The UW Health Services Ph.D. program is an on-campus doctoral program for full-time students offered by the University of Washington Department of Health Systems and Population Health (HSPop). The Ph.D. program is seated within the UW School of Public Health, a highly rated public health school by U.S. News & World Report, and UW, a premier public university for research with top funding among public universities.
Since the Ph.D. program’s founding in 2000, its staff and faculty have equipped graduates with the knowledge and skills to improve health in diverse populations and communities by conducting high-quality, independent, and collaborative research in rapidly changing health care, communities, and sociopolitical environments.
The program attracts and welcomes scholars from diverse backgrounds with a passion for research. We aim to match each incoming student with funding and strong mentorship.
Our Mission, Vision, and Goals
Mission
Train the next generation of health services researchers and prepare them to provide leadership in the field.
The Health Services Ph.D. program is designed to prepare graduates for research careers in universities, the health care industry, government agencies, communities, and research and policy-making organizations.
Vision
The Health Services Ph.D. program, in recognition of the complex issues facing health care today and tomorrow, is committed to training students who will contribute to the public health of the population by producing high quality research and translating the results to practice and policy.
Goals
- Educate highly competent practitioners and researchers in health systems, health policy, and the social and behavioral sciences.
- Educate students to work with diverse populations and organizations in applying the core functions of public health and other research-based approaches to solve problems.
- Create and translate knowledge into effective strategies to improve population health and reduce health disparities in historically oppressed and underserved communities.
Program and University Strengths
Our Ph.D. program stands apart from others because of its team, curriculum, dedication to inclusion of anti-racist pedagogy in classrooms, and ongoing support for students and alumni.
Expert Faculty Mentorship
Faculty are involved locally, nationally, and internationally in health services research and policy. They play an important role in improving health and shaping health care systems and policy worldwide.
Join Our Successful Alumni
Health Services Ph.D. alumni are successful in beginning careers in public health or related fields, as well as obtaining post-doc study opportunities.
Committed to Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
As part of the UW Department of Health Systems and Population Health (HSPop) within the School of Public Health, our staff and faculty are committed to supporting equity, diversity, and inclusion in every aspect of our work.
HSPop EDI
UW, Seattle, and the Pacific Northwest
The University of Washington (UW) is considered one of the best universities in the world and is highly ranked by the U.S. News & World Report’s Best Global Universities rankings. UW is committed to excellence through diversity and provides health leadership across the Pacific Northwest, the United States, and the world.
UW enrolls more than 60,000 students each year and thrives as a center for groundbreaking research in numerous fields, including public health, medicine, education, public affairs, aeronautics, and business. UW offers many areas of study, including more than 300 separate programs and over 600 degree options. A major research center, UW is one of the few universities in the U.S. with total research funding of more than one billion dollars. Since 1969, the University of Washington consistently places among the top for total sponsored research funding for all public and private universities in the country. It is home to seven Nobel Prize winners and 17 MacArthur Fellows, also known as “genius grant” recipients.
For working professionals in the Seattle area, opportunities abound. Some of the world’s top companies and institutions were started here and continue to have major operations in the region. The city is among the most innovative health care communities in the country with excellent hospitals, medical centers, and research institutions.
Beyond the excellent academics, the University of Washington is among the most beautiful college campuses in the world. The largest UW campus is located in the heart of Seattle, one of the most scenic and livable cities in the United States. The Seattle campus offers stunning views of snow-capped Mount Rainier and nearby Lake Washington. In the spring, the campus gardens bloom with color, while its Japanese cherry trees erupt in spectacular pink and white blossoms.
Seattle offers its residents the best of city and country living. Cultural attractions include world-class museums, an aquarium, a zoo, professional and college sports, a symphony, and large annual film and music festivals. For nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts, excellent running, biking, hiking, camping, boating, and skiing are abundant in the city or nearby.
Supporting Agencies and Partners
The Health Services Ph.D. program is supported by pre-doctoral training grant fellowships from the Agency for Healthcare Quality and Research (AHRQ), National Cancer Institute (NCI), and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).