiology of these injuries is assessed, and strategies to prevent injuries are formulated, implemented, and evaluated. Students who focus their electives in this area may also decide to complete the Certificate in Injury and Violence Prevention.

Social Policy and Health

Social policy and health examines how social policies influence public health and/or the relationship between healthcare policy and other social policies.

Practice of Prevention

The practice of prevention examines specific public health problems such as AIDS, tobacco, obesity, and violence and develops strategies for addressing problems through traditional and innovative policies.

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

The program prepares students for successful research careers as health policy experts. 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 and Public Policy.

Curriculum for the Concentration in Health and Public 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.

Cassandra Crifasi, PhD '14, MPH,

studies how evidence-based policies and programs can reduce violence and advance equity.

All accepted PhD students receive a standard funding package.  As of September 1, 2023 this package includes full tuition support, a $30,000 per year stipend, individual health, dental, and vision insurance and the University Health Services clinic fee for four years.

For funding sources, please see PhD funding page .

Need-Based Relocation Grants Students who  are admitted to PhD programs at JHU   starting in Fall 2023 or beyond can apply to receive a $1500 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] 410-955-2488

Purdue Nursing researcher shapes health policy through Health and Aging Policy Fellowship Program in Washington, D.C.

Written By: Rebecca Hoffa, [email protected]

Marian Liu stands on the steps in front of the U.S. Capitol. (Photo provided)

From health insurance to public health initiatives to nutrition regulations, health policy plays an important role in Americans’ lives every day. Marian Liu , associate professor in the Purdue University School of Nursing , has gotten firsthand experience in shaping policy through the 2023-24 Health and Aging Policy Fellows Program , which she began in fall 2023.

“It has been an amazing experience,” Liu said. “I do not have any policy background in my PhD training, so the fact that I’m able to be here in Washington, D.C., for a year in a very immersive environment to learn about the legislative processes on the Hill and then later transition to the executive branch to see how regulations are implemented is a very eye-opening and very humbling experience.”

Although she didn’t have much policy experience prior to joining the fellowship program, Liu’s research in elder justice issues, including abuse, neglect and exploitation of older adults, lies at the heart of a significant amount of policy work happening in the United States that aims to improve outcomes for this growing population. As Liu has advanced her research in working with Adult Protective Services, she has seen the value of the policy knowledge and leadership skills she is acquiring in the fellowship.

Liu (right) takes a photo with staffers on the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging. (Photo provided)

“Adult Protective Services programs in various states started asking me for policy recommendations, and I can talk about what I think would be good to do from a research perspective based on data, but I also understand in my interactions with some of the programs, whenever I start with ‘It depends,” I lose my audience’s interest,” Liu said. “I am definitely here to learn about how to communicate with the different audiences — not just academics but also my community partners and policy decision-makers.”

As a full-time residential fellow in Washington, D.C., Liu serves on the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging as part of the Medicare/Medicaid team, which also functions as the healthcare policy team for Sen. Bob Casey, who chairs the committee. In the role, she’s gotten the opportunity to see how collaborations happen across parties in the legislative branch and how legislation is developed. The hands-on experience has allowed Liu to not only read the literature and collaborate with staffers but also put together memos to inform Casey’s decisions.

So far, Liu has been part of work on full committee hearings, including the Assisted Living Facilities: Understanding Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults hearing and the Long-Term Care Workforce: Addressing Shortages and Improving the Profession hearing. She also worked on supporting bills, including the Cutting Copays Act and the Inflation Reduction Act .

“The aging committee really is the most collaborative committee on the Hill. While the Aging Committee doesn’t have a specific jurisdiction, it means that we can work on very difficult issues that none of the committees on the Hill have jurisdiction to tackle,” Liu said. “It’s a really exciting collaboration across the aisle.”

Liu has been part of the legislative branch since January, and she will conclude her fellowship with experience in the executive branch starting this summer. She will get to see what happens to the work once it leaves the legislative branch, giving her a well-rounded policy experience.

Liu (right) poses with Anna Foster (middle), a former Purdue School of Nursing PhD student, during a Special Committee on Aging meeting. (Photo provided)

“With this overall experience to work in the legislative and the executive branches, I feel like I will be able to see the different pieces of various legislations and regulations and how the staffers think about what’s needed for the country,” Liu said. “It’s very inspiring working on the Hill to interact with the staffers because they work so hard, and they are one of the smartest groups of people I have encountered.”

