The Health Services Concentration trains graduates to use advanced experimental and non-experimental methods to generate evidence that improves population health. The concentration defines health systems broadly to include the organizational characteristics of care delivery, the policies that govern them, and the economic and practice environments that shape consumer and provider behavior. Students focus on understanding and improving how health systems function to promote equitable, effective, and efficient health outcomes.

The concentration equips graduates to contribute effectively as members of multidisciplinary teams, for example in academic institutions, at government agencies at the state, national, and international levels, and at research arms of private and public healthcare organizations. It emphasizes the development of foundational understanding and skills to improve health services, inform policy, and influence practice. Graduates are prepared to assess and advance policy and practice that promotes more equitable use of resources and improved health outcomes. The competency-based curriculum provides a strong analytic foundation and a broad orientation to health services research.