Graduate Programs

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

The Health Services Research (HSR) doctoral program offers training in research methods to advance knowledge of issues central to the improvement of population health by focusing on organizational characteristics of health care delivery systems, providers and economic forces that shape consumer and provider behavior, as well as the policy environment in which these relationships exist.
 
The competency-based curriculum provides students with a strong analytic foundation and general health services research orientation. Students may select an emphasis area in Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmaceutical Health Services Research, Health Economics, and Comparative Effectiveness Research and Evidence-based Medicine.

Additional Resources

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

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

Application Information

Application in SOPHAS

Application Requirements

GRE Subject:

Not required

GRE General:

Not required

Official Transcripts:

Required

Letters of Recommendations:

3

Personal Statement:

Required

Resume/CV:

Required

Additional Requirements:

  • Application Fee

International Applicants:

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

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

Dates/Deadlines

Application Deadline

Completion Requirements

24 credits, successful completion of written comprehensive exams in methods and a substantive area, and successful defense of an independent dissertation.

Alumni Careers

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Leadership

Department Chair
Scott Rivkees
Director of Graduate Studies
Omar Galarraga
Director of Admissions
David Meyers

Contact and Location

Department of Health Services, Policy & Practice

Mailing Address

Brown University
Box G-S121, 6th floor
Visit the Department of Health Services, Policy & Practice

Resources