Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) and Portland State University (PSU) are pleased to
announce three new doctoral training programs beginning in 2014, pending Oregon University
System approval. The programs are based on the strong collaboration between the two universities
and build on a thriving Master of Public Health (MPH) training program, the expertise of a large
faculty, and a diverse portfolio of public health research and practice.
The PhD in Epidemiology at the OHSU School of Medicine is based upon competencies in
doctoral education recommended by the American College of Epidemiology and the Association
of Schools and Programs of Public Health. Graduates will be prepared to work independently
and to collaborate with health professionals in other disciplines on research and applied projects
that include epidemiologic elements, and to teach graduate students and health professionals in
academic, governmental, nonprofit, and private sector settings. The degree program includes a
broad spectrum of courses in biostatistics, public health, epidemiology, and quantitative
research methods. Both part-time and full-time students may enroll. For more information,
please contact epi@ohsu.edu.
The PhD in Health Systems and Policy in the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government,
College of Urban and Public Affairs at PSU provides students with advanced knowledge,
analytic skills, and competencies in conducting research and developing teaching and learning
skills in health systems and policy. The foundations of the program include public health,
management theory, health services research, and policy analysis. The program curriculum will
be delivered by an interprofessional faculty with educational backgrounds in public health,
health policy, public affairs, management, economics, epidemiology, social work, psychology,
systems science, and sociology. The PhD in Health Systems and Policy will provide a unique
educational experience for students seeking to apply theory to practice in careers as
researchers and educators by building upon Oregon’s role as a leader in health systems
transformation, and the formalized collaborative relationships PSU has with OHSU and with the
Oregon Health Authority, as well as strong partnerships with major health systems and health
insurance organizations in Oregon. Both part-time and full-time students may enroll. For more
information, please contact hspphd@pdx.edu.
The PhD in Community Health in the School of Community Health, College of Urban and
Public Affairs at PSU provides students with advanced learning in conducting research and
developing instruction skills in public health, social and behavioral determinants of health, urban
health, gerontology, and social epidemiology. The program’s three emphasis areas reflect
faculty expertise and the unique placement of the School within the College of Urban and Public
Affairs: social and behavioral health, aging and health, and urban health. Students integrate
coursework with applied research, including ongoing enrollment in a doctoral seminar course,
an active research apprenticeship with a faculty mentor, and opportunities for collaboration on
peer-reviewed published papers. The School of Community Health faculty has had research
funded by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, the
Agency on Healthcare Quality and Research as well as several private foundations. For more
information, please contact schinfo@pdx.edu.
For information about plans to develop an innovative and collaborative OHSU/PSU school of
public health built upon the strong foundation of the Oregon Master of Public Health program,
please visit our website at http://www.ohsu.edu/ohsu-psu-publichealth.
October 2013