[Sigmed-l] OHSU to Offer PhD in Biomedical Informatics

[William Hersh]

The Division of Medical Informatics & Outcomes Research (DMIOR) at Oregon Health & Sciences University (OHSU) is pleased to announce a new PhD Program in Biomedical Informatics.  Applications are currently being taken for enrollment in Fall, 2003.

Who will be interested in this program

We seek individuals with a variety of backgrounds who desire to obtain a strong technical grounding in medical informatics, health and medicine, computer science, and research methods so that they may assume positions that require a thorough understanding of information technology, health, and biomedicine.  The major goal of the program is to develop independent researchers, dedicated teachers, and imaginative leaders in health care, academia, and industry.
  
What we offer

Students will learn the knowledge base of biomedical informatics and obtain the skills to carry out research in this area.  The knowledge base will primarily build from coursework and experiences already in the OHSU master's degree programs, enhanced with more advanced courses.  The emphasis will be on research at a level that will allow students to make novel contributions to the field through the requirements of a doctoral dissertation.

A unique aspect of the program will be the requirement for advanced training in a cognate area such as Computer Science, Biomedical Engineering, Environmental Science Engineering, Public Health, Nursing, System Science, Anthropology, or Education.  Courses for the cognate area can be taken from the OHSU School of Science & Engineering (which includes a computer science department) or nearby Portland State University.

Most students will take 18 - 24 months to complete coursework and take qualifying exams (written and oral); and another 12 - 24 months to conduct independent research, prepare a dissertation, and publicly present and orally defend it.  Students who already have a master's or equivalent degree in biomedical informatics may spend less time in the coursework phase.  Doctoral students will be required to maintain enrollment during the entire period of their training.  This requirement will be satisfied by coursework during the pre-candidacy period and with dissertation and research enrollment after being admitted to candidacy.  There will be a residency requirement of 12 - 15 credits for six consecutive terms in accordance with the by-laws of the School of Medicine Graduate Council.

We expect to matriculate our first students for the 2003-2004 academic year, pending approval by the Oregon University System.  For further application information, contact the educational programs administrator, Andrea Ilg, by email at informat at ohsu.edu or by phone at 503-494-4563.  Or, contact P. Zoë Stavri PhD, Doctoral Program Coordinator, stavriz at ohsu.edu.  For more information on the OHSU medical informatics program, visit our Web site at http://www.ohsu.edu/bicc-informatics/.