boston university phd health services research

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Health Services Research

The Division of Health Services Research (HSR), formerly known as the Division of General Academic Pediatrics (GAP), is a research division in the Department of Pediatrics at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and the Boston University (BU) Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. The Division consists of researchers across the spectrum of pediatric health care, from general pediatrics to specialty care. Faculty, fellows, students, staff, and affiliated clinicians in the Division strive to use collaborative research to have impact on issues facing the health, development, and general wellbeing of children and families, especially those from historically marginalized populations.    The Division’s research portfolio includes pressing issues in pediatric health care including: social determinants of health (notably, economic mobility, food insecurity, and housing), health insurance policy, innovative care delivery and payment models, obesity and food insecurity, substance use disorder, health information technology, health effects of the criminal legal system, quality of care for asthma and sickle cell disease, maternal depression and dyadic car, behavioral health, breastfeeding, and community and interpersonal violence. Underlying this range of topics is a focus on equity, patient-centeredness, and community involvement. Division researchers collaborate within the Division and with colleagues in other BMC/BU Departments, the BU School of Public Health (BUSPH), and beyond, with funding from NIMH, PCORI, AHRQ, NIMHD, NHLBI, NIDA, MCHB, and foundations such as Noonan, Doris Duke, and Robert Wood Johnson. Additional information about specific research teams within the Division can be found below.   The Division participates in weekly Research Seminars which serve as Work-in-Progress sessions and as a forum for faculty, fellows, and affiliated students to present their work. These meetings are attended by researchers in the Pediatrics Department and the BMC/BU research community.

Alison Galbraith, MD, MPH Director, Division of Health Services Research Director, General Academic Pediatrics Fellowship Professor [email protected]

Faculty members

William G Adams, MD – [email protected] Director of Child Health Informatics     Professor

Dr. Adams research focuses on developing and evaluating translational informatics tools designed to improve the health and health equity of special populations like the ones served by Boston Medical Center and our affiliated Community Health Centers.

Sarah Bagley, MD, MSc – [email protected] Medical Director, CATALYST Associate Professor

Dr. Bagley’s research focuses on addressing youth opioid use.

Tehnaz Boyle, MD, PhD – [email protected]   Assistant Professor

Dr. Boyle’s research focuses on developing and testing technological interventions to improve patient outcomes in emergency settings.

Renee Boynton-Jarrett, MD, ScD – [email protected]   Founding Director, Vital Village Community Engagement Network Associate Professor

Dr. Boynton-Jarrett’s research focuses on the role of early-life adversities as life course social determinants of health.

Jeff Campbell, MD, MPH – [email protected]   Assistant Professor

Dr. Campbell’s research focuses on health services delivery and access to care for children with tuberculosis infection.

Robyn Cohen, MD, MPH – [email protected]   Associate Professor

Dr. Cohen’s research focuses on pulmonary complications of sickle cell anemia; asthma health disparities, pediatric asthma clinical research; asthma in Latino communities; social determinants of health.

Gaby Cordova Ramos, MD – [email protected]   Assistant Professor

Dr. Ramos’s research focus is on adapting evidence-based interventions to be more culturally and linguistically appropriate for diverse populations.

Kelsey Egan, MD, MSc – [email protected] Assistant Professor

Dr. Egan's research interests focus on improving clinical-community integration in order to decrease inequities in health outcomes for children and families. She is particularly interested in developing and implementing interventions to prevent food insecurity in early childhood, a critical time period of rapid growth and development that forms the foundation for future health and well-being. She is interested in the use of health information technology to improve clinical-community integration.

Mei Elansary, MD, MPhil – [email protected]   Assistant Professor

Dr. Elansary’s research focuses on maternal mental health and child development. 

Stephanie Ettinger de Cuba, PhD, MPH - [email protected] Executive Director, Children’s HealthWatch Research Associate Professor

Dr. Ettinger de Cuba’s research focuses on children and families, health, the intersections of race/ethnicity and nativity, and the structural and policy factors underpinning these relationships. In particular, her expertise is in health inequities experienced by families with very young children and immigrant families and their children.

Emily Feinberg, ScD, MSc – [email protected]   Adjunct Professor

Dr. Feinberg’s research focuses on addressing disparities in behavioral health outcomes experienced by low income children.

Alison Galbraith, MD, MPH – [email protected]   Director, Division of Health Services Research Director, General Academic Pediatrics Fellowship Professor

Dr. Galbraith conducts health services research focused on how health insurance policy affects health care access and affordability for families with children.

Heather Hsu, MD, MPH – [email protected]   Assistant Professor of Pediatrics

Dr. Hsu conducts health services research focused on examining the impact of value-based care implementation on quality of care, health equity, and the financial well-being of the healthcare safety-net.

