Health Services Research (HSR)

MSc/PhD Program:

Virtual Open House for

Prospective Students
Dr. Rhonda Cockerill, Graduate Coordinator
Dr. Jan Barnsley, Director, MSc/PhD Health Services
Research Program

Wednesday, October 22, 2015, 3:00 - 4:30 PM

www.ihpme.utoronto.ca

Todays Agenda

HSR Program, Faculty & Graduates

Student Life
Primary Areas of Study
Collaborative Programs
Who Applies
How to Apply
Successful Applicants
Funding Guarantee
Program Milestones
Q&A

Leading HSR Program

Largest HSR Program in English Canada
Currently ~150 MSc & PhD students at various
stages in the Program

Highly interdisciplinary & contextually

embedded
Reflects real world of health care policy and
practice
Aims to contribute to high quality, sustainable
health care

A Reputation for Excellence

Comprehensive, multi-disciplinary curriculum
Strong funding support for students
Commitment to individual mentoring, resulting in
high rate of successful grant applications and peerreviewed publications among students
Opportunities for involvement in local, national and
international networks for teaching and research
Proven success in degree-related employment
after graduation

Engaged Faculty
Leading health services researchers

Health policy & system performance

Health economics
Health technology assessment
Quality & patient safety
E-health & health informatics
Clinical evaluation & effectiveness
Population health outcomes
Management & knowledge translation

Strong Linkages
Extensive collaborations & partnerships

Policy-makers
Providers
Consumers
Health care organizations
Acute, chronic, primary, home & community,
and long-term care
For more information
http://ihpme.utoronto.ca/academics/collaborative/

Successful Graduates, Active Alumni

HSR graduates have research-focused
careers

Universities
Research institutes
Governments
Research units within health services
organizations
Research consultancies

Strong, active alumni network

For more information http://ihpme.utoronto.ca/alumni/

Vibrant Student Life

Graduate Student Union (GSU)
UofT- GSU and IHPME-GSU

Hart House
Clubs, activities and registered classes

IHPME Social Events

Annual social events

UofT Student Resources

Career center, health services center, student legal services...

Follow us on Twitter @ihpmegsu

Visit us on Facebook
Bit.ly/IHPME_GSU

Upcoming Events

SEPT
MONTHLY

OCT

SEPT

MAY
AND MANY MORE

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Range of Opportunities
Seminar Series
Research Day
Open Seminars across the St. George
Campus
Involvement in Programs of Research &
Collaboratives
http://ihpme.utoronto.ca/events/

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Primary Areas of Study (PAS)

http://ihpme.utoronto.ca/academics/rd/hsr-mscphd/hsr-primary-areas-of-studymscphd

Health Policy
(Lead: Fiona Miller)
Design and governance of health systems locally,
nationally and globally; factors influencing health policymaking

Health Services Outcomes & Evaluation

(Lead: Jan Barnsley)
Impacts of health services and service interventions
(e.g., mental health, primary care, home & community
care, acute care, chronic care, mental health) on the
health status of various populations

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Primary Areas of Study (PAS)

Health Services Organization & Management
(Lead: Whitney Berta)
Emphasis on meso- and macro-organizational
behaviour; organizational performance; system-level
performance; evidence-based decision making;
evidence-based practice; patient safety; leadership;
organizational learning & knowledge transfer

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Primary Areas of Study (PAS)

Health Economics
(Lead: Audrey Laporte)
Application of foundations of economic analysis to
theoretical, empirical, evaluative, and policy issues in
the field of health and health care; specific attention to
the choices and other behaviours of health care
recipients, health care providers, and third party payers
and regulators as well as methods for evaluating health
care services, technologies and programs

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Primary Areas of Study (PAS)

eHealth Innovation & Information Management
(Lead: Emily Seto)
Interdisciplinary collaborative research addressing
major issues around the design, development,
evaluation and use of electronic health solutions

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Primary Areas of Study (PAS)

Health Technology Assessment
(Lead: Jeffrey Hoch and Wanrudee Isaranuwatchai)
Applied assessment of technology related to health and
disease (from different perspectives). HTA is related to
research due to its methods, but is also related to
planning, administration, management due to its focus
on decision-making.

Potential to specialize in Knowledge Translation

(Lead: Whitney Berta)

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Collaborative Programs
Interdisciplinary programs involving different
graduate units at UofT
Aging, Palliative & Supportive Care Across the Life
Course
Bioethics
Global Health
Health Care, Technology & Place
Health Services & Policy Research
Women & Gender Studies
Womens Health
For details go to: http://ihpme.utoronto.ca/academics/collaborative/

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Who Applies to HSR

Individuals interested in understanding and
improving health services delivery and outcomes
MSc applicants are from a wide variety of backgrounds;
interested in acquiring specific research skills and/or
focusing on a particular research topic
Often apply from an undergraduate program

PhD applicants also from a wide variety of

backgrounds; wish to pursue a particular area of interest
and/or would like to work with a particular researcher
Often have prior research or work experience in health care