After the fellowship’s conclusion in September, Liu will begin her sabbatical from the College of Health and Human Sciences , during which she will participate in an extended fellowship period with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services . In this experience, she will broaden her research to connect the elder justice issues she’s been researching with Medicare and Medicaid policies by exploring national Medicare and Medicaid data.

Liu noted elder justice researchers have yet to be able to explore Medicare data in-depth, so this distinct experience will allow her to not only broaden and elevate her research scope, but also help her hone the real-world impacts of her work.

“I know the fellowship is going to change how I approach research in general,” Liu said. “There are definitely still basic scientific questions I’m interested in answering. However, I think from now on, I would love to continue having that connection with people working in D.C., whether it’s in the legislative branch or the executive branch to understand how the research that I do would actually have a real-world impact.”

Health Care Economics

Explore the economic forces shaping us health care.

Taught by Harvard Medical School faculty, this Harvard Online course provides insights into the interactions between industries in the US health care sector and teaches what economic forces are shaping health care.

What You'll Learn

Why is health care spending so high in the US? What are the primary drivers of rising health care costs? What is the relationship between finance and health care? How does money shape your decision-making as a patient, provider, or payer? Is a sustainable healthcare architecture possible?

Even for those within the health care industry, the economics of the United States health care system are stunningly complex and can be challenging to navigate. In Health Care Economics, gain insights into the interactions between industries in the health care sector and learn what economic forces are shaping health care. You will cover core topics in health care economics, such as moral hazard and adverse selection, and examine how these forces, as well as the actions of patients, providers, and other key stakeholders, shape outcomes in the health care market.

Balancing the needs of patients and purchasers is a daily struggle for health care leaders and central to the success of any health care business. To make this happen, clinical, research, operational, and financial leaders need a shared understanding of the true drivers of health care spending, the policies that shape and define the sector, and how financial incentives impact both patient and provider behavior. This course will examine health care spending growth, considering new technologies and other economic factors, and explore the theoretical framework behind controlling spending growth through changes to benefit design and payment reform.

Delivered via Harvard Business School Online’s innovative course platform, Health Care Economics features real-world examples, interactive lessons, and conversations with industry experts. Led by Harvard Medical School professor Michael Chernew, PhD, Chair of The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), this course allows you to gain a better understanding of core economic principles as you learn how to create more compelling programs, develop more effective growth strategies, negotiate better reimbursement contracts and partnerships, and advocate more effectively both inside and outside your organization.

The Harvard Medical School is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Harvard Medical School designates this enduring material for a maximum of  19.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ . Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will have access to claim their credits through the Harvard Medical School’s continuing education platform.

The course is part of the Health Care Leadership Learning Path  and will be delivered via  HBS Online’s course platform .  Learners will be immersed in real-world examples from experts at industry-leading organizations. By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Articulate the drivers of spending and spending growth in health care and evaluate how your organization’s strategy and decision-making processes impact total spending as well as value
• Describe approaches to getting the incentives right for both providers and patients and evaluate the impacts of changes to these incentives
• Understand risk and pooling as they relate to insurance markets and health benefit design
• Define the role of employers, insurers, and government in influencing the economics of health care markets, such as spending, access to care, and stability of insurance markets
• Explain how technology and patients’ and providers’ decisions contribute to high spending and spending growth, and how they impact their own organizations

Your Instructor

Michael Chernew, PhD,  is the Leonard D. Schaeffer Professor of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Chernew’s research examines several areas related to improving the health care system, including studies of novel benefit designs, Medicare Advantage, alternative payment models, low-value care, and the causes and consequences of rising health care spending. Dr. Chernew is currently serving as Chair of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC), where he previously served as the Vice Chair and as a Member. In 2000, 2004, and 2010, he served on technical advisory panels for the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that reviewed the assumptions used by Medicare actuaries to assess the financial status of Medicare trust funds. He's a member of the Congressional Budget Office’s Panel of Health Advisors and Vice Chair of the Massachusetts Health Connector Board. Dr. Chernew is a member of the National Academy of Sciences, a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, and a Senior Visiting Fellow at MITRE. He's currently a co-editor of the  American Journal of Managed Care  and on advisory boards for several private companies in the health care space, including Virta Health, Archway, and HEALTH[at]SCALE.

Real World Case Studies

Affiliations are listed for identification purposes only.

MATTHEW HUTTER, MD, MPH

SANDHYA RAO, MD

Dr. Sandhya Rao is chief medical officer for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts , the largest private health plan in Massachusetts. Learn from Rao about the challenges in health insurance today.