Patricia Kavanagh, MD – [email protected]   Associate Professor

Dr. Kavanagh’s research focuses on the impact of screening and referring families with unmet basic needs on health on outcomes for children with sickle cell disease, and serving as a subject matter expert in a multisite randomized trial comparing individualized pain plans with weight-based protocols.

Lucy Marcil, MD, MPH – [email protected]   Executive Director, StreetCred Associate Director, Economic Mobility, Center for the Urban Child and Healthy Family Interim Director, Urban Health and Advocacy Track (UHAT), Boston Combined Residency program Assistant Professor

Dr. Marcil’s work focuses on redesigning pediatric care to include economic justice and to create a culture of anti-poverty medicine.

Neena McConnico, PhD – [email protected]   Executive Director, Child Witness to Violence Project Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Assistant Professor

Dr. McConnico’s work focuses on how the impacts of trauma interface with children’s academic and social development.

Anne Merewood, PhD, MPH – [email protected] Director, CHEER (Center for Health Equity, Education and Research) Associate Professor

Dr. Merewood’s research focuses on Implementation science, QI, maternal child health, humanitarian, public health and equity work.

Ana Poblacion, PhD, MSC – [email protected]   Assistant Professor

Dr. Poblacion's research focuses on pediatric nutrition and ending food insecurity in households with children through the increase in access to healthy foods.

Megan Sandel, MD, MPH – [email protected]   Professor

Dr. Sandel’s research focuses on housing and child health.

Richard Sheward, MPP - [email protected]   Director of System Implementation Strategies, Children's HealthWatch Assistant Professor

Dr. Sheward’s research focuses on the association between health-related social needs (i.e., unstable housing and food insecurity) and young children and caregivers’ health. His research has since expanded to understand which health-related social needs measures are most effective and for whom. 

Colin Sox, MD – [email protected]   Clinical Associate Professor

Dr. Sox conducts medical education research, including multi-center randomized controlled trials.

Michelle Stransky, PhD – [email protected]   Assistant Professor

Dr. Stransky’s research focuses on recommending improvements to policy and clinical practice that will reduce disparities.

Destiny Tolliver, MD - [email protected]   Assistant Professor

Dr. Tolliver’s research focuses on how criminal legal system involvement impacts children and families, and what policies and practices work to improve health outcomes for these children.

Research groups

Bos collaborative/plus pediatric housing assistance.

A $5 million philanthropic investment to establish neighborhood-based training strategies for 1,100 residents of color, and fund 250 new and preserved affordable housing units in historically underinvested Boston neighborhoods, including Black and Latinx communities.

Boston Birth Cohort

Initiated in 1998 is a large-scale molecular epidemiological study funded by the National Institute of Health, with a particular focus on environment factors, genetic variants, epigenomic alterations, and their interactions in adverse reproductive outcomes, food allergy and related conditions, and obesity and metabolic syndrome in children.

Learn more about Boston Birth Cohort

A program helps teens and young adults who use alcohol or drugs.

Learn more about CATALYST

A world class center for maternal child health advocacy, training, and research.

Learn more about CHEER

Children's Health Watch

Formerly known as the Children’s Sentinel Nutrition Assessment Program, monitors the impact of economic conditions and public policies on the health and well-being of very young children.

Learn more about Children's Health Watch

Innovation in Autism Inclusion Outreach and Transition Service

Assists and empowers autistic individuals and their families through direct patient support, provider education, and community-based outreach.

Learn more about the Autism Program at BMC

Project SOLVE

Aims to mitigate the impact of mental illness on vulnerable families by developing, testing, and disseminating strategies through novel care delivery systems.

Learn more about Project SOLVE

R1/RDHRS Telehealth Team

Develop and implement a model for disaster telehealth services that provide rapid, temporary, on-demand access to clinical specialists across jurisdictions to support regional disaster health response in the United States.

An innovation hub that envisions nurturing healthy, thriving children and families by leveraging trust in and access to health care to increase economic inclusion and rectify structural racism.

Learn more about StreetCred

Our Vision: All children and families will live within a community that fosters and promotes physical and behavioral health, wellness and resilience.

Learn more about TEAM UP

Vital Village

A network of residents and organizations committed to maximizing child, family and community well-being. 

Learn more about Vital Village

General Academic Pediatric Fellowship

The Health Service Research Division is home to the General Academic Pediatrics Fellowship. This fellowship part of the larger Academic Primary Care Fellowship at BMC/BU in collaboration with the Division of General Internal Medicine (including Addiction Medicine), Department of Family Medicine, Department of Surgery, the Preventive Medicine Training program, and the BU School of Public Health. Our trainees have gone on to hold leadership positions in academia and government.

The mission of the fellowship is to train highly motivated investigators with a focus on topics relevant to medically under-served communities.  We have an exciting mix of educational curricular choices in epidemiology and health services research, and experiential learning opportunities in public health. More information can be found here and here . 

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Preparing Nurse Science Leaders

Our Ph.D. program integrates science, theory, and research to educate the next generation of nurse scientists, educators, policy-makers, and practitioners. 

