About the Track

What is the Health Care and Population Health Research Track?

The Health Care and Population Health Research Track emphasizes the scientific disciplines within Public Health that seek to improve the health of population groups through research. Grouping populations descriptively allows the evaluation of people who share some common characteristics, such as race, income, geographical location, and clinical diagnosis. However, groups may also be formed by shared identities that come from the struggle created by social problems like racism, homophobia, poverty, and lack of health insurance.

Because many of the important determinants of health are created in the context of society and the opportunities it affords its members, the Health Care and Population Health Research track emphasizes population groups as our "patients," not just individuals. Aligned with Preventive Medicine, it includes a broad variety of professional public health workers within its mission.

Who Are Our Students?

Students in the HPR track usually have completed another professional or academic degree. Often they have clinical backgrounds. A majority of our students are physicians or nurses pursuing MPH or MS degrees. Some attorneys have found the research focus of the track valuable. We have also had very successful students who have a background in managing research centers who wish to improve these skills.

Postdoctoral fellowship training programs funded by the Department of Veterans Affairs, and National Institutes of Health (National Research Service Award, and the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) are major sources of students who enroll in Health Care and Population Health Research Track. Since this track is one of the most flexible, many of our joint degree students (e.g. MN/MPH), often choose our track as their home.

What do HPR Students Do after Graduation?

In a recent survey of HPR track graduates over 70% become academic faculty with major universities. Other career pathways include directing domestic and international research projects, directing public health activities, and clinical practice with a population-health focus.

What are Examples of Research Projects HPR Students have completed?

The population health effects of various health policy decisions are often researched by our students. In addition, research topics of recent HPR students have focused on health care cost, access, and quality issues. Our students often publish their thesis projects and some recent examples are below.

  • 1. Kohler PK, Manhart LE, Lafferty WE. (Pam Kohler MPH, Class of 2006) Abstinence-only and comprehensive sexual education and the initiation of sexual activity and teen pregnancy. This study is in press with the Journal of Adolescent Health.
  • 2. Richards J, Scholes D, Caka S, Drolette L, Meier A, Yarbro P, Lafferty WE, Richard Crosby, Ralph DiClemente, Anna Wald (Julie Richards MPH, Class of 2006) HSV-2 serologic testing in an HMO population: acceptance and psychosocial sequelae. This study is in press. Sexually Transmitted Diseases.
  • 3. Binswanger IA, Stern MF, Deyo RA, Heagerty PJ, Cheadle A, Elmore JG, Koepsell TD. (Ingrid Binswanger MD MPH, Class of 2005) Release from prison-a high risk of death for former inmates. N Engl J Med. 2007 Jan 11; 356(2):157-65.
What Are HPR Track Faculty Interests?
  • Outcomes research, utilization and costs of care
  • Public health and health promotion
  • The local to international continuum in health services
  • Outreach to special populations (e.g. refugees, Medicaid enrollees)
  • Program evaluation, characteristics and behavior of practitioners
  • AIDS and other emerging infections
  • Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine