Health Services Research and Policy PhD Program
PLEASE READ: For the 2025-2026 academic year, the University of Rochester will pause our acceptance and review of applications to our Epidemiology and Health Services Research PhD programs. We will not review any applications and will not be enrolling any PhD students this year. This pause is only for 1 year and we will return to accepting applications and enrolling students next year (during the 2026-2027 academic year). Please note that we continue to accept and review applications this year to our Masters programs as usual (MS in Epidemiology, MS in Clinical Investigation, MS in Health Services Research and Policy, and our Master of Public Health programs), as well as all of our certificate programs. The pause is for our Epidemiology and Health Services Research PhD programs only.
Since 1994, the PhD program in Health Services Research and Policy in the Department of Public Health Sciences has been highly successful in preparing students to become scholars for research, teaching, and public service careers in university, public policy, and governmental settings.
Our PhD program has also been designated as a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) program since 2010. Set within a large medical center with all its clinical research resources and collaborative faculty, our program focuses on interdisciplinary application of the social and behavioral science disciplines to real world health issues such as the organization, financing, and delivery of health care; the quality and safety of care; health outcomes; and the management of population health.
Read A Welcome Message from the Director
Program Highlights
- Our PhD program is designed to produce researchers who generate knowledge and strategies used in solving healthcare problems.
- Interdisciplinary courses, research and teaching, provide candidates with a broad range of skills.
- Our Ph.D. can be combined with other degrees such as the M.P.H. or M.D.
- Stipends, tuition grants, training and travel expenses are provided for doctoral study.
- The program prepares students for a career in academia, government or the private sector.
- Our PhD program exists within the Department of Public Health Sciences, which also houses MS programs in Epidemiology, Public Health, Health Services Research, and Clinical Investigations, and a PhD program in Epidemiology.
Our Program By The Numbers
20
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75
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25
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27
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What Sets Us Apart
Curriculum
Information on core courses, electives, lab rotations to guide you through our program
Research
We support and guide trainees in several areas of research. Browse research by current program trainees
Mentor Relationships
Our program faculty offer a wide range of research experience to mentor you towards your Ph.D.
Discover Public Health Sciences
Latest News
Upcoming Events
September 18, 2025
Irfan Rahman quoted in "Nicotine-free’ vapes and pouches promise a buzz without the downsides. Health concerns remain"
September 6, 2025
Tackling Head Injuries With Science
August 13, 2025
Monroe County And City Of Rochester Recognized As Lactation-friendly Worksites
Special Seminar: "How stethoscopes can also heal the lungs of the Earth"
Kinari Webb, MD
Founder, Health in Harmony
Wed, Nov 19 @ 2:00 PM
MC | Class of '62 Auditorium (G-9425)Register here
What Our Students Say...
"I chose the University of Rochester's Health Services Research and Policy program because the faculty and staff provide students with a supportive environment to develop their research ideas. The program also has a flexible curriculum. Students can take classes offered by other departments- i.e., data science, psychology."
Yechu Hua
Hometown: Zhejiang, China
Undergraduate Degree: Finance
Areas of Interest: Health Economics; Price Transparency in Healthcare; Quality and Cost; Econometric Modeling
Contact Us
For information related to the doctoral degree program in Health Services Research and Policy, please contact:
Yue Li, PhD, Director
Health Services Research and Policy Doctoral Program
Department of Public Health Sciences
University of Rochester Medical Center
Office: (585) 275-3276
Fax: (585) 461-4532