Application Deadline

January 15   

Financial Support

The Connell School fully funds every full-time Ph.D. student’s tuition, fees, and insurance for three years.

At a Glance

Most students take 21 courses (48 total credits). 

Students typically complete the program in 4 years. 

The program begins in the fall semester.

Three core areas of study:

Knowledge development in nursing.

Students build on their foundation in nursing science. Includes courses in philosophy of science, epistemology of nursing, and strategies for developing nursing knowledge.

Substantive nursing content

Challenges students to take what is currently known in nursing science and expand on it to address contemporary issues in health care. Includes courses in ethics, policy, and cognate courses in the student's area of focus. 

Research methods

Prepares students to begin their program of research. Includes courses in qualitative and quantitative research methods, statistics, and research practica as well as dissertation advisement.

Students develop their research expertise through:

• Independent study
• Interdisciplinary colloquia
• Collaboration with a dissertation advisor
• Electives in research concentrations 
• Clinical research in top-tier health centers in the Boston area
• Access to other graduate courses within Boston College 
• Access to courses through a consortium with area research universities, including Tufts, Boston University, and Brandeis University.

Ph.D. Program Objectives

• Constructively critique and synthesize nursing and interdisciplinary knowledge within their area of inquiry relative to nursing science.
• Design, conduct, and disseminate innovative, rigorous, and ethically sound research that advances nursing science.
• Assume leadership roles and collaborate with other disciplines to address contemporary health care concerns.
• Use scholarly inquiry to generate and disseminate knowledge that facilitates humanization, advances the discipline, informs practice, and reshapes policy.
• Articulate the perspective of nursing in interdisciplinary dialogue for the common good of a diverse and global society.

Approved by Faculty Assembly, December 20, 2017

Download Ph.D. Curriculum

Fall Semester

Spring semester, each semester until graduation, featured faculty.

Andrew Dwyer, Ph.D., FNP-BC, FNAP, FAAN

View Faculty Directory & Expertise

“ Throughout your CSON journey, you'll work with dedicated faculty who are committed to your success and will prepare you to impact health care and nursing science. ”

Our Students

CSON's Ph.D. Program attracts students from a variety of backgrounds and with an array of research interests.

CSON Doctoral Student Research

Our Ph.D. students regularly disseminate research findings in respected forums and receive prestigious awards, including being inducted into the American Academy of Nursing and named Jonas Center for Nursing Excellence Scholars.

Learn about CSON Research

“ CSON provides an atmosphere of academic rigor. The faculty are incredibly supportive and have been wonderful mentors to me. It is inspiring to be surrounded by so many respected nurse scientists and educators. ”

Recent Dissertation Topics

Birth Center Decision-Making among Women and Birthing People in the United States

Health Patterning of Im/migrant and Asylum-Seeking Emerging Adults from Guatemala and Honduras

Multimethod Approach to Understanding the Biopsychosocial Underpinnings of Chronic Cancer-Related Pain in Cancer Survivors

Associations Between Reproductive Coercion, Intimate Partner Violence, and Adverse Birth Outcomes among Postpartum Women

The Meaning of Empathy in the Context of Clinical Nursing Practice Among Senior Baccalaureate Students 

Measuring Psychological Safety, HRO Perception and Safety Reporting Intentions Among Pediatric Nurses  

The Influence of #MeToo on Sexual Assault Survivors’ Decision Making and Health Behaviors: A Qualitative Inquiry 

Sexual Minority Adolescents: Understanding Disparities in Sex Education and Parent Communication About Sex  

Improving Healthcare for Individuals with Serious Mental Illness Across the Lifespan 

Nurse Educators' Description of Ethics from a Disciplinary Perspective  

Associations between reproductive coercion, intimate partner violence, and adverse birth outcomes among postpartum women 

A Multimethod Approach to Understanding the Biopsychosocial Underpinnings of Chronic Pain in Cancer Survivors 

Life Patterning: Im/migrant and Asylum Seeking Emerging Adults from Guatemala and Honduras 

Fertility-Awareness Practices Among Women Seeking Pregnancy  

The Meaning of Being Considered a Sex Offender for a Person Who is Reintegrating into Society

Tongue-Tie: Prevalence, Significance, and its Contribution to Maternal Feeding Challenges and Problematic Infant Feeding

The Role of the Social Determinants of Health in Rural Health Equity

Measuring Diabetes Distress in Emerging Adulthood

Mental Health and Mental Health Treatment Experiences of Transgender and Gender Diverse Persons

The Meaning of the Transition to Retirement at Midlife from Active Duty Military Service in the United States

Intensive Care Unit Nurses’ Experience of Watson’s Theory of Human Caring Caritas Process Three: Cultivation of One’s Own Spiritual Practice and Transpersonal Self, Going Beyond Ego-Self