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How To Apply
Refer to our website Apply
http://ihpme.utoronto.ca/community/students/apply/

Complete the on-line application form including:

Letter of Intent
Two letters of reference
CV and unofficial transcripts
Official transcripts from all prior institutions attended
(submitted separately when invited to an interview)

On-line application now available

Application deadline is November 15, 2015(September
2016 admissions)
Only one admissions cycle per year

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How To Apply: Letter of Intent

Your Letter of Intent should clearly state:
Research interests
Why you have chosen IHPME
Your accomplishments, experiences, and credentials
that will contribute to your success
Which faculty you would most like to work with
Your plan of study (timeframe, management)
Any graduate awards (e.g., CIHRs MRA or DRA, or
OGS) you have applied for, or other funding sources
TIPs
2 well-written, focused pages often work better than many
pages of less focused prose
The Applicant/Supervisor match is crucial; use the web to
research Faculty interests

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How To Apply: Reference Letters

Your Reference Letters should:
Be written by individuals familiar with you, who can
speak to your potential as a researcher
Generally academics, however dont overlook current
workplace supervisors, colleagues and collaborators with
whom you have engaged in research or related initiatives

TIPs
Provide referees with an outline of your planned research
so that they can refer to it
Tell your referees well in advance what you have planned
and what they need to do
Check that referees can write strong letters of support; if in
doubt, pick another referee

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After You Apply

In the first stage (November-December):
All Applicant files are reviewed by the Admissions
Committee
Files that meet minimum criteria are then reviewed by
Faculty who are prospective Supervisors

In the second stage (January-March):

Applicants are interviewed by Faculty interested in
supervising, and/or with whom the Applicant has
expressed an interest in working
Admissions Committee considers reviews and rankings
not all applicants supported by Faculty are admitted
selection is highly competitive

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Successful Applicants
HSR program is highly competitive: 5 to 7
applicants for every available spot
Minimum grade average of B+
Demonstrated English language proficiency (e.g.,
TOEFL, IELTS)
Excellent references
Strong, clear letter of intent
Demonstrated willingness/ability to access external
funding sources
Match between applicant interests/experience and
potential faculty supervisors

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Offers of Admission
Sent by May (or earlier)
Incoming students will meet with a Program Area of
Study (PAS) Lead, and their Supervisor(s), to develop a
Course Plan

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Student Funding Guarantee

Tuition plus $15,000
1st year of studies for eligible full-time MSc students
4 years of study for eligible full-time PhD students
Those earning >$23,000/year not eligible

Other potential sources of funding

External Graduate Awards and Scholarships
Student Stipend through Supervisors grant
University of Toronto Open Fellowship
TIP: Refer to the School of Graduate Studies website for a complete listing of
scholarships and awards at
http://www.sgs.utoronto.ca/currentstudents/Pages/Scholarships-and-Awards.aspx

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Milestones MSc*
* for the MSc/PhD Transfer Program timelines differ

Term 1
Course work
Minimum of 6 half-year courses (2 primary area of study; 2
statistics/methods; 2 electives)
Populate Thesis Committee in consultation with your Supervisor (min of 2
members including your Supervisor)
Beginning in first Fall term, develop draft thesis proposal in consultation
with your Supervisor and Thesis Committee (meet every other month)

Term 2
Complete any remaining coursework
Complete Thesis Proposal & obtain Committee approval
Seek approval from Ethics Review Board

Term 3
Collect & analyze data
Write Thesis
Defend Thesis

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Milestones PhD
Years 1 & 2
Course work
Minimum of 10 half-year courses (beyond 3 halfcourses, courses vary by primary area of study)
Complete Comprehensive Exam in selected primary
area of study (second Winter term)
Populate your Committee in consultation with your
Supervisor (minimum of 3 members including your
Supervisor)
Beginning in First Winter term, develop a draft
dissertation research proposal in consultation with your
Supervisor and Committee (meet at least every other
month)

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Milestones PhD
Year 3
Defend Dissertation Research Proposal (early Fall;
sometimes Summer Year 2)
Seek approval from Ethics Review Board
Begin data collection & analysis

Year 4
Complete data collection & analysis
Write Dissertation
Consult with your Committee re: appropriate Internal &
External Examiners
Defend Thesis

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Other Frequently Asked Questions

How does MSc compare to other degrees offered
by IHPME (e.g. MHSc., MMI)?
MSc. is thesis-based leading potentially to PhD

Can I get credit for courses taken elsewhere?

If not previously used toward a degree
Up to 1.5 credits (of 6 credits for MSc, 10 for PhD)

If admitted, can I defer for a year?

Not automatic -- Supervisor must agree and fees
deposit must be paid

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Q&A
Simply click on the "Q & A" tab
and type your questions in the "Q & A" box that pops up

Health Services Research (HSR)

MSc/PhD Program:

Virtual Open House for

Prospective Students

www.ihpme.utoronto.ca