MD/Master of Science in Health Policy Research (MSHP)

PSOM medical students should read through the MD/Master's Overview page for general information applicable across all MD/Master's programs. This page provides specific information regarding the MD/Master of Science in Health Policy Research (MD/MSHP).

The MD/MSHP program is designed for Perelman medical students interested in health services and policy research. The curriculum spans four major domains: health economics, health policy, qualitative and quantitative measurement, and statistics. Students completing the MD/MSHP program are well-situated to pursue careers in academia, non-profit organizations, and health policy. Working with mentors, students learn to plan and execute policy-relevant, patient-centered research using a variety of different methodologies including qualitative, cross-sectional, simulation, quasi-experimental, and experimental study designs.

Please note that the MD/MSHP program is only open to Perelman medical students.

The first step of the process is to gather information regarding the MD/MSHP dual degree. Helpful resources and key contacts include:

  • MSHP Program Website — the Master of Science in Health Policy program website provides detailed information on the program and application process.
  • MD/MSHP Information Sessions — every fall and spring the Combined Degree office holds an MD/MSHP Information Session for medical students. Email announcements are sent out to students prior to the event. Check out the full recording of the October 19, 2022 Zoom info session here.  
  • Advisory Deans — students are encouraged to discuss career and academic goals with their Advisory Dean and other faculty advisors.
  • MSHP Associate Director — Penn medical students should contact Sarah Gormley to discuss the Master of Science in Health Policy Research program.
  • Assoc Director of CD Office — students are encouraged to contact the Associate Director of Combined Degree Office, to discuss their interest in a Master's program.
  • Perelman School of Medicine (PSOM) Financial Aid Office — As soon as a student is considering the pursuit of an MD/Masters program, students should reach out to Mike Sabara for information regarding financial aid counseling and planning.
  • Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics events — check out events on campus related to health policy.

Summer research opportunities:

Students who are interested in the program early in their time as medical students are strongly encouraged to contact Sarah Gormley and to begin exploring possibilities for their research mentor/project(s). Interested students can work on a research project during the summer between years 1 and 2 of Medical School. Funding for summer research is available through:

Program Requirements:

The following course units are required for the MSHP degree (descriptions are available on MSHP's website):

  • 7 core courses (HPR 5010, HPR 6000, HPR 6030, HPR 6040, HPR 6060, HPR 6070, HPR 6080)
  • 3 elective courses (one of which is an MD curriculum transfer credit*)
  • 2 credits for research project and Master's thesis (HPR 9900, HPR 9901)

Required Course Units:               12

* Perelman medical students who are matriculated in the MD/MSHP program will earn one transfer credit for MOD320 Foundations of Health System Sciences in the MD curriculum in place of an elective.

For more details about core courses and elective courses, see the course work descriptions.

Mentoring:

At the time of application, each candidate identifies with the help of MSHP advisors the type of project they wish to pursue, along with the lead mentor, who will supervise the research project. The mentored thesis involves designing a research project, writing a formal research proposal, performing the study described in it, preparing a comprehensive scholarly scientific paper, and reporting the results. The final product is a manuscript ready for submission for review at a peer-reviewed journal.

In consultation with the lead research mentor, and with the approval of the MSHP Advisory Committee, the candidate selects from the Penn faculty an individualized MSHP thesis committee. This three-person committee functions as an ongoing monitoring group for the candidate’s progress. Its members are faculty with expertise relevant to both the basic and clinical aspects of the candidate’s research, and each is expected to contribute their expertise to fostering the candidate’s research progress. 

Timing:

Perelman medical students will complete three years of the MD curriculum before beginning full time study in the MSHP program in July at the end of year 3. The July 1 start date at the end of year 3 for full time MSHP work means that MD/MSHP students will have only six months (from January through June) of year 3 to complete step 1 of the boards and take the electives and sub-I they need for residency application. Faculty advising and close communication with the PSOM Registrar about scheduling issues are absolutely essential, given the compressed time frame. Students considering the MD/MSHP program should start planning as early as possible to make the best use of their time.

With careful planning, Perelman medical students typically complete both degrees in five years. Careful selection of a thesis project is crucial for students hoping to graduate in five years. The sample plan below describes the program for a student who is able to complete the requirements of both degrees in five years.

MD/MSHP Degree Completion Time:               5 years

MD/MSHP Sample Study Plan:

All of year 4 and the fall of year 5 will be devoted to full time work toward the MSHP, during which time students are not registered for the MD. (Note that to retain status as a full-time student during the MSHP program, students must be registered for at least 3 course units during the fall and spring semesters of year 4 and the fall semester of year 5. No registration is required for the summer term). The spring of year 5 will be used to complete the final requirements for both degrees.

Year Fall Spring Summer Tuition and Billing Maximum Direct Loan Eligibility
1 MD curriculum (Modules 1,3,6) MD curriculum (Modules 2,3,6)   MD Tuition Fall and Spring $42,722
2 MD curriculum (Modules 2,3,6) MD curriculum (Modules 4,6) MD curriculum (Modules 4,6) MD Tuition Fall and Spring $47,167
3 MD curriculum (Modules 4,6) Boards 1
MD curriculum (Module 5)

Boards 2
MD curriculum (Module 5) through June; July-Aug full time HPR
HPR 6000*
HPR 6040*
Research project

MD Tuition Fall and Spring; HPR Tuition Summer $47,167
4 HPR 6030
HPR 6080
Elective 1
Research project

HPR 5010
HPR 6070
HPR 9900 (Thesis I)
Research project

Research project HPR Tuition $20,500
5 Residency interviewing
HPR 6060
HPR 9901 (Thesis 2)
Elective 2
Research project
Residency interviewing
MD curriculum (Module 5)
  HPR Tuition Fall; MD Tuition Spring Fall $10,250;
Spring $20,250

* Penn medical students have the option to take this course during the summer between first and second year via the PSOM Additional Course Policy. Please note that enrollment is limited to 1 to 2 medical students per class.