JOSEPH NEWHOUSE, PHD

Available discounts and benefits for groups and individuals.

Experience Harvard Online by utilizing our wide variety of discount programs for individuals and groups. 

Past participant discounts.

Learners who have enrolled in at least one qualifying Harvard Online program hosted on the HBS Online platform are eligible to receive a 30% discount on this course, regardless of completion or certificate status in the first purchased program. Past Participant Discounts are automatically applied to the Program Fee upon time of payment.  Learn more here .

Learners who have earned a verified certificate for a HarvardX course hosted on the  edX platform  are eligible to receive a 30% discount on this course using a discount code. Discounts are not available after you've submitted payment, so if you think you are eligible for a discount on a registration, please check your email for a code or contact us .

Nonprofit, Government, Military, and Education Discounts

For this course we offer a 30% discount for learners who work in the nonprofit, government, military, or education fields. 

Eligibility is determined by a prospective learner’s email address, ending in .org, .gov, .mil, or .edu. Interested learners can apply below for the discount and, if eligible, will receive a promo code to enter when completing payment information to enroll in a Harvard Online program. Click here to apply for these discounts.

Gather your team to experience Health Care Economics and other Harvard Online courses to enjoy the benefits of learning together: 

• Single invoicing for groups of 10 or more
• Tiered discounts and pricing available with up to 50% off
• Growth reports on your team's progress
• Flexible course and partnership plans 

Learn more and enroll your team ! 

Who Will Benefit

Rising Leaders

Develop a comprehensive understanding of the health care landscape, including the key drivers of rising US health care spending.

Administrators and Policy Makers

Gain insights into strategic decisions around new business initiatives, health benefit plans, reimbursement contract negotiations, and care delivery models.

Understand the financial impacts of new technologies and services and how to create value-based care for patients.

Learner Testimonials

“This is an amazing course. The professor did a fantastic job dissecting the complexities of healthcare into chewable chunks.”

Howard H. Dinh, MD, FACC Medical Director, Cardiac Services, Greater Sacramento The Permanente Medical Group and Chief, Cardiology, Kaiser Permanente, South Sacramento

“This is now my fourth HBS online course that I have taken. I love that the format lets me learn asynchronously when I have time in my busy schedule. The HBS courses do a wonderful job encouraging interaction with peer learners which amplifies the learning. The HBS courses foster this peer engagement much more effectively than I have found in other online courses that I have taken.”

Denver Sallee III, MD Chief Financial Officer, Sibley Heart Center Cardiology and Associate Professor of Pediatrics Emory University School of Medicine

“This is a very well designed course to understand the nuances of the US healthcare system economics. The videos and the guest talks were very helpful to understand the real world examples. The discussion surrounding the RAND experiment was very useful to understand many key concepts. Overall a very good course.”

Krishna K. Chotneeru, MPH Associate Director, Data Science & Statistics Alnylam Pharmaceuticals

Syllabus and Upcoming Calendars

Health Care Economics provides insights into the interactions between industries in the health care sector and teaches what economic forces are shaping health care.

Learning requirements: There are no required prerequisites to enroll in this course. In order to earn a Certificate of Completion from Harvard Online, participants must thoughtfully complete all 6 modules, including associated assessments, by stated deadlines.

Download Full Syllabus

Download October 2023 Calendar 

Download January 2024 Calendar 

• Why is health care so expensive?
• Why is health care spending growing?
• Make health care spending growth predictions.
• Compare US health care costs to costs in other countries.
• Analyze the math behind health care spending.
• Examine sources of waste in the health care industry.
• Explore the role of technology in health care spending growth.
• What role should patients play in making important choices about their care?
• What role should money play in the decisions of patients?
• Interpret demand curves.
• Explore willingness to pay for health care.
• Evaluate different solutions to inefficient consumption of care, such as moral hazard.
• What role should the provider play in determining care patterns?
• How do provider behavior and competition influence care?
• Analyze clinical decision-making.
• Recognize supplier-induced demand and the consequences of the medical arms race.
• Explore practice ownership trends.
• Determine whether prevention programs and care coordination are cost saving.
• What is the role of insurance in health care?
• Why is the risk pool for health insurance so important and how do we manage it?
• Explore risk preferences.
• Calculate actuarially fair premiums to understand what health insurance is and how it works.
• Examine solutions for solving some of the problems with insurance.
• Evaluate policy proposals for dealing with information asymmetry and adverse selection.
• How can we design insurance plans to promote efficient consumer decision-making?
•  Explore patient decision-making in health care.
• Analyze different approaches for improving patient incentives.
• Understand the benefits of value based care and insurance.
• Strategies for implementing value-based healthcare and insurance designs.
• How do we structure payments to promote efficient provider decision-making?
• Explore provider decision-making in health care.
• Analyze different approaches for improving provider incentives.

