Program Highlights

The CPHR program was specifically designed for students with an advanced degree and/or relevant clinical research experience; therefore, students have the opportunity to be directly involved in research from the very beginning of the program. The strong and diverse clinical and health services research portfolio available provides students with a range of hands-on experiences while they take courses and choose dissertation projects.
The curriculum has an emphasis on applied skills necessary to successfully carry out clinical and translational research, including strong research design and biostatistics training, and specific courses in scientific writing and thesis proposal development organized around NIH grant-writing requirements.
The interdisciplinary approach to research training provides theoretical grounding in human genetics, behavioral, social, and medical determinants of health, as well as grounding in research ethics and scientific conduct that prepares students well for the new era of translational science.
Due to the structure of the course work and research experiences, the CPHR Program is designed as an on-campus program. Online or distance learning programs cannot match the experience of actually working side-by-side with your research mentor.
The program's full-time, year-round format along with the course sequencing allows students to efficiently transition applied skills learned from practice in their research rotations into effectively pursuing their area of research by the beginning of their fourth semester.

In addition to full-time admission, the CPHR Program offers three alternative admission tracks:

CPHR Pathway to Graduate Study Program (PGSP)
This program encourages applications from students belonging to groups underrepresented in the biomedical sciences, including racial minorities, students with disabilities, and students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Students with a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree and a basic level of training in statistics and research design, as well as some clinical research experience who are interested in graduate training in clinical and translational research are invited to apply. PGSP students interested in Clinical & Population Health Research undertake a yearlong mentored research project while studying foundational principles in determinants of health and epidemiologic research methods. At year’s end the PGSP graduate is competitive for admission into doctoral programs and, having completed some of the first year curriculum requirements, may enter an accelerated program of doctoral study in CPHR. Learn more about the Pathway to Graduate Study Program.
Clinical and Population Health Professional Track (CPPT)
This is a special part-time program designed for faculty and staff who meet all full time program prerequisites and qualifications and who are currently employed full time by the University. The goal is to assist the student to develop advanced skills to contribute to their current employment responsibilities and to complete doctoral work which will enhance the opportunity to achieve independent investigator status. Applicants must obtain a letter of support from their current supervisor. A modified course schedule and time line for thesis work is provided. All research rotations and thesis work must be completed with a faculty mentor other than the student’s supervisor for University employment. Learn more about the CPHR Professional Track guidelines in the Student Handbook
MD/PhD
This program is a highly competitive program for students interested in pursuing a career as a clinician-scientist. MD/PHD students in the CPHR program must meet the same requirements as all MD/PHD students. Those with an MPH degree and/or clinical research experience receive special consideration. Learn more about the MD/PhD Program.

Outstanding Access to Diverse Resources

The Clinical & Population Health Research program builds upon the significant array of clinical departments and special centers and institutes addressing a range of specific health care needs, including:

Commonwealth Medicine and affiliated centers:

Center for Health Policy and Research
Shriver Center / Center for Developmental Disability Evaluation and Research
Office of Community Programs
AHEC Network

Department of Family Medicine and Community Health

Department of Medicine