AHRQ/NRSA Health Services Research Training Program

The AHRQ/NRSA Health Services Research Training Program at the University of Washington is administered through the Department of Health Services in the School of Public Health, and is funded by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) National Research Service Award (NRSA) Institutional Training Grant (T32) through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Mission

The training program prepares leaders for careers in academia, public health, government and the health industry. Pre-doctoral trainees obtain a PhD. The training program offers multidisciplinary, applied research opportunities at the University, 18 research partners (including government agencies and health organizations), and higher education institutions in the five-state region. Mentorship is provided by individual experts, research teams, and program leaders. Trainees obtain advanced substantive knowledge of health policy, the health care system, social determinants, and population health. In addition, trainees pursue their individual interests by taking courses in an area of emphasis.

Lastly, they obtain rigorous training in research methods, communication skills, and the translation of research into practice. The Department of Health Services and its research partners have an excellent record of producing highly qualified researchers. The average graduate writes 2-3 journal articles in training and 90% have pursued careers in health services research.

Admission

Selection of pre-doctoral training fellows occurs during the annual admission process. Appointments are determined by the AHRQ Selection Committee. Applicants should indicate interest in this training fellowship on their PhD application form.

• Health Services PhD Program application information is available at:
  http://depts.washington.edu/hservphd/apply
• Pharmacy CHOICE Institute application information is available at:
  https://sop.washington.edu/choice/

Financial Information

Trainees selected for the program receive a monthly stipend, tuition support, and health insurance coverage. All stipend amounts are determined and updated by the NIH annually.

In addition, travel support is provided for students to conduct research and attend national and regional public health meetings.