Earn Your Certificate

Enroll today in Harvard Online's Health Care Economics course.

Still Have Questions?

What are the learning requirements? How do I list my certificate on my resume? Learn the answers to these and more in our FAQs.

Related Courses

Digital health.

Digital technologies and big data offer tremendous opportunities to improve health care.

Health Care Strategy

Learn from HBS Professor Leemore Dafny how to align the principles of business strategy with the unique challenges and structures of health care organizations to capture value, define your mission, and lead your organization to success.

Innovations in Teamwork for Health Care

In this course, experts from Harvard Business School and the T.H. Chan School of Public Health teach learners to implement a strategy for organizational teamwork in health care.

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Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellowship

Award information, important dates, eligibility criteria.

• Nomination Process

Application Process

Stipulations, fellowship details.

The purpose of the Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellowship program is to ensure the development of public health and health administration, health policy, urban planning, and data professionals who possess the necessary skills to influence positive change in public policy, systems, and the built environment in our local communities.

The Fellowship is a collaboration between participating cities, agencies, businesses, health systems, local not-for-profits, county departments of public health and universities. Students in the following disciplines are encouraged to apply: MPH, MHA, MBA MPP, MUP, Data Science and, Doctoral Fellows!

This opportunity is administered by Partners for Better Health (PBH) with the generous support of Mr. Randall Lewis. To date, the good works of 250 fellows have positively impacted communities throughout Southern California and beyond. The UCI Graduate Division serves as the point of contact between PBH and UCI fellows.

• A stipend is paid to the fellows upon completion of hours, projects, and final deliverables ($6,500 for 2024-25)
• fellows are matched with a “hosting site” according to their skill sets, interests and training
• “Intent to Apply” (internal UCI review) closes on July 11, 2024
• External applications will be accepted from April 1 until July 15 , 2024
• The fellowship is an 8-month (400-hour) commitment beginning in September through May .
• Fellows will present their work at an annual poster session and professional networking event held in late April each year.

Note Although applications are accepted until July 15, it is in your best interest to apply as soon as possible.  Matching opportunities with fellowship host sites begins in April.

UCI Graduate Division Requirements

•  full-time enrollment
• achieve a letter grade of B, S or above for three most recent quarters
• earn no more than two incomplete (I) grades in the last three quarters
• maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher
• demonstrate satisfactory academic progress towards your degree objective
• Indicate your advisor and provide their letter of recommendation
• Be a full-time student for the duration of the fellowship (September – May of the award year)

External Requirements for the Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellowship

The Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellowship is a prestigious and competitive fellowship for master and doctoral level students interested in health policy and related disciplines

• We Accept Applications for MPH, MHA, MBA MPP, MUP, Data Science and, Doctoral Fellows
• Registration in a practicum/internship course or related academic coursework within the university
• Interest in helping create healthier communities
• Willingness to collaborate with others, learn from their mistakes, and translate theory into practice

Step 1: Students Submit an “Intent to Apply” to UCI Graduate Division

• This letter should be one of the two letters that you provide directly to PBH as part of the Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellowship Application
• It should not be addressed to the UCI Graduate Division
• Please provide a  research statement  describing your academic/research interests in less than  300 words , written for a committee of non-specialists in the field. The statement should highlight any potential plans for impact in the community.

Step 2:  Approved Applicants Apply Directly to the Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellowship

• Access the Randall Lewis Fellowship Student Application
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• Cover Letter
• 2 Letters of Recommendation
• University Transcript
• What are your academic/research interests?
• What are your non-academic or work-related interests/hobbies?
• Community Involvement Synopsis
• Tell us about yourself and why you would make a good Randall Lewis Fellow?