Occupational Health Across Generationally-Defined Age Groups in a Cohort of Hospital Nurses

Critical Care Nurse Intentions to Report to Work During an Influenza Pandemic

Caregivers’ Perception of Nurse-Led Discharge Education Interventions: Knowledge Needed for Adequate Care of a Technology-Dependent Infant in the Home Setting

The Experience of Older Adult Couples Living with Chronic Illness at Home

Factors Associated with Refeeding Hypophosphatemia in Adolescents and Young Adults Hospitalized with Anorexia Nervosa

Identification of Optimal Stool Donor Health and Intestinal Microbiome Characteristics for Fecal Microbiota Transplantation

Level of Mindfulness in Persons with Anorexia Nervosa Entering Residential Treatment and the Relationship with Eating Disorder Symptomology and Clinical Indicators of Health

Understanding Patient Engagement in Breast Cancer Survivorship Care: A National Web-Based Survey

Nutrition Related Clinical Decision Making of Pediatric Oncology Nurses

The Experience of Young Women Living with Advanced Breast Cancer: A Hermeneutic Phenomenological Study

The Development and Psychometric Validation of the Ethical Awareness Scale

News from the Connell School

• Health Equity for Women and Children
• Person- and Family-Oriented Aging
• Safety and Quality of Care

Opportunities at the Connell School

Graduate nurses’ association.

The GNA facilitates professional development opportunities and sponsors social events, connecting you to your fellow students and serving as a voice for the CSON graduate community.

Keys to Inclusive Leadership in Nursing

The KILN program helps students maximize their leadership potential, prepares them to provide nursing care in an increasingly multicultural society, and nurtures their ability to create positive social change.

Global Trips

Participation in CSON's international programs can count toward nurse practitioner (NP) supervised hours for graduate students.

Program Eiligibility

• A master's degree from a nationally accredited university in nursing or a related field
• A completed course in statistics (AP credits cannot be accepted)
• A current RN license

Application & Deadlines

Preference will be given to applicants with the following qualifications:

• Minimum GPA of 3.5
• Research experience, written clarity in area of research, and match to faculty research or methodology as described by applicant and determined by Ph.D. committee
• Publications preferred, as listed on curriculum vitae
• Excellence in writing, sample essay of course paper, or manuscript submitted by applicant
• Leadership/leadership potential

Résumé or CV

To be uploaded to your online Application Form.

In addition to your academic history and relevant work experience, please include any licenses currently held, any social justice-related experience, any language skills other than English, and any research experience or publications.

Goal Statement & Writing Sample

1. Goal Statetment

Please submit a goal statement which will be used as a source of information about your educational objectives and as a sample of your writing ability. The goal statement should be typewritten (double-spaced) and no more than four pages in length.

Goal Statement Prompt & Guidelines

2. Evidence of Scholarly Writing

All applicants to this program are required to submit one piece of work that demonstrates graduate-level writing ability. This document may be an academic term paper, a published work in which you are the primary author, a training manual that you have created, a clinical case formulation, or another representative sample of your writing.

Letters of Recommendation

• A current or recent employer, preferably a nurse with a Ph.D. or a professional colleague
• A professor with whom you have had recent academic interaction who can assess your potential for doctoral study and performance in your desired area of study
• A person who is not a relative and who is well acquainted with your professional preparation and clinical practice
• Letters of recommendation must be submitted electronically. When you register your reference writers through the application system, they will immediately receive an email with the link to the electronic reference form. For this reason, we suggest that you contact your references prior to registering them through the online application.
• References will have the option to upload a supporting letter in Word or PDF format.
• If you would like your references to receive the electronic form before you have completed the online application, you may go directly to the "Recommendations" link on the application and register your references before filling out the rest of the form.
• You can log back into your application to check which letters have been received, as well as to send reminder emails to your references.

Transcripts

Official transcripts are preferred but not required upon application. If admitted, official transcripts will be required.

Official digital transcripts can be sent to csongrad@bc.edu.

All hard copy transcripts may be sent to the following mailing address:

Boston College Graduate Nursing Office Maloney Hall - 2nd Floor 140 Commonwealth Avenue Chestnut Hill, MA 02467

*If the last name on your transcript does not match the application name, please contact  csongrad@bc.edu  after submitting the application. 

Standardized Tests

Official GRE scores are a preferred component of the application, but are not required to apply.

