Plan of Study

Population Health Economics Track
The Population Health Economics track prepares doctoral students for conducting independent research on the economics of health and healthcare. The curriculum provides a firm grounding and applied skills in economic evaluation, modern microeconomic theory, and microeconometrics. A typical dissertation research will focus on the economic evaluation of health interventions or technologies, behavioral economics, or an applied econometric analyses project.

Science Communication and Dissemination Track
The Science Communication and Dissemination track trains doctoral students in the methods of knowledge translation. Knowledge Translation has been defined as an iterative process that includes the synthesis, dissemination, exchange, and application of knowledge to improve health and health service delivery. There is a wide gap between evidence and practice in many aspects of health care delivery, health policymaking, and community health practice. There is also an increasing challenge with communicating proper health information to the public in this era of internet and social media-driven consumer health information. Students in this track will be trained to conduct research that increases the dissemination and uptake of sound information to improve health and health care in various settings.

Vulnerable Populations Track
The track in Vulnerable Populations prepares doctoral students to conduct independent research to identify and address health disparities and their root causes in order to improve the health of vulnerable populations and health equity. Vulnerable populations include racial/ethnic minorities and other minority groups: the economically disadvantaged, the uninsured, the elderly, people with certain diseases such as HIV/AIDs, debilitating chronic health conditions, and severe mental illness, and rural residents who often encounter barriers to accessing health care services. As population health scientists and practitioners, graduates of this track will play a critical role in identifying and eliminating health disparities and advancing the health of vulnerable populations through research, advocacy, and programs.

MD/PhD Program