Frequently Asked Questions about the MMSc-GHD

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL
Master of Medical Sciences in Global Health Delivery
MMSc-GHD (version 11/5/2012)
Frequently Asked Questions about the MMSc-GHD
Contact Christina Lively with any further questions: mmscghd@hms.harvard.edu.
This multi-page PDF document contains answers to questions in the following topics:
Eligibility
Program difference from an MPH
The required project
Program goals/purpose
Financial aid/program cost
Logistics
We update this document as additional questions are asked.
Director: Joia S. Mukherjee, MD, MPH
Associate Professor of Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
Eligibility
Q: I want to get into global health. May I apply to the program?
A: Yes, you may apply to the program. Please keep in mind that the program is designed mostly for midcareer
professionals who have experience in global health settings. Most applicants will have a clinical
degree (e.g. in medicine, nursing) and/or experience in health care in a resource poor setting.
Q: Are there special prerequisites that I should be aware of?
A: At this time, there are no specific pre-requisites for students who are applying to the MMSc-GHD,
other than experience in a resource poor setting. The MMSc-GHD is geared more toward mid-career
professionals than students, though students are welcome to apply as well.
Q: I have an [insert non clinical degree here]. Am I eligible to apply?
While a clinical degree is not required to apply for the MMSc-GHD, most applicants have some
experience working in health care in resource-poor settings.
The admissions committee considers how well applicant's experience matches the purpose of the
program.
The MMSc-GHD program will prepare people specifically for health care delivery in resource poor
settings. Applicants to the program often have experience working in resource-poor settings either as a
clinician, administrator, community health worker or policy maker. The students accepted into the first
cohort of the program (entering in 2012) are clinicians with experience in leadership positions in clinics in
resource-poor settings such as Haiti, Burundi and the Navajo Nation (located in New Mexico, but under
the jurisdiction of the Navajo people).
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Program “difference”
Q: I already have an MPH, should I apply?
A: If you already have an MPH, you are welcome to apply -- we expect that the two degrees will
complement each other. However, you may also find overlap in some of the courses. You should be
certain that you are interested in health care delivery, as that is the focus of this program.
Q: How is the MMSc-GHD different from an MPH?
A: The MMSc-GHD focuses on health care delivery in resource poor settings. It is based around a 6-9
month mentored field project. The MMSc-GHD will offer courses on epidemiological methods, social
medicine, and ethics, as an MPH might, but the focus for the MMSc-GHD will be on how to deliver
excellent care to populations in places such as Haiti, Rwanda, Liberia, the Navajo Nation, Roxbury, and
others.
Q: How is the MMSc-GHD different from an MPH or MS in international health?
A: The MMSc-GHD differs from an MPH or MS in the following ways:
- The biggest difference is the focus. The MMSc-GHD focuses on health care delivery in resource poor
settings, whereas an MPH or MS might focus more broadly on other issues. This focus is important
because it stems from Paul Farmer's work with Partners In Health to provide health care treatment to
impoverished people living in resource poor settings. Paul Farmer and Joia Mukherjee created this degree
program to focus on how to deliver health care in resource poor settings.
- The MMSc-GHD requires a mentored project with the result being a publishable paper or grant
proposal. This involves intensive work on a 9 month on-site mentored project.
- The MMSc-GHD is a 2 year degree, whereas an MPH can sometimes be a one year degree.
- The MMSc-GHD does include courses at some different Harvard schools.
Current courses included the MMSc-GHD program are:
Epidemiologic Methods for Global Health (HSPH)
Studies in Global Health Delivery (HSPH)
Value-Based Management in Global Health Delivery (HMS)
Quantitative Methods for Global Health (HSPH)
Social Medicine and Global Health (GSAS)
Managing Medicine (HBS)
Qualitative Methods for Global Health (HMS)
Conceptual and Practical Ethical Problems in Global Health Delivery (HMS)
Mixed Methods in Practice (HMS)
Mentored Project (HMS)
There is also some time for electives.
Courses may vary for MPH or MS in international health. Courses in the HSPH MPH can be found here
on page 14:
http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/academics/master-of-public-health-program/files/12-
13_guide_august_version_-_prospective_students.pdf
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Q: What sort of careers do graduates from this program pursue?
A: The MMSc-GHD just began in 2012, so we do not know where people will end up working, and
probably will not know until 2014 when the first cohort graduates from the program.
Since the MMSc-GHD focuses on health care delivery, graduates from the program will most likely go
into settings where they can apply the skills they learn in researching health care delivery. They might
also assume leadership or clinical positions in local health care delivery organizations. They might
conduct research on health care delivery with an organization. Some might decide to go into policy at
NGOs, but the policy would most likely focus on health care delivery.
If you seek a policy focused degree, the MPH might be a better fit for you. The MMSc-GHD is more
focused on the research, ethics and delivery of health care in resource poor settings.
Q: I am interested in policy – should I apply to the program?
A: The MMSc-GHD has a focus on health care delivery. If your focus on policy involves health care
delivery, then we welcome you to apply to the program. Please review the courses listed above to ensure
that these courses and this program will best fit your needs. Students will have an opportunity to take
electives in policy as well.
The required project
Q: What are examples of past projects completed by MMSc-GHD students?
