Health Services & Policy Research Pathway
All Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be competitive for post-graduate positions (residencies, fellowships)?
Yes. Our recent graduates say it was their Health Services & Policy Research Pathway experience that distinguished them from other candidates in the interview process.
Will the pathway give me enough clinical experience?
Yes. It is true that depending on how the student chooses to undertake and accomplish the research project that some time can be taken from certain additional clinical experience. However, the educational curriculum for all pathways in the School of Pharmacy is designed to provide every student the coursework and clinical experience they need to pass the boards, function as pharmacists, and if they choose augment their clinical experiences in post-graduate positions. In addition, there are several strategies to optimize the clinical experiences for Health Services & Policy Research Pathway students.
Won't it be just as easy for me to get the HSPR skills after I graduate?
No. Since the coursework and practicum experience is not typical of a pharmacy education or other health professional education, acquisition of the skills through the Health Services & Policy Research Pathway represents a significant jump start to your career.
Because this pathway was not available when a number of the HSPR faculty obtained their degrees, like others who do not take the pathway, they obtained HSPR skills through on-the-job experience and post graduate education. This is a longer and more expensive overall process.
Will the research project be demanding?
Yes. Our focus in the Health Services & Policy Research Pathway is on data evaluation and interpretation for real-world decision making. This is inherently a challenging and exciting process, requiring commitment. Our specialized coursework, lower student-to-faculty ratio, and focus on applied projects ensure that our students will be successful.
Generally speaking, our graduates have looked back on their research experience as an important step to defining their unique character as professionals of pharmaceutical care. For details, see Research Project.
How does the HSPR research project differ from projects in the Pharmaceutical Care Pathway and Pharmaceutical Sciences Pathway?
All PharmD students must complete a project. The Health Services & Policy Research Pathway allows students to potentially use a broad array of investigative methods to study their research topics.
Students in the Health Services & Policy Research Pathway investigate clinical, economic, patient outcomes, as well as law and ethics issues, in the context of answering health policy or business/management questions. Generally, research projects in the Pharmaceutical Care Pathway emphasize clinical issues, and Pharmaceutical Sciences Pathway projects focus on drug delivery and pharmaceutics.
A more in depth explanation can be found under The HSPR Research Project.
Is there a selection process for the HSPR pathway?
Yes. All students considering the Health Services & Policy Research Pathway will be interviewed by HSPR faculty and matched to the pathway based on their expressed interests about joining the pathway and the faculty's view as to the likelihood each student can be successful in achieving the pathway requirements.
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