Institutional code 3062

*  Please allow 2-4 weeks for test scores to be received in order to meet application deadline

Supplemental Forms

Based on the answers you provide in your application, you may need one or more of the following forms to complete your application:

• Suspended or Revoked License Explanation Form  (if you indicated a suspended or revoked license on your application)
• Learning Disability Documentation Form  (if you indicated a learning disability on your application)
• Supplementary Information Form  (if you wish to submit any supplementary information in addition to the standard application)

International Students

• Official transcript(s) evaluation (by the  Commission on Graduate Foreign Nursing Schools  or  World Education Services ) from all post-secondary institutions at which you have studied
• CGFNS  examination results
• NCLEX-RN examination results/RN licensure
• You can get application forms and information about testing dates for the TOEFL from many U.S. consulates, USIA centers, and TOEFL centers overseas by writing to: TOEFL Registration, CN 6152, Princeton, New Jersey 08541 USA, or  www.toefl.org .
• The TOEFL score is not required if you meet both of the following criteria: You are a citizen of the United States, Australia, Canada (except Quebec), Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Guyana, an anglophone country of Africa, or an English-speaking country of the Caribbean AND your native language is English.

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PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences

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 This guide is geared towards BU students & faculty who are researching rehabilitation science topics. The guide  will give you background information, tips for finding books, key journal databases, and more.

Please contact me if I can offer you any research assistance. I am glad to meet in-person, over Zoom, or answer any questions you have over e-mai l.

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2024 Best Online PhD in Health Services Research [Doctorate Guide]

A PhD in Health Services Research program could help you prepare for a career investigating complex issues that affect health services and public health.

Health services researchers study how economics, individual behavior, social structures, technology, and other factors influence the healthcare system. They analyze systemic problems like addiction, health disparities, and mental health disorders. Researchers in this field can also play a vital role in shaping public health policies.

Editorial Listing ShortCode:

If you enjoy data, medicine, and research, enrolling in an online PhD in Health Services Research program could be a strategic career move.

Universities Offering Online PhD in Health Services Research Degree Programs

Methodology: The following school list is in alphabetical order. To be included, a college or university must be regionally accredited and offer degree programs online or in a hybrid format.

Boston University

Boston University offers a PhD in Health Services Research. To graduate, students must complete about 42 credits of coursework and a dissertation. Potential courses include Research Theory and Design, Quantitative Methods for Health Services and Other Public Health Research, and Contemporary Structures of Health Services.

Boston University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education.

Florida International University

Florida International University offers a PhD in Public Health with a concentration in Health Systems Research. This 70 credit program uses a hybrid format and is designed to help students finish their dissertations within 4 years. The curriculum focuses on applying systems thinking to improve population health.

Florida International University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

George Washington University

George Washington University offers a DHSc in Leadership in Clinical Practice and Education. This fully online program requires the completion of 48 credits and can potentially be completed in just 2.5 years. Potential courses include Interprofessional Collaboration in Practice, Practicum I and II, and Program Theory and Health Innovations.

GW is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

Loma Linda University

Loma Linda University offers an online program for a Doctor of Public Health that is open to applicants with little or no previous experience in the field of public health. Loma Linda’s online courses include synchronous meetings, and students are required to come to campus during the dissertation process. The program usually takes 3 to 5 years to complete.

Loma Linda University is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.

University of South Florida

The University of South Florida offers a PhD in Public Health with a concentration in Health Services Research. The program requires the completion of at least 55 post-master’s credit hours, including a dissertation. Potential courses include History and Systems of Public Health, Introduction to Research Methods, and Applied Multivariate Statistical Methods.

The University of South Florida is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Online PhD in Health Services Research Programs

Health services research is a multidisciplinary field that uses qualitative and quantitative research methods to study and generate solutions for problems in the healthcare system.

Researchers examine how behavioral, cultural, economic, ethical, and political frameworks impact health services as well as people’s access to them. For example, a researcher could explore how economic inequalities in rural regions affect access to medical services, the cost of care, and patient outcomes.

Online health services doctoral programs prepare students to analyze and address the most urgent problems in healthcare today. Possible research areas include addiction, health disparities, immigrant health, maternal and child health policy, and population mental health.

Health services researchers draw on approaches and theories from many disciplines to investigate these complicated issues. Some of the topics that you may study during your PhD program include:

• Biostatistics
• Epidemiology
• Grant writing
• Health economics
• Health systems management
• Human rights
• Implementation science
• Medical technology
• Public health
• Quantitative research methods
• Research ethics
• Social and behavioral medicine

Throughout your doctoral studies, you’ll also have opportunities to hone your research skills inside and outside the online classroom. For instance, you may complete research-based course projects, applied research apprenticeships, and independent studies.

Most PhD in Health Services Research programs also require students to conduct original research and write a dissertation. Many doctorate holders remain in academia as instructors, postdoctoral fellows, and researchers. Other graduates secure positions in government agencies, private health-related corporations, or nonprofit organizations.

Possible job titles for professionals who hold a PhD in Health Services Research include:

• Core investigator
• Health policy consultant
• Program analyst
• Public health policy analyst
• Research director
• Health services researcher
• Senior policy manager
• University professor

If you have specific career goals, you could consider enrolling in an online health services research PhD program that offers relevant concentrations or graduate certificates. Possible areas of specialization in your online health services degree program may include bioinformatics, epidemiology, and health policy. Selecting a health services PhD program that allows you to pursue your research interests can help prepare you for your preferred career path.

