Health Services
Research
Population Health M.S./Ph.D. Program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Overview
What is Health
Services Research?
The Institute of
Medicine defines health services research as “...a multidisciplinary
field, both basic and applied, that examines the use, costs, quality,
accessibility, delivery, organization, financing and outcomes of health
care services to increase knowledge and understanding of the structure,
process and effects of health services for individuals and
populations.” As a field of study within the University of
Wisconsin-Madison Program in Population Health, health services
research is placed within the broader context of the biological, social
and economic determinants of population health.
The
Program in Population Health offers M.S. and Ph.D. training
in an exciting, interdisciplinary intellectual environment. The UW
Department of Population Health Sciences, which serves as the academic
home to this unique graduate program, also offers courses for
undergraduates, medical students and fellows. Our multidisciplinary
approach prepares our students to be leaders in health-related careers
by instilling strong methodological research skills together with
understanding of basic biological and health services constructs, with a
population-based focus. Through coursework and research collaboration,
we seek to train students to employ rigorous scientific and analytic
methods to reduce the burden of morbidity and early mortality, to
identify the most effective ways to prevent and treat diseases and
disorders, and to promote population health.
Health Services Research PhD Areas of Study
Health services
research students satisfy the general program requirements of the
Program in Population Health (through which application for graduate
study is made) and the
University of Wisconsin Graduate School. These requirements allow
broad latitude for specialization. The program faculty have defined four
areas of training for doctoral emphasis within the health services
research concentration. Example curricula in these four areas are shown
in the following links.
Health Care Quality and Safety
Health Economics
Health Policy
Outcomes and Technology Assessment
Doctoral students
are encouraged to work with their academic advisor to define a selection
of electives to meet particular needs and interests. There are nearly
limitless choices of challenging courses within the graduate offerings
of departments in the University at large and these serve to enrich the
interdisciplinary training for health services research students.
Health Services Research Faculty
Graduate degrees in
Population Health are research degrees. Doctoral students acquire
knowledge through coursework, but conduct of research is the primary
focus of graduate study. Upon admission students are assigned an
academic advisor, but before the end of their second year should
identify and associate with the faculty member who will be their major
professor and research supervisor. Usually doctoral students work with
their major professor on research supported under grants held by the
professor, hold a position as a trainee on a department’s training
program, or are supported by competitive doctoral dissertation grants or
fellowships secured by the student.
|
Faculty member |
Area(s) of research |
|
Dennis Fryback, PhD |
Quality of Life and
Health Outcomes Measurement, Health Care Technology Assessment,
Bayesian statistical methods applied in health services research |
|
David Kindig, MD PhD |
Health Policy
|
|
John Mullahy, PhD |
Health Economics |
|
Maureen Smith, MD MPH PhD |
Access to Care, Quality
of Care, Patient Safety, Patient-Physician Relationship |
|
David Vanness, PhD |
Health Economics,
Health Care Technology Assessment |
|
Barbara Wolfe, PhD |
Health Economics,
Public Economics |
Current Health Services Research Projects in the Department
Additional UW Graduate Faculty associated with Health Services Research
|
Faculty member |
Area(s) of research |
|
Barbara Bowers, PhD RN FAAN |
Nursing, Long Term Care |
|
Patricia Flatley Brennan, MSN, PhD |
Health Informatics,
Health Services Research |
|
Mark Browne, PhD |
Insurance |
|
Pascale Carayon, PhD |
Quality of Care and
Patient Safety |
|
Mary (Molly) Carnes, MD |
Women’s Health |
|
Betty Chewning, PhD |
Health Services
Research, Adolescent Health |
|
Edward (Jed) Frees, PhD |
Risk and Insurance |
|
David Gustafson, PhD |
Health Systems
Engineering |
|
Karen Holden, PhD |
Social Welfare,
Pensions, Health Insurance |
|
David Kreling, PhD |
Pharmacy Economics &
Policy |
|
David Mott, PhD RPh |
Pharmacy Economics |
|
Stephanie Robert, PhD |
Socioeconomic
Determinants of Health |
|
Marjorie Rosenberg, PhD FSA |
Biostatistics,
Actuarial Modeling in Health Care |
|
Michael Smith, PhD |
Human Systems
Engineering |
|
Bonnie Svarstad, PhD |
Medical/Pharmaceutical
Sociology |
|
Karen Swallen, PhD |
Medical Sociology |
|
David Weimer, PhD |
Health Policy |
|
David Zimmerman, PhD |
Health Services
Research |
Courses
The
Population Health Core Curriculum
includes an
introductory course in population health,
an introductory course in health services research, a two-semester
sequence in epidemiology, a three-semester sequence in biostatistics,
and a course in research ethics. Students concentrating in health
services research will choose a relevant thesis/dissertation topic and
select electives from:
Assessment of Medical Technologies (875)
Measuring Health Outcomes (876)
Quality of Health Care: Evaluation and Assurance (703)
Economic Analysis for Population Health (877)
Health Economics (848)
The Economics of
Health Care (548)
And other courses in Population Health including...
And other courses throughout the university including...
Sample PhD dissertations and post-PhD positions
|
Student (year
graduated) |
Dissertation title
{Major Professor(s)}
(funding) |
First position after
graduation |
|
Hong Wang (2002) |
Variations in population health related quality of life and health
service utilization in Beijing, China
{Kindig} (Milbank Memorial Fund and the
Wisconsin Public Health and Health Policy Institute) |
Assistant Professor, Division of Global Health, Yale School of
Public Health |
|
Christopher Seplaki (2002) |
The measurement and dynamic analysis of elderly living environment
transitions and outcomes
{Kindig} (NIMH Pre-Doctoral Fellowship) |
Post-doctoral Fellow, Office of Population Research, Princeton
University |
|
Yukiko Asada (2003) |
A framework for measuring health inequality
{Wikler; Kindig, Mullahy} (Rotary
International Scholarship; Fulbright Fellowship; AHRQ Dissertation
Grant) |
Post-doctoral Fellow, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia |
|
Ralph P. Insinga (2003) |
The health and economic burden of genital warts and cervical human
papillomavirus-related disease within a set of U.S. health plans
{Fryback} (AHRQ Traineeship;
unrestricted Merck gift funds) |
Health Economist, Merck Research Laboratories, Blue Bell, PA. |
|
Benjamin M. Craig (2003) |
Out-of-pocket price, prescription medications, and seniors
{Mullahy} (AHRQ Traineeship) |
Assistant Professor, Center for Health Outcomes and Pharmacoeconomic
Research, University of Arizona |
|
Natasha K. Stout (2004) |
Quantifying the benefits and risks of mammography for women,
researchers and policy makers: An analysis using a simulation model
{Fryback} (AHRQ Traineeship; NCI
research assistantship) |
Research Associate, Harvard Center for Risk Analysis, Harvard School
of Public Health |
|
Henry (Joe) Henk (2004-anticipated) |
Prices, Quantities, and Costs: Using Data on Health Care Prices and
Resource Use to Inform Decisions about Health Care Interventions
{Mullahy} (Merck Foundation
Fellowship) |
Researcher, Outcome Division, Ingenix |
Financial Support
