PhD in Health Services Research and Policy

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

The Department of Community and Preventive Medicine offers a Ph.D. in Health Services Research. Our recent graduates have positions in academics, government, and industry. The faculty in the Health Services Reseach division have a wide variety of research interests, both substantively and methodologically. This diversity is reflected in the variety of topics our students have pursued in their dissertations.

Virtually all of our doctoral students receive an annual stipend of $25,000, some through a training grant from the Agency for Healthcare Reseach and Quality, have their tuition paid for 5 years, and receive health insurance.