Health Services Careers & Salaries

Demand for medical services has recently surged due to the aging population, public health crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, and other phenomena.

As a result, many organizations and political leaders have made it a priority to solve issues that impact healthcare access, equity, and policy. These groups often seek to hire skilled researchers who have graduated from healthcare PhD programs.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , many careers associated with health services research pay above average wages and are projected to have faster than average job growth.

Your actual wage will depend on your employer, location, work experience, and other factors. The positions you can qualify for will also depend on your prior education, experience, and skill sets.

A doctorate in health services research can position you to take on a role in numerous industries and organizations. Potential work settings include hospitals, insurance companies, pharmaceutical companies, and other health systems.

Health services research professionals can also work for universities, research facilities, public health centers, nonprofit foundations, and federal and state government agencies.

Health Services Research PhD Curriculum & Courses

All online PhD programs in healthcare services research have unique curricula shaped by degree requirements, faculty expertise, and available concentrations. Here are some examples of courses you may be required to take:

• Clinical Outcomes Research: You’ll conduct clinical research using observational studies, randomized clinical trials, and other data-gathering methods.
• Cost Benefit Analysis for Health Services: This course explores the strengths and weaknesses of various approaches for conducting economic assessments of healthcare interventions and services.
• Foundations in Health Services Research: This course provides an overview of health services research scholarship.
• Grant Writing for Public Health Professionals: You can gain foundational grant writing skills and learn how to develop and evaluate budgets, organizational capacity, and partnerships.
• Health Decision Science: You’ll learn how to use quantitative methods like health economics and evidence-based medicine to make challenging decisions related to health services.
• Health and Human Rights: This class examines the intersections between human rights, public health policies, and political and social contexts.
• Legal Aspects of Public Health: You’ll study legal issues that influence the creation and management of public health initiatives.
• Methods in Health Services Research I: You’ll learn empirical techniques for health services research and best practices for implementing these methods.
• Methods in Health Services Research II: This course expands your knowledge of health services research by teaching econometric models and other advanced research methods.
• Policy Analysis for Population Health: You’ll develop strategies to advocate for policy changes, and you’ll conduct research on policy processes and outcomes related to population health.

Along with coursework, you may have the opportunity to complete research practicums or apprenticeships that allow you to develop hands-on research experience.

Admissions Requirements

All PhD in Health Research Services programs require a relevant bachelor’s or master’s degree. Other admissions criteria can vary among programs, but you may be required to submit these common materials:

• Curriculum vitae or resume
• GRE or GMAT test scores (not all programs require them)
• Letters of recommendation
• Personal statement
• Official transcripts

Many online healthcare PhD programs only admit a limited number of students, so competition can be fierce. Tailoring your application materials for each program is a strategic move that could help you stand out as a candidate.

Program Accreditation

As you research PhD programs, it’s beneficial to check each school’s accreditation status. Colleges with regional accreditation have undergone an external review process to verify that they provide students with a high-quality education.

Enrolling in an accredited doctoral program might make it possible to qualify for certain financial aid opportunities and transfer credits to another accredited school. Plus, many employers often prefer to hire candidates from accredited schools.

Many universities list their accreditation status on their website. You can also visit the US Department of Education ’s website to find accredited schools.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

When researching health services doctoral programs, you may also want to research financial aid opportunities. You might qualify for financial assistance that can decrease your upfront costs.

Many PhD programs provide graduate students with stipends, tuition waivers, and health insurance. In exchange for this funding package, students might be required to work as teaching assistants for undergraduate courses or to participate in research projects.

You can also complete the FAFSA application to determine your eligibility for federal aid. You may qualify for federal grants and work-study programs. Some PhD students also take out student loans from the federal government.

You may also qualify for scholarship opportunities. Your college might offer scholarships for incoming students who meet certain criteria. Some professional public health organizations also provide scholarships for graduate students studying health services.

What Is Health Services Research?

Health services research is an interdisciplinary field that uses diverse scientific methods and theoretical approaches to study pressing issues in healthcare.

These researchers investigate how complex frameworks—like cultural beliefs and economic systems—impact the accessibility, cost, and effectiveness of healthcare interventions. Many health services research professionals develop areas of expertise. For instance, a researcher may specialize in topics like:

• Health care inequalities
• Health policy and management
• Health outcomes measurement
• HIV and HCV
• Systems science methods
• Veteran health

Health services researchers can also play an essential role in guiding and reforming public health policy.

What Can You Do with a PhD in Health Services Research?

A PhD in Health Services Research helps prepare professionals for a range careers. Many PhD holders secure positions in academia as postsecondary teachers or researchers. Other graduates find employment with government agencies, where they can directly shape public health policies and laws.

Consulting firms, nonprofit organizations, and private corporations also hire professionals in this field. Potential roles in this area of expertise include research director, university professor, health services researcher, health policy consultant, policy analyst, and more.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Health Services Research PhD Online?