UCI Graduate Division Intent to Apply Form:  https://uci.questionpro.com/t/AaSycZ2Yt6

Partners for Better Health, Randall Lewis Health & Policy Fellowship Application:  https://p4bhealth.org/fellowship-student-application/

All fellows are expected to complete the following over the course of their fellowship year:

• Participate in an orientation session
• Fellows are matched with a hosting site for an 8-month (400-hour) commitment beginning in September through May
• Attend Fellowship meetings and trainings. Fellows meet as a group at least 6 times during the fellowship. We offer our fellows GIS training, mentoring, coaching, resume and interview preparation and much more during the learning session. It is also a great opportunity to network with other fellows all over southern California. These sessions require travel within the Southern California region. Some sessions may be conducted over zoom.
• Submit a Scope of Work developed in conjunction with their site preceptor.
• Prepare a poster for presentation and a two-page handout.
• Attend a minimum of two external professional meetings, workshops or conferences per fellowship year.
• Attend the annual Fellowship Forum & Poster session. Fellows will present their work at an annual poster session and professional networking event held in late April each year.
• Submission of a final narrative detailing the fellow’s experience and impact (approximately 1000 words).

Important Notes

• UCI Graduate Division serves as the liaison between UCI applicants/fellows and Partner for Better Health (PBH)
• This is an externally funded fellowship; UCI does not receive or release any funding to students
• Students are not considered employees of the fellowship
• UCI Fellows must maintain minimum fellowship eligibility requirements (as stated above) throughout the duration of the fellowship to be considered eligible

UCI Contact :  Turner Dahl at [email protected]

PBH Contact :  Jaynie Boren at [email protected]

5 Public Health Courses Premeds Should Take

Epidemiology and health policy are among courses that can help help aspiring medical students become physician leaders.

Premeds Take 5 Public Health Courses

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Studying health policy helps future doctors understand policies at local, national, and international levels, and teaches them to advocate for their patients.

As a premedical student, you can take public health courses that will allow you to better understand health at a population level. An understanding of public health can help you become a physician leader in the community.

The COVID-19 pandemic put a spotlight on the importance of public health . While not perfect, our local and national public health infrastructure allowed the public to understand the severity of the COVID-19 disease as well as create measures to protect the health of our communities.

While the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of public health, there are other diseases where doctors are called upon to promote population-level changes while taking care of patients.

Doctors serve as leaders in their communities by providing medical expertise and advocating for public health initiatives. They can translate their insights from patient care to create hospitalwide and communitywide policies to protect other individuals, and doctors who are trained in epidemiology and community health can study the transmission of the diseases. They can also spearhead community public health initiatives, including health education campaigns and community clinics, to expand access to medical care.

Dr. Rishi Mediratta graduated from Johns Hopkins University in Maryland with a bachelor’s in public health studies. That degree gave him a foundational understanding of global health issues, public health theories and statistics that enabled him to conduct research and create community health programs in Ethiopia focused on combatting child mortality.

"Throughout college and during my first gap year before medical school, I founded the Ethiopian Orphan Health Foundation, a nonprofit organization that provided community-based health care and education to 91 orphans near Gondar, Ethiopia," he says.

"I integrated lessons that I learned from my classes in epidemiology and public health to partner with community members to help orphaned children. For instance, I saw how Ethiopians bonded during traditional coffee ceremonies. I used coffee ceremonies to create a dialogue with the community about stigmatized child health topics.”

Mediratta then pursued a master’s of science in public health at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine as a British Marshall Scholar.

“Further public health studies showed me the various stakeholders involved in creating global health policies for newborns and children. I learned how health policies were created based on synergies from multiple perspectives. These insights were instrumental when I worked with policymakers at the World Bank and World Health Organization.”

Mediratta received his medical degree at Stanford University School of Medicine in California, where he continued to spearhead initiatives to improve population health, primary care and global health. Now he is a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at Stanford medical school and a faculty fellow at the Center for Innovation in Global Health.

These public health classes and topics will be helpful for premedic students :

• Biostatistics • Epidemiology • Health equity • Health policy • Community health and community-based classes

Biostatistics

Biostatistics is the application of statistics to life sciences, including public health. In a biostatics class, premeds learn quantitative and qualitative data collection methods as well as when to use different types of statistical analyses.

Premed students who take biostatistics will be able to better understand the role of evidence in public health research, policy and clinical practice, critically evaluate medical literature and tailor their treatment plans for patients based on rigorous scientific evidence, Mediratta says.

Epidemiology

Epidemiology is the study of diseases or disorders within groups of people and ways to prevent or control them. Premed students who take an epidemiology course will be able to understand the causes, prevalence and distribution of a disease in the community. Doctors who understand the epidemiology of a disease can help make informed decisions about prevention and treatment for their patients.

