Program Overview

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Healthcare Research program at Dartmouth trains students to be leaders and researchers in health services delivery and quality improvement. The program is designed to set students on a pathway toward publishing research work or pursuing a Ph.D. program. It helps students build skills in qualitative and quantitative research methods, survey design, and research analysis.

Curriculum

Through challenging coursework and research projects, students develop expertise in quantitative techniques to assess the outcomes of medical care. The academic year is divided into four 10-week terms, culminating with graduation the following June. The first half of the year covers core coursework such as research methods and critical issues in the healthcare system. In the second half of the year, students shape their interests through electives and work to address healthcare challenges locally and nationally through the practicum experience.

Program Structure

• The program starts in late summer and takes classes four to five days per week, often with Dartmouth’s MPH students.
• The program is 11 months long.
• There are 55 students per class.
• Students take 5 courses at a time.

Alumni Spotlight

Jesse Columbo, MD, MS '18, is focusing on improving the quality of life for patients with vascular disease. He is conducting research under the mentorship of Philip Goodney, MD, MS, a vascular surgeon and health services researcher at The Dartmouth Institute. Columbo recently had a systematic review he co-authored based on his coursework published in the Annals of Surgery, the top-ranking surgical journal in print.

Faculty and Staff

The program is guided and mentored by world-renowned faculty, the innovators behind many of the most disruptive ideas in healthcare today. Some notable faculty and staff include:

• Craig Westling, DrPH, Associate Dean of Health Sciences Education
• Alicia L. Battle, PhD, MCHES, Assistant Dean for Master of Public Health Programs
• Roland Lamb, MPH, Residential MPH/MS Program Director

Program Benefits

The MS program is often sought out by experienced researchers, aspiring academics, and physicians looking to enhance their research skills as clinician investigators. Through the program, students learn how to answer clinical questions through research, interpret data, and come up with questions that challenge the status quo.