Program Overview

Health Services Research

The Health Services Research (HSR) doctoral program at Brown University offers training in research methods to advance knowledge of issues central to the improvement of population health. This is achieved 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.

Program Description

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 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
• Comparative Effectiveness Research and Evidence-based Medicine

Faculty and Research Areas

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. Major areas of faculty activity include:

• Long term care research
• Pharmaceutical health services research
• Eliminating racial disparities
• Evaluation of state and national policies
• 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 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)

Dates/Deadlines

Application Deadline

December 1, 2025

Completion Requirements

To complete the program, students must:

• Complete 24 credits (or 16 with a prior relevant graduate degree)
• Successfully complete written comprehensive exams in methods and a substantive area
• Successfully defend an independent dissertation

Leadership

• Department Chair: Ateev Mehrotra
• Director of Graduate Studies: David Meyers

Program Resources

• Program Faculty
• Program Handbook
• Graduate School Handbook
• Public Health Career Outcomes