“Knowing epidemiology allows me to appreciate nuances in the distribution of clinical symptoms, risk factors, and diseases in populations," Mediratta says. "For example, I learned how newborns in low- and middle-income countries die from prematurity, complications from birth and sepsis. I developed and validated a Neonatal Mortality Score that predicts which newborns are likely to die when they are admitted to neonatal intensive care units in Ethiopia. I hope that one day, health care providers can use our research to more quickly identify newborns who are at risk of dying and provide them with monitoring and interventions that save their lives.”

Health Equity

Health equity courses teach premedical students about health care disparities – which vary by income, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation and disability status – and inequities within populations. These courses also give students ways to advocate for disadvantaged individuals and populations.

Premedical students can take a general health equity class or seminars focused on specific populations or health systems that incorporate health equity. “Doctors who are knowledgeable about health care disparities can advocate for equitable access to health care services," Mediratta says. "Through research, advocacy and community involvement, physicians can address the social determinants of health that contribute to health inequities.”

Health Policy

In a health policy class, premeds will learn about health care systems and the stakeholders influencing health care policies. Studying health policy helps future doctors understand policies at local, national, and international levels, and teaches them to advocate for their patients by supporting policies that promote better access to quality health care and decrease health care disparities.

Reflecting on his clinical practice, Mediratta says, “understanding the factors that influence health policies has allowed me to help my patients navigate our complex health care system, such as connecting patients to services covered by their medical insurance or accessing transportation services to and from hospitals.”

Community Health and Community-Based Classes

A community health course explores the multifaceted factors influencing health outcomes, including social determinants of health and environmental factors, and also examines public health interventions. Some courses include an experiential learning component so students can conduct projects that address community health needs.

Mediratta, for instance, taught an elective at Stanford University that allowed students to collaborate with community partners to creatively implement projects that address COVID-19-related challenges.

"One student produced a children’s book that combatted vaccine hesitancy and created read-aloud videos of the book. Even after the class ended, the student organized workshops in elementary schools to educate children about vaccine. Our class serves as a model for how universities can implement medical service-learning courses to empower students while simultaneously addressing the community’s needs.”

Taking public health courses during your premedical career will give you strong foundational knowledge to be a health care leader. As a doctor, you will be able to help your patients navigate through the challenges of health care systems, participate in policymaking that affects millions of individuals, and direct research projects that advance the health of our communities.

Medical School Application Mistakes

Tags: medical school , public health , graduate schools , education , students

About Medical School Admissions Doctor

Need a guide through the murky medical school admissions process? Medical School Admissions Doctor offers a roundup of expert and student voices in the field to guide prospective students in their pursuit of a medical education. The blog is currently authored by Dr. Ali Loftizadeh, Dr. Azadeh Salek and Zach Grimmett at Admissions Helpers , a provider of medical school application services; Dr. Renee Marinelli at MedSchoolCoach , a premed and med school admissions consultancy; Dr. Rachel Rizal, co-founder and CEO of the Cracking Med School Admissions consultancy; Dr. Cassie Kosarec at Varsity Tutors , an advertiser with U.S. News & World Report; Dr. Kathleen Franco, a med school emeritus professor and psychiatrist; and Liana Meffert, a fourth-year medical student at the University of Iowa's Carver College of Medicine and a writer for Admissions Helpers. Got a question? Email [email protected] .

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Uncovering health care’s true challenges: beyond doctor-patient dynamics

There are frequent accusations against physicians and other health care professionals regarding their behavior and/or education: they cannot communicate, are misogynist, racist, and ageist, and are poorly educated, despite American physicians training longer than those in other developed countries. But are these complainants aiming at the most obvious, though not most significant, target? There are more pressing problems than patient-provider relationships, as serious as they are, weightier concerns that are capable of destroying an already fractured health care system. It will accomplish little if we have doctors who are wonderful communicators but lack a functional health care system within which they could function.

A few years ago, a southern state’s Republican governor commissioned a study to determine the state’s cost of expanding Medicaid. The researchers determined that the program would generate millions of dollars for the state, a finding subsequently supported by implementation in other states. However, this was contrary to the governor’s politics, and though lives, mostly Black, would have been improved or saved, the report (though leaked) was never published, and the program was never implemented. The state also has appalling maternal-infant health statistics, especially in rural and Black locales. Having primarily Black and female providers propose rural-based pre-natal clinics and birthing centers to serve these women likely would have improved morbidity and mortality. In response, the state health department promulgated a proximity regulation of a clinic to a level III hospital for “patient safety,” although many of the women never resided within this vicinity prior to the proposal, and despite that accessible care would reduce the likelihood of complications necessitating this propinquity! If the agency was genuinely concerned for patient safety and the present dismal outcomes, why does it now establish an obstructive rule? More likely, as the people to be served are of color, both the rule and limitation of expanded Medicaid are racially motivated.