Most online PhD in Health Services Research programs take 3 to 5 years to complete if you enroll full-time. Most programs require 2 to 3 years of full-time coursework.

Some programs allow students to transfer credits from a master’s program, potentially reducing the time to finish the degree. After finishing your coursework, you’ll likely be required to write and defend a dissertation based on original research. Programs without a dissertation requirement can generally be completed in 3 years with full-time study.

Is a PhD in Health Services Research Worth It?

Yes, a PhD in Health Services Research is worth it for many students. This degree helps prepare you to tackle the issues affecting the healthcare system and public health today. As a researcher, you can play a direct role in developing innovative solutions to complicated healthcare problems, and you can help advocate for improved public health policies.

You may find a career in health services research particularly rewarding if you enjoy working with data and science. During your doctoral studies, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about analytical and scientific methods and theories from a range of disciplines.

Getting Your PhD in Health Services Research Online

Researching issues impacting health services often requires creativity, dedication, and a willingness to experiment with different methodologies.

You might consider earning a PhD in Health Services Research if you’re passionate about decreasing health disparities, improving access to medical services, and helping more people maintain healthy lifestyles. Many health services research PhD programs are available online to offer more flexibility for working professionals.

You can start this next step in your educational journey today by researching accredited colleges and universities that offer online doctoral programs in this field.

Health Services Research and Policy PhD Program

The Health Services Research and Policy (HSRP) PhD program meets an ongoing need for public health researchers who focus on cost, access and quality of the health care system. Graduates will be prepared to conduct research on policy issues affecting the organization, financing, and delivery of health care and public health services.

Graduates are prepared for positions in:

• private sector as experts in health services research and policy

Recent Dissertation Titles

• Reducing Disparities in Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Low-Income Non-Elderly Adults in the U.S.
• Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Extended-Release Medications for Opioid Use Disorder: Comparing Single-Drug and Multi-Drug-in-Sequence Treatment Strategies 
• Expanding Coverage and Addressing Social Determinants of Health in PA Medicaid 

Browse titles in D-Scholarship , the institutional repository for research output at the University of Pittsburgh.

Competencies

Graduates will be able to:

• Describe salient institutional features of the U.S. health care system and theoretical frameworks for studying health care delivery and policy
• Formulate policy-relevant research questions and design original research based on foundational knowledge of the U.S. health care system theory
• Design original empirical research, applying methods from econometrics and quasi-experimental design to address an applied problem in the delivery, financing or quality of health care
• Communicate research findings both verbally and in writing to inform policy
• Lead applied health services and policy research studies that draw on multidisciplinary expertise to expand the field of knowledge

Requirements

• 72 credits, about half coursework and half research
• Coursework in health economics
• Coursework in foundations of public health
• Advanced coursework in statistics and research methods
• Advanced dissertation research and coursework in an area of focus

Lindsay Sabik Associate professor Director, MS and PhD programs A610 Public Health [email protected]

Jessica Dornin Recruitment and academic affairs administrator A631 Public Health [email protected]

Full Program Info

• PhD handbook
• Program of study, 2021, 2022 and 2023 cohorts
• Program of study, 2020 cohort
• Program of study, 2019 cohort
• Program of study, 2018 cohort
• Program of study, 2016 and 2017 cohorts
• Program of study, 2014 cohort

Mental Health Counseling & Behavioral Medicine Program

Master of arts, ma in mental health counseling and behavioral medicine, full-time | in-person, boston university medical campus.

Quick Links

• Explore Curriculum
• Meet the Faculty and Staff
• Meet the Students

Clinical Training

Our two-year, 60-credit counseling program offers unparalleled clinical training opportunities in and around greater Boston, including placements at the Veterans Affairs, Boston Medical Center, college counseling centers, trauma counseling and refugee centers, integrated primary care, emergency departments, forensic settings, and prisons. Treatment centers for substance use and eating disorders, inpatient settings, and clinical research teams, to name a few. Students complete a semester-long practicum and a year-long internship as part of their clinical training. They also receive rigorous training in mental health assessment and diagnosis, counseling theory and application, and are exposed to a wide array of client populations and career paths. Our passionate and caring faculty and staff deliver a counseling curriculum that incorporates coursework in behavioral medicine, neuroscience, and psychopharmacology.