A: The MMSc-GHD program began in July of 2012, so we do not have any completed projects yet. We
will have completed projects in 2014.
As of 10/11/12, the students are working on developing the following projects:
One student is working on a project centered on food policy and access in the Navajo Nation. After
reviewing a recent needs assessment on access to fresh food, this student will do further work
understanding the appropriate intervention, based on community wants and needs.
One student is working on a project that will address the organization of health services specifically for
disaster preparedness. He will use his experience organizing his community after the 2010 earthquake in
Haiti.
One student is planning a project using qualitative methods to assess the issues of contraceptive use in
Burundi through qualitative research.
One student is planning a project using mixed methods to quantify the economic and social impact of
long term ART therapy on patients, their families, and their communities in Haiti.
We will not have any results from projects until 2013 or 2014, depending on when students complete
them.
Our first cohort is very small, so there are many other possible project topics and sites. Every student will
need at least one Harvard mentor for their project.
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Q: May I work in the U.S. with immigrant populations for my on-site project?
A: Yes, potential project sites could include resource-poor settings in the U.S., so working with
immigrant populations could be a potential project.
Q: May I work on a project site that is not listed among the examples on the website?
A: Yes, faculty will work with admitted students to assist in developing potential projects. It is important
to identify an onsite mentor at your project site, as the project is meant to be a “mentored” project. Also,
every student will need at least one Harvard mentor for their project.
Q: How are the "global health" sites selected?
A: The MMSc program has carefully selected sites where appropriate projects can be done with dedicated
mentorship by HMS faculty. Students will be able to talk to site faculty and choose sites based on their
geographic or topical interests (e.g., some sites focus on HIV or TB, others on chronic disease or mental
health, etc.). In some circumstances students will be able to propose their own sites and projects (e.g., if
they have already been engaged with a particular project); however, HMS requires significant on-theground
mentorship by HMS faculty.
Q: How does the program match students with projects?
A: We will do our best to match students with projects and sites that they are interested in. However,
specific opportunities will vary from year to year and there will be limited openings at each site. Students
will need to be flexible about their preferences. The specific site and project are less important than the
common challenge (improving health care delivery) and the quality of mentorship. We will match
students to sites once each year’s cohort of students has been selected.
Q: Do I need to speak the language of the site to which I am assigned?
A: Language requirements vary from site to site. It is possible to work at most of the sites with
knowledge only of English. However, work at some sites will be greatly facilitated by knowing the local
language. Details will be sorted out as we match students to the various sites.
Program Goals/Purpose
Q: What is the purpose of the program?
A: The MMSc-GHD was envisioned by Paul Farmer, MD, PhD and Joia Mukherjee, MD, MPH (along
with other people on their team) to be a way to build capacity to contribute to the knowledge base in
global health, to elevate global health to a new level of professionalism, and to train professionals to
improve health care delivery in resource poor settings. An excerpt from the approved proposal for the
program describes this further:
"The MMSc-GHD will provide training in the design, implementation, evaluation, and improvement of
health programs in resource poor settings. By taking a scholarly approach to the problem of health care
delivery in these settings, it will generate (1) an expanded body of knowledge about the prevention and
treatment of disease, (2) a framework for defining the best practices for the implementation of medical
programs, and (3) strategies for overcoming the translational barriers that now exist. The program will
use systematic approaches (e.g., qualitative, quantitative, decision analysis) to produce evidence and
analyze the factors associated with the integration of effective interventions into particular practice
settings. This will contribute to current efforts to develop the field of implementation research.
Succeeding at this requires an appreciation of how to design and implement programs, how to monitor
them and measure their impact, and how to disseminate best practices. This mix of knowledge from the
social and clinical sciences has not been taught comprehensively in existing graduate programs.
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The MMSc-GHD will fulfill these objectives by combining a rigorous HMS-based curriculum with a 9month
mentored research project at a global health program. The coursework, both didactic and casebased,
will give students an overview of how global health programs are designed, implemented, and
evaluated. Courses in quantitative methods, qualitative methods, monitoring and evaluation, ethics, and
interpretive social sciences will enable students to assess the clinical needs of populations, the feasibility
and acceptability of different delivery programs, and the effectiveness of those programs. The mentored
project will give students significant hands-on experience and allow them to participate in the design,
conduct, and evaluation of an innovative clinical program. The students’ work will not just develop their
skills in global health delivery and contribute to a growing knowledge base. It will also contribute to the
quality of the health care systems in which they work and enhance the training available to local clinical
staff. Such practical experience is currently not required in global health programs available at Harvard
University or elsewhere.
The MMSc-GHD will appeal to a wide range of students, including: medical students; students in other
health-related graduate programs; residents, fellows, and other clinicians in training; and mid-career
clinicians and professionals seeking new training to develop their careers in global health. A slightly
modified track will allow HMS students to complete a combined MD/MMSc in five years. The program
will seek a balance between students from Harvard, elsewhere in the United States, and abroad. The
long-term success of the program will depend on its ability to include students and clinicians from
resource poor settings worldwide. The program will contribute to the development of a trained cadre of
global health professionals. Graduates will be prepared to pursue careers in health care delivery, clinical
research, and global health policy. They should become the