Then too, public interest groups can be misguided in their attempts to help those they serve. In two instances, these organizations exerted pressure on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to make decisions based on “hope,” not evidence. Two organizations for patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis lobbied the FDA to approve a medication for which preliminary research barely demonstrated a positive effect, and subsequent studies determined it was ineffective. Another specialty association touts two medications for early-stage Alzheimer’s dementia while neglecting to mention their ineffectiveness, limited patient eligibility, and serious side effects. Aside from creating “false hope,” these groups accomplished little for their membership. Increasingly hospitals, nursing homes, medical practices, etc., are not owned by those motivated by service but by individuals or organizations interested in profit.

Making money in itself is not evil, as even non-profits require sufficient cash flow to maintain operations, but when service is subjugated to wealth generation, patient care suffers. Reports on private equity-owned institutions and practices consistently reveal, on average, lower quality care than in non-profit establishments: they employ fewer and less qualified staff, experience increased staff turnover, decrease necessary treatments, perform more superfluous tests and procedures, reduce equity, and compromise patient safety. Health insurers, including Medicare Advantage (MA) plans, also demonstrate more interest in profit than payment for patient services and, when necessary, reduce benefits, increase patient monthly and co-payments, delay prior authorizations and appeals, deny necessary care, and/or reduce physician/provider income. They frequently claim to be on the edge of bankruptcy but invariably trumpet quarterly profits. One company, for a recent quarter, claimed nearly $1 billion in earnings, while other companies ballyhooed recent quarterly gains in multiple $100s of millions.

Conservative estimates of behaviors by insurance and private equity ownership cost the American taxpayer $400-$450 billion annually and unnecessary deaths. It is estimated, for example, that private-enterprise nursing homes alone, presently ±72 percent of total facilities, account for ±1,275 needless deaths yearly. Advocates for government single-payer programs have again asserted that they could be a panacea to many of our current health care problems, given a 2024 Congressional Budget Office report. These plans, it is argued, could save between $42-$743 billion, depending on the chosen model, and improve equity and outcomes. A major area of reduction could be administration. Medicare spends ≈2 percent, while MA plans average ±13.7 percent. These programs are already threatening service reductions in response to a minimal decrease in 2025 payments from Medicare, although trimming administrative costs could easily balance this payment reduction with no loss to client services. And yet, this assumption of single-payer superiority is naive, as all countries with this system are beset with problems: increasing service costs, non-equitability, reductions in basic services, lower use of advanced drugs/techniques, low professional salaries, and rife fraud.

In 2023, for example, the U.K. recovered $280.2 billion in fraudulent payments, about 50 percent of these payments. Our problem lies with our favoring a laissez-faire approach to business and only applying regulation after years of damage and public pressure. Regulatory agencies are chronically underfunded, making them unable to effectively enforce, in the present instance, existing regulations on health care insurers and for-profit ownership of health care entities. Citizens need to pressure both state and federal legislators to improve agency funding to increase enforcement. There will be significant industry opposition, and it will take time, likely years. But, if we learn from the errors of others, we will gain an improved health care system, improve equity and health, and save money.

M. Bennet Broner is a medical ethicist.

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University of South Florida

College of Behavioral and Community Sciences

Main navigation, smart lab wraps up year of conducting pioneering substance misuse research.

SMART Lab members gather outside of the BayScape Bistro at Heritage Isles.

• May 13, 2024
• College News , Mental Health Law and Policy

Students in the Substance Misuse and Research Traineeship (SMART) lab , an initiative of the Johnson Lab led by Department of Mental Health Law and Policy Assistant Professor Micah Johnson, PhD , recently shared their research and celebrated their achievements. The lab members not only showcased their work at the SMART Research Symposium and Banquet, but 12 of them also participated in the OneUSF Undergraduate Research Conference.

A student shares her research at the banquet.

Johnson mentors the 24 students in the lab and works with them weekly for three years. Each has their own independent research project related to the predictors and consequences of substance misuse, particularly opioids missue among underserved adolescents. The program is designed for students from programs across USF who are interested in pursuing a PhD in a field related to addiction. 

