education

The Healthcare Data & Clinical Implementation Science Certificate Programs provide healthcare professionals with the knowledge and practical skills needed to conduct impactful research, lead healthcare improvement initiatives, and translate evidence into practice. Offered in partnership with the Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions, these programs are designed for clinicians, researchers, trainees, and healthcare leaders seeking to advance their expertise in healthcare delivery science, data science, and implementation research.

Participants learn from Harvard Medical School faculty and industry experts through a flexible, virtual learning environment that combines self-paced coursework with interactive small-group discussions and applied learning experiences. The curriculum emphasizes real-world application and equips learners with tools to navigate today's complex healthcare and research landscape.

Through three certificate offerings, learners gain practical skills that can be immediately applied to research, clinical operations, and healthcare transformation efforts. Participants also benefit from interdisciplinary networking opportunities, mentorship from leading faculty, and a supportive learning community committed to improving health and healthcare delivery.

The program's flexible virtual format allows busy professionals to advance their research and leadership skills while balancing clinical, academic, and operational responsibilities.

Certificate programs

Fundamentals of Healthcare Data & Delivery Science

Learn on your own in this course designed for busy professionals looking to advance their knowledge in healthcare data science & clinical implementation research through asynchronous video lectures and engaging online learning activities from world-class faculty. This course is suitable for individuals with a bachelor’s degree or higher who are interested in healthcare data science & clinical implementation research fundamentals.

Total cost: $750
Duration: 3 months
Commitment: 1.5 hours/week
Credits: 1 credit

By the end of the course, you will have a fundamental understanding of the core concepts of healthcare data science & clinical implementation research.

Lecture topics:

Introduction to health care data science and clinical implementation research
Synthesizing the evidence: systematic reviews; meta-analysis; and scoping reviews
Overview of research designs
Primary data collection: quantitative and qualitative approaches
Mixed methods research
Secondary data: data sources and measures overview
Social determinants of health
Leveraging community-based participatory research to recruit and retain diverse study populations and multiple study sites
Introduction to clinical implementation research: the basics
Introduction to quality improvement science
AI in healthcare research: methods, pitfalls, and practice
Putting it all together to achieve real impact: healthcare data science, clinical implementation research, and learning health systems

Applied Data Science & Observational Research Skills

Apply skills in data science & observational and learn alongside your peers with:

six lectures in data science & observational research
six live, hands-on study groups led by faculty group facilitators

Scholars who register for this 2-credit course will also be enrolled in Fundamentals of Healthcare Data & Clinical Implementation Science concurrently, earning a total of 3 graduate credits. This course is suitable for individuals with an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree. Senior research managers with master’s degrees may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, please inquire for more information if you are in this category.

Total cost: $2,500
Duration: 3 months
Commitment: 10 hours/week
Credits: 3 credits

By the end of this course, you will apply advanced knowledge in data science & observational research to translate your idea into a refined research question and specific aims.

Applied Data Science and Observational Research Skills topics:

Identifying a good research question
Writing specific aims
Introduction to healthcare delivery science using observational data
Observational study designs and threats to validity
Prediction, simulation modeling, and cost-effectiveness overview
Matching analytic methods to research questions and data

Applied Clinical Implementation Research Skills

Apply skills in clinical implementation research and learn alongside your peers with:

six lectures in clinical implementation research
six live, hands-on study groups led by faculty group facilitators

Scholars who register for this 2-credit course will also be enrolled in Fundamentals of Healthcare Data & Clinical Implementation Science concurrently, earning a total of 3 graduate credits. This course is suitable for individuals with an MD, PhD, or equivalent degree. Senior research managers with master’s degrees may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, please inquire for more information if you are in this category.

Total cost: $2,500
Duration: 3 months
Commitment: 10 hours/week
Credits: 3 credits

By the end of this course, you will apply advanced knowledge in clinical implementation research to translate your idea into a refined research question and specific aims.

Applied Clinical Implementation Research Skills topics:

Identifying a good research question
Writing specific aims
Human-centered design in healthcare
Designing and conducting a randomized pragmatic trial
Applied clinical implementation research methods: frameworks and useful tools to guide your research
Adaptation, scalability, and sustainment in clinical implementation research

Application

Applications are currently closed for the Healthcare Data & Clinical Implementation Science Certificate Programs.

Please check back in Spring 2027!

Program Leadership

Stephen bartels, md, ms

Program Director

Altaf saadi, md, msc

Faculty Facilitator

Joy shi, phd

Faculty Facilitator

Sara wolf, bs

Administrative Coordinator

Contact

Email: MGHMonganEducation@mgb.org

FAQ

What are the program benefits?

Participants develop practical skills in healthcare data science, implementation research, quality improvement, and healthcare redesign that can be immediately applied to research and clinical practice. The flexible, virtual format allows learners to advance their professional development while balancing clinical, research, and operational responsibilities.

Additional benefits include:

Learning from Harvard Medical School faculty and experienced healthcare leaders
Building a professional network of peers across disciplines and institutions
Developing strategies for research success and scholarly dissemination
Gaining tools to design, implement, evaluate, and scale healthcare innovations
Earning academic credit through the MGH Institute of Health Professions

Can I use tuition assistance to pay for this program?

The HDCIS programs are accredited by the MGB University of Health Professions and eligible for tuition assistance under the MGB Tuition Assistance program. MGB faculty and staff are eligible for MBG Tuition Assistance ($5,250 full time/$2,625 part time per calendar year) to support the full cost of the program if paid by personal payment. MGB faculty and staff should review the AskMyHR article to learn more about their eligibility: Tuition Assistance.

For non-MGB employees, please check with your home institution for any tuition benefit programs.

Why are there two options for Applied Research Skills?

The Applied Research Skills certificate offers two specialized tracks to allow learners to focus on the area most relevant to their career goals and research interests:

Applied Data Science & Observational Research Skills
Applied Clinical Implementation Research Skills

Applicants select their preferred track during the application process and participate in track-specific coursework and interactive small-group learning experiences

What are the application requirements?

Applicants must complete the online application. Additional information may be requested based on the selected certificate program.

What is the application deadline?

Applications are currently closed. Please check back in Spring 2027!

What are the program dates?

Fundamentals - Sept - Dec 2027

Applied Research Skills - Sept - Dec 2027

What is the weekly commitment?

Fundamentals - 3.5 hours/week

Applied Research Skills - 10 hours/week

How are the programs delivered?

All certificate programs are offered virtually to accommodate busy professionals.

Fundamentals is delivered asynchronously through self-paced online coursework.
Applied Research Skills combine asynchronous coursework with live virtual interactive small-group learning activities.

How much does the program cost?

Research Fundamentals - $750

Applied Research Skills - $2,500

Is academic credit available?

All certificate programs are offered in partnership with the MGB University of Health Professions and include academic credit:

Fundamentals - 1 credit

Applied Research Skills - 3 credits

Who should enroll in these programs?

These programs are designed for residents, fellows, postdoctoral researchers, early-career investigators, clinicians, healthcare leaders, research staff, and others interested in advancing healthcare through research, implementation science, quality improvement, and healthcare innovation.