Systems Science for Health Equity PhD ConcentrationBrown School PhD students typically develop an individualized research area through coursework and mentored training opportunities. As part of this individualized approach, Brown School PhD students have the option of choosing to complete one of our doctoral concentrations. The Systems Science for Health Equity (SS4HE) doctoral concentration provides an opportunity for students interested in the transdisciplinary field of systems science to complete relevant coursework and mentored research. The concentration aims to prepare next-generation public health and social work scholars in complex systems thinking and methods through the following SS4HE competencies: Understand how organizational, community, and healthcare systems contribute to public health as complex systems. Apply core systems science principles, such as complexity, feedback, emergence dynamics, evolution, endogeneity, social structures, and interactivity to public health research and intervention design. Describe how systems thinking and systems science methods contribute to core research activities of description, prediction, explanation, and causal inference. Design studies incorporating systems science tools, such as agent-based modeling, systems dynamics modeling, network analysis, group model building, etc. Engage diverse partners in systems science research to ensure equitable public health processes and outcomes. PhD students concentrate in SS4HE by completing SS4HE-related coursework, getting involved in the various SS4HE research training opportunities at Washington University, and conducting mentored dissertation research that contributes to the field. Concentration Requirements Coursework: Students complete concentration coursework with other PhD requirements in their first two years of the program. Concentrators complete at least three SS4HE doctoral courses from the options presented below. Concentrators also have the option of creating an Independent Study to replace one of the required courses below, allowing individualized systems science study beyond the content of the courses available. Concentrators select at least three (3) courses (9 credits) from the following SS4HE options: S90 5660 Systems Thinking in Health 3 S90 5050 Community-Based System Dynamics 3 S90 6915 Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling 3 S90 5010 Social Network Analysis 3 S90 5661 System Dynamics Simulation for Strategic Design 3 SS4HE concentrators successfully propose and complete systems science-related doctoral research and dissertation *Students can petition to complete course requirements through independent studies focused on additional areas in systems science. SS4HE Training Opportunities: Concentrators are encouraged to participate in the various systems science training opportunities offered across the university, such as the quarterly meetings of the Systems Science Interest Group (SSIG), the annual Systems Sciences for Social Impact (SSSI) Summer Training Institute, and mentored research opportunities through the various funded transdisciplinary research centers using complex systems approaches, such as the Center for Public Health Systems Science, Center on Social Dynamics and Policy, Social System Design Lab, Center for Mental Health Services Research, Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy, and Economic Research, etc. Mentored Systems Science Dissertation Research: Concentrators identify faculty mentors whose scholarship involved systems science. Typically, these faculty will supervise the completion of an Area Statement & Qualifying Exam. After finishing SS4HE and other required doctoral coursework and milestones, students conduct dissertation research in systems science under the mentorship of faculty working in the area. Process: Students interested in the concentration work with their faculty advisor, the SS4HE Lead Faculty, and their Program Director to ensure interest alignment. The student and faculty develop and execute research that culminates in a dissertation that contributes to the systems science literature. The successful defense of the SS4HE dissertation is recorded in the student’s final academic transcript. A team of faculty across Schools coordinates to support SS4HE concentrators. Dr. Ross Hammond, Betty Bofinger Brown Distinguished Professor of Public Health, serves as the Concentration Lead. Feel free to reach out with questions and suggestions. Other instructional faculty include: Ellis Ballard, MSW/MPHAssistant Professor of Practice Phone: 314-935-3072 Email: eballard@wustl.edu Todd Combs, PhDResearch Assistant Professor Phone: 314-935-3731 Email: toddcombs@wustl.edu Patrick Fowler, PhDProfessorDirector, Doctoral Program in Public Health Sciences Phone: 314-935-5859 Email: pjfowler@wustl.edu Ross Hammond, PhDBetty Bofinger Brown Distinguished Professor of Public Health Phone: 314-935-2223 Email: rhammond@wustl.edu Douglas Luke, PhDIrving Louis Horowitz Professor in Social Policy Phone: 314-935-3704 Email: dluke@wustl.edu Sara M. Malone, PhDAssistant Professor of Surgery Email: sara.malone@wustl.edu Virginia Mckay (Ginger), PhDAssistant Professor Phone: 314-935-5740 Email: virginia.mckay@wustl.edu Emmanuel TettehResearch Assistant Professor Phone: 314-362-2271 Email: emmanuel.tetteh@wustl.edu Jean-Francois Trani, PhDAssociate Professor Phone: 314-935-9277 Email:jtrani@wustl.edu
Systems Science for Health Equity PhD ConcentrationBrown School PhD students typically develop an individualized research area through coursework and mentored training opportunities. As part of this individualized approach, Brown School PhD students have the option of choosing to complete one of our doctoral concentrations. The Systems Science for Health Equity (SS4HE) doctoral concentration provides an opportunity for students interested in the transdisciplinary field of systems science to complete relevant coursework and mentored research. The concentration aims to prepare next-generation public health and social work scholars in complex systems thinking and methods through the following SS4HE competencies: Understand how organizational, community, and healthcare systems contribute to public health as complex systems. Apply core systems science principles, such as complexity, feedback, emergence dynamics, evolution, endogeneity, social structures, and interactivity to public health research and intervention design. Describe how systems thinking and systems science methods contribute to core research activities of description, prediction, explanation, and causal inference. Design studies incorporating systems science tools, such as agent-based modeling, systems dynamics modeling, network analysis, group model building, etc. Engage diverse partners in systems science research to ensure equitable public health processes and outcomes. PhD students concentrate in SS4HE by completing SS4HE-related coursework, getting involved in the various SS4HE research training opportunities at Washington University, and conducting mentored dissertation research that contributes to the field.
Concentration Requirements Coursework: Students complete concentration coursework with other PhD requirements in their first two years of the program. Concentrators complete at least three SS4HE doctoral courses from the options presented below. Concentrators also have the option of creating an Independent Study to replace one of the required courses below, allowing individualized systems science study beyond the content of the courses available. Concentrators select at least three (3) courses (9 credits) from the following SS4HE options: S90 5660 Systems Thinking in Health 3 S90 5050 Community-Based System Dynamics 3 S90 6915 Introduction to Agent-Based Modeling 3 S90 5010 Social Network Analysis 3 S90 5661 System Dynamics Simulation for Strategic Design 3 SS4HE concentrators successfully propose and complete systems science-related doctoral research and dissertation *Students can petition to complete course requirements through independent studies focused on additional areas in systems science. SS4HE Training Opportunities: Concentrators are encouraged to participate in the various systems science training opportunities offered across the university, such as the quarterly meetings of the Systems Science Interest Group (SSIG), the annual Systems Sciences for Social Impact (SSSI) Summer Training Institute, and mentored research opportunities through the various funded transdisciplinary research centers using complex systems approaches, such as the Center for Public Health Systems Science, Center on Social Dynamics and Policy, Social System Design Lab, Center for Mental Health Services Research, Center for Advancing Health Services, Policy, and Economic Research, etc. Mentored Systems Science Dissertation Research: Concentrators identify faculty mentors whose scholarship involved systems science. Typically, these faculty will supervise the completion of an Area Statement & Qualifying Exam. After finishing SS4HE and other required doctoral coursework and milestones, students conduct dissertation research in systems science under the mentorship of faculty working in the area. Process: Students interested in the concentration work with their faculty advisor, the SS4HE Lead Faculty, and their Program Director to ensure interest alignment. The student and faculty develop and execute research that culminates in a dissertation that contributes to the systems science literature. The successful defense of the SS4HE dissertation is recorded in the student’s final academic transcript.