During the undergraduate research conference, Elliot Santaella Aguilar presented "The Effects of Structured Activity Involvement on Opioid Misuse in Justice-Involved Adolescents." Aguilar received the Award for Excellence in Research during the lab's banquet for his work on the link between community ties and whether structured community and prosocial activities are protective against opioid misuse in justice-involved adolescents.

Opioid misuse in justice-involved adolescents was a common theme in the students' research projects. Michael Fredette presented "The Effect of Parental Supervision on Opioid Misuse among Justice-Involved Adolescents," and Tamira Godfrey-Andrade presented "Community Violence Predicting Opioid Use Among Justice-involved Adolescents."

A student shares her work and connects with other researchers.

Students also presented their research related to a justice-involve adolescent's home life and environment and substance misuse. Nurimar Ortega Santiago studied how the number of positive adult relationships impacts treatment participation , Shiraz Sher analyzed  how household substance misuse impacts opioid misuse in runaway and kicked out of home adolescents , and Dahlia Williams presented on the relationship between respect for authority figures and opioid misuse among justice-involved adolescents. Liliana Nicho shared her research on how opioid misuse within divorced and separated family structures affects borderline personality disorder traits among justice-involved adolescents.

Some research students presented was also related to mental health. Darrin Holmes evaluated opioid misuse among justice-involved adolescents with mental health struggles, and Nebiyou Daniel studied the impact of different modalities of mental health treatment on drug treatment program participation.

At the conference, Jasmin Pruthi shared an analysis of the role of insurance coverage and healthcare access in opioid misuse in justice-involved adolescents. Dylanis López Ruiz presented "Analyzing the Association of School Exclusion Disciplines on Opioid Misuse Among Justice-Involved Adolescents" and Elian N. Ruiz-Arevalo presented "The Association between Poly-victimization and Opioid Misuse Among Justice-Involved Adolescents."

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About College of Behavioral & Community Sciences News

The Mission of the College of Behavioral and Community Sciences (CBCS) is to advance knowledge through interdisciplinary teaching, research, and service that improves the capacity of individuals, families, and diverse communities to promote productive, satisfying, healthy, and safe lives across the lifespan. CBCS envisions the college as a globally recognized leader that creates innovative solutions to complex conditions that affect the behavior and well-being of individuals, families, and diverse communities.

Rewatch 2024 Spring Commencement and Doctoral Hooding

The University celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2024 at Doctoral Hooding and Spring Commencement ceremonies.

The University celebrated the achievements of the Class of 2024 at Doctoral Hooding and Spring Commencement this weekend.

For friends and family who aren’t able to be in Chapel Hill, or those who want to rewatch, a livestream is available for both ceremonies.

Carolina’s doctoral candidates were recognized during a 9 a.m. ceremony Saturday, May 11 at the Dean E. Smith Center. Graduate students who earned their Ph.D.s in the past academic year will have the hood of their Commencement regalia conferred by their advisers or dissertation committee chairs.

Angeli Achrekar (’13 DrPH), deputy executive director of the Programme Branch at Joint United Nations Programme on HIV-AIDS and an assistant secretary-general of the United Nations, delivered the keynote address.

Spring Commencement was held at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 11 at Kenan Stadium. NASA astronaut Zena Cardman ’10, ’14 (MS), who’s set to travel to space later this year, was the keynote speaker .

Livestreams are available at this link .

Ahead of Spring Commencement, Carolina graduates celebrated their achievements at ceremonies around campus.

Doctoral hooding speakers encourage curiosity

Encouraging a “culture of openness,” they charged graduates to stay collaborative and committed to service.

Giovanni Biggers will use MAPS degree to boost others

He focused on business and public policy in the UNC Graduate School’s flexible interdisciplinary program.

Celebrating State Employee Recognition Week 2024

As North Carolina celebrates State Employee Recognition Week, Interim Chancellor Lee H. Roberts thanks Carolina employees for their work.

National Academy of Sciences elects 2 from Carolina

Sociology professor Arne Kalleberg and hepatitis researcher Dr. Stanley Lemon received the honor.

Eye clinic work led to perfect match

UNC School of Medicine graduate Dr. Tika Zbornik Thompson will soon begin a residency in ophthalmology at UNC Hospitals

Carolina celebrates the Class of 2024 under the lights

The 6,700-plus Tar Heel graduates received words of wisdom from astronaut Zena Cardman ’10, ’14 (MS) at a ceremony presided over by interim chancellor Lee H. Roberts.

Senior crafts fashion pathway

Juniper Rakhman Gerardi earned a fashion marketing certificate and interned in South Africa.

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