Integrated Postdoctoral Fellowship in Health Services & Outcomes Research

A substantial part of the fellowship training is experientially achieved through strong mentoring relationships between fellows and distinguished faculty mentors.

The fellowship draws upon faculty with research and mentorship expertise in healthcare quality and safety innovation, healthcare economics, healthcare equity, maternal-child health, healthcare policy and implementation and chronic disease care and outcomes.

Fellows also collaborate with faculty and staff at the Center for Rehabilitation Outcomes Research at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, the Center for Outcomes, Research & Education and Center of Innovation for Complex Chronic Healthcare, Veterans Affairs Health Services Research & Development Service and Hines Veterans Affairs.

Fellows have access to faculty conducting research in the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health and the centers for Patient-Centered Outcomes, Community Health, Engineering & Health, Behavior & Health and Health Policy & Economics. Additional key resources are the Biostatistical Collaboration Core, Bioinformatics Center and well-established collaborations with numerous clinical departments, such as Anesthesia, Emergency Medicine, Medicine, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics and Surgery.

Required fellowship activities include:

• Attendance at the weekly IPHAM Seminar Series, which hosts a wide range of speakers from Northwestern University as well as national and international experts in health services and outcomes research; fellows are required to present their research at least once during the course of their fellowship
• Attendance at the weekly Fellows Work in Progress Seminar, which focuses on collaborative evaluation of fellows' research projects, preparation of presentations and discussion of manuscripts
• Participation in research-relevant activities of other academic departments
• Submit research abstracts and manuscripts for publication (one in year 1 and two in year 2)
• Submit one research proposal for extramural funding of research in year 2
• Complete and review with mentors a written quarterly learning plan describing coursework, research activities and plans and any challenges in which help is needed

Fellows are supported by funding from:

• Project Award from the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, NIDILRR Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training: Health and Function
• Project Award from the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, NIDILRR Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training: Disability Policy
• Project Award from the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living, NIDILRR Rehabilitation Research and Training Center: Employment with Disabilities
• Occasionally, a Feinberg School of Medicine department

Campus interviews are required for all applicants.

Selection criteria include prior academic training and professional experience, the extent to which the applicant’s research interests relate to the strengths of the fellowship, the applicant's strength of commitment to a health services research career and the applicant’s potential to contribute significantly to the field of health services research.

All applicants must have completed a doctoral degree prior to the awarding of the fellowship.

International applicants may apply for fellowship spots funded by The National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR), Advanced Rehabilitation Research Training if they have research interests aligned with the Administration for Community Living, NIDILRR's long-range plan.

A H-1B visa is required for all international applicants accepted to the fellowship. An applicant who is currently on an F-1 visa will, in most cases, be eligible for work authorization called OPT. Applicants should check with their current international student adviser to see if that applies. If so, once accepted to the program, they can apply for the work authorization and begin working at Northwestern University with the EAD card. Then, Northwestern University can begin the process to do a Change of Status petition to H-1B.

First, complete the pre-application. Applications are reviewed on a monthly basis. However, we encourage applicants to consider applying at least six months in advance of their preferred start date.

Currently we have openings on two of our fellowships: a two-year slot on our Community Living & Participation for individuals with disabilities Fellowship and a two-year slot on our Disability & Employment Fellowship.

COMPLETE THE PRE-APPLICATION

Upon being accepted into the fellowship program, new fellows are required to submit an online application to and enroll in TGS so they are able to register for didactic courses during the fellowship.

Applicants will be prompted to pay an application fee of $95, which must be paid by credit card. For technical difficulties with the online application, please call the technical support hotline at 1-800-526-3313.

Please use Program Code H04MS for the Master of Science in Health Services & Outcomes Research or Program Code H04ND for the non-degree program in Health Services & Outcomes Research. If you do not plan on registering for at least one course each quarter during the fellowship program, please select H04ND in your application.

TGS requires all applicants to submit supporting documents (letters of recommendation and original transcripts) to accompany the online application. However, since applicants are already required to submit these items in the pre-application, there is no need to submit an additional set of documents. These documents will be obtained from the office of the fellowship program and submitted to TGS.