Program Outcomes

Each year, graduates of the MHCBM Program are exceptionally well-prepared for employment in mental health counseling positions across the United States and internationally. The following outcomes attest to their success:

• 92.3% completion rate (Class of 2021, 2022, & 2023)
• 100% pass rate on credentialing exams
• 100% worked in mental health counseling positions with 6 months after graduation

Career Paths

We work closely with students to ensure that they meet requirements for licensure in states all across the country. Graduates of our mental health counseling program have secured a wide range of positions, such as:

• Trauma counseling
• Counseling in an integrated care setting
• Counseling individuals seeking to make health-related lifestyle changes
• School-based counseling for children and adolescents
• Counseling children and adults in a day treatment/partial hospital program
• Counseling sexual offenders in a corrections prison system
• Substance use counseling
• Private practice counseling
• Member of a clinical research team
• Director of an eating disorders residential facility
• Clinician in a college counseling center

We work hard to remain connected to our alumni and facilitate connections and networking between current students and alumni through LinkedIn and in-person events. Alumni offer advice about licensure in other states, the licensing exam, and pursuing other educational opportunities. Many of our alumni are in supervisory and/or administrative positions and often hire graduates from our program.

Since its inception, the MHCBM Program at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine has educated and trained hundreds of mental health counselors with a core academic and clinical curriculum aligned with professional standards recommended by the American Mental Health Counselors Association ( AMHCA ) and American Counseling Association ( ACA ).

The mission of the MHCBM Program is to educate and train future clinical mental health counselors to help enhance the health and wellness of individuals with diverse identities and backgrounds. The Program’s curriculum emphasizes best practices for counseling approaches across behavioral healthcare and integrated care settings that serve varied cultural and clinical populations and promote healthcare equity. Accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs ( CACREP ), the Program places great value on excellence, diversity, integrity, social justice, advocacy, collegiality, equity of opportunity, and transdisciplinary collaboration.

The MHCBM Program’s objectives are to:

• Instill in students the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and values that uniquely embody clinical mental health counselors
• Educate and train students of varied backgrounds, identities, and experiences as part of a vibrant learning environment that reflects the diverse communities in which they will be working
• Prepare students for the process to become licensed to practice as mental health counselors within the healthcare workforce

Our program offers theoretical, experiential, clinical, and research-supported activities related to clinical mental health counseling with adults, adolescents, and children on the medical campus as well as in community settings. We accept and educate a broad range of outstanding and diverse students who seek careers as clinical mental health counselors.

Graduates of the MHCBM Program generally become independently licensed and are trained to work in settings where traditional mental health counseling interventions can be informed by evidence-based practice, an understanding of neuroscience, and strategies to address physical illness and health promotion.

Accreditation

Since 2014, the MHCBM Program has been accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling & Related Educational Programs ( CACREP ). Our counseling program is among a select few in the United States to receive an eight-year accreditation after the first attempt and is only one of a handful of programs in New England accredited for clinical mental health counseling.

Benefits for students who graduate from a CACREP-accredited counseling program include the following:

• Some states require graduation from a CACREP-accredited counseling program for licensure
• Graduates from CACREP accredited counseling programs experience fewer barriers to transferring a license from one state to another
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) permits students from CACREP-accredited counseling programs to take their licensure exam while in graduate school
• US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) recognizes only licensed counselors who graduated from a CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling program as approved providers
• National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) will soon require graduation from a CACREP-accredited counseling program in order for eligibility for national certification
• American Counseling Association (ACA) and the Institute of Medicine (IOM) both identify CACREP as the sole accrediting body for counselor education

All counseling programs accredited by CACREP have successfully passed evaluation for content and quality standards set forth by the mental health counseling profession. Specific to curricular experiences, the MHCBM Program requires completion of counseling coursework across the eight core CACREP areas:

• Professional counseling orientation and ethical practice
• Social and cultural identities and experiences
• Lifespan development
• Career development
• Counseling practice and relationships
• Group counseling and group work
• Assessment and diagnostic processes
• Research and program evaluation

Our counseling program also provides education and training in knowledge and skills/practices across CACREP domains unique to clinical mental health counseling, including behavioral healthcare service delivery modalities and networks within the continuum of care.

Mental Health Counseling and Licensure in Massachusetts

The  American Mental Health Counselors Association defines mental health counseling as:

…the provision of professional counseling services involving the application of principles of psychotherapy, human development, learning theory, group dynamics and the etiology of mental illness and dysfunctional behavior to individuals, couples, families and group, for the purpose of threading psychopathology and promoting optimal mental health. The practice of mental health counseling includes, but is not limited to, techniques aimed at the prevention of such disorders, consolations to individuals, couples, effective psychotherapeutic treatment modalities.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts licenses mental health counselors (LMHCs) who have met the education and training criteria set by the Board of Registration of Allied Mental Health and Human Services Professions of the Bureau of Health Professions Licensure. LMHCs are prepared to assist clients to cope with a wide variety of behavioral health problems and related concerns, some of which include:

• Anxiety and phobias
• Mood disorders
• Child and partner abuse
• Family conflict
• Drug and alcohol use
• Trauma recovery
• Bereavement
• Career issues

Mental Health Counseling & Behavioral Medicine Program Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine 72 East Concord Street Robinson Building, Suite B-212 Boston, MA 02118

Phone: 617-358-5592 Fax: 617-358-5481

Online & Social Media:

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