Note: each MSHP course is 1.0 c.u.

Medical School Planning:

There are several things to keep in mind when making your Medical School plans:

  • The MSHP degree counts as your Scholarly Pursuit requirement.
  • MD/MSHP students need to complete: 1 week of bioethics and the Measey STeP course.

Students may only apply to the combined degree MD/MSHP program after admission and matriculation in the PSOM. Medical students at other institutions are not eligible to apply.

Admissions process:

There are two steps to applying:

  1. Apply to the Master of Science in Health Policy Research Program
    The Master of Science in Health Policy Research program information and application can be obtained at MD/MSHP Applicants. Students are encouraged to contact Kathleen Cooper, for more information.
  2. Submit Master's Program Registration Form to the Associate Director of the Combined Degree and Physician Scholar Programs Office.

Application Deadline: February 1 of third year

Notifications:

Admitted students should immediately notify their Advisory Dean, the Combined Degree Office, Registrar’s Office, and the Financial Aid Office.

Transfer Credits:

Perelman medical students who are matriculated in the MD/MSHP program will earn one transfer credit for MOD320 Foundations of Health System Sciences in place of an elective.

PSOM Additional Course Policy:

  • The courses can be taken in any school in the University during the Fall or Spring semesters when the student is actively enrolled (not on a leave of absence or short-term break) and paying MD tuition (not just fees only).
  • To take a course for credit in a Summer semester, MD tuition must be paid in full for the previous Spring and following Fall semesters. Only Perelman School of Medicine (such as: Bioethics, Epidemiology, Health Policy Research, Translational Research, Public Health) or School of Law courses may be taken during the Summer. A student may take only one course in a Summer semester limited to the UPenn course catalogue.
  • In the event that a non-MD course requirement conflicts with an MD course requirement, the MD course must be given priority.

Tuition Policy:

MD/MSHP students will be charged 7 semesters of medical tuition (6 semesters in years 1-3 and the final semester of year 5). During summer before year 4, fall and spring semesters of year 4, and the fall semester of year 5, MSHP tuition will be charged per course unit plus fees. David A. Asch Medical Student Scholars in Health Services Research Scholarships are available.

Tuition: ~$5900/course. This includes a general University fee and the technical fee. (2023-2024)

David A. Asch Medical Student Scholars in Health Services Research Scholarships:

The PennMSHP has up to two David A. Asch Medical Student Scholars in Health Services Research scholarships available on a competitive basis. This new scholarship is named after Penn faculty member, David A. Asch, MD, MBA, in recognition of his founding role and ongoing impact on the PennMSHP, as well as his significant contributions to the health services research field. Asch Medical Student Scholars will receive training to become tomorrow's leaders in academic medicine, health policy and health system administration. Each scholarship covers 100% of PennMSHP tuition. Applications for admission (including scholarships) are due by February 1 of the third year of medical school. Contact Dr. Judy Shea for more information.

Financial Aid:

As soon as a Perelman medical student is considering the pursuit of an integrated dual degree program, financial aid counseling and planning is strongly advised. Students should contact Michael Sabara, Director of Financial Services. He is available to help explain program costs, the financial aid process, funding options and how to apply for financial aid. Here are some things to consider:

  1. When paying medical school tuition and registered as a medical student, an individual can retain his/her MD Scholarship (for tuition/living expenses) and has a Direct loan eligibility of $40,500. When a student is registered as a full time MSHP student, he/she is not eligible for MD Scholarship (for tuition/living expenses) and has a Direct loan eligibility of $20,500. In accordance with federal regulations, all sources of aid (loan, scholarships, fellowships,) cannot exceed the student budget.
  2. Direct loans have aggregate limits, which are cumulative and include any undergraduate, graduate, and medical school loans borrowed in the Direct loan program. For any semester when a student is a full-time MSHP student (versus full-time MD student), the MSHP program aggregate limit is $138,500 versus the MD aggregate limit ($224,000).
  3. Students needing loans are required to meet with Michael Sabara.

For more information regarding the MD/MSHP program, contact:

MSHP Program:

Sarah Gromley
Associate Director
Master of Science in Health Policy Research Program
University of Pennsylvania
1310 Blockley Hall
Philadelphia, PA 19104
215-573-2740
mshp@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Perelman School of Medicine:

Francia G. Portacio, MPH
Associate Director
Combined Degree and Physician Scholar Programs Office
Jordan Medical Education Ctr, 6th Floor
3400 Civic Center Blvd, BLDG 421
Philadelphia, PA 19104-5162
215-746-2359
francia.portacio@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Registrar
Jordan Medical Education Ctr, 6th Floor
3400 Civic Center Blvd, BLDG 421
Philadelphia, PA 19104-5162
215-898-1165
psomregistrar@pennmedicine.upenn.edu 

Michael Sabara
Director of Financial Services
Financial Aid Office
Jordan Medical Education Ctr, 6th Floor
3400 Civic Center Blvd, BLDG 421
Philadelphia, PA 19104-5162
215-573-3423
msabara@pennmedicine.upenn.edu

Disclaimer

Please note that policies concerning admissions, curriculum, funding and financial aid are subject to change. Additionally, though variations in the curriculum may be possible, any changes will need prior approval and may have financial implications. This website is meant to provide preliminary general overview information only. Students interested in or enrolled in the program should seek personal advising from relevant faculty and staff.