The Masters of Science Program in Health Policy Research

Prospective Students

Program & Goals

This is a two-year training program in health services research that will lead to a Master of Science Degree. The program is based in the Perelman School of Medicine as a collaborative effort with the Wharton School and a joint venture of the Leonard Davis Institute (LDI) and the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program (RWJ CSP). The program is closely affiliated with the Annenberg School for Communication, the School of Arts and Sciences, the School of Social Policy and Practice, and the School of Nursing.

The primary goals of the Master of Science in Health Policy Research training program are to train outstanding investigators in health services and policy research and prepare students for successful careers in academics, government, non-profit, and industry. Health policy research investigates the clinical, public health, economic, and societal impact of health care and health policy. It also brings a broad vision to improving the delivery of health care in the US and abroad. Health policy researchers are intrinsically multi-disciplinary, using tools from a wide range of scientific disciplines to gain insight into the complex challenges facing health care.

Major Curricula Areas

• Core courses in health economics, health policy, research methods and statistics
• Electives drawn from throughout the University of Pennsylvania
• Mentored research project

Eligibility

• Students who have or are currently enrolled in terminal degrees in other fields (MD, PhD, JD, or other degree) are eligible for the Health Policy Research Program.
• Students interested in careers in academic/non-profit health services research, industry, or health policy.

Application

For the link to our application, please contact mshp@mail.med.upenn.edu. Applications are completed online, but we can provide a paper application upon request. We have a rolling admissions policy with the final application deadline being November 30, 2012 for admission in the program that starts in July 2013. Applications will be accepted after this date, but consideration for funding requires a timely application submission.

Before applying, we encourage you to reach out to us for some information on the program. An interview may be requested. For more information, contact Elliot Adler mshp@mail.med.upenn.edu.

Required components of the application

1. Personal statement stating your clinical background, research interests and reasons for pursuing the MSHP. This should be no more than 2-3 pages.
2. Curriculum Vitae.
3. Three letters of recommendation.
4. Official MCAT or GRE report.
5. Official and sealed transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate educational institutions.
6. A picture of yourself (this is very helpful to us, but is not required).

Notification of Decision

Notifications of acceptance are given in the spring.

Questions

Please see our FAQ for answers to frequently asked questions. If your question is not covered in the FAQ, we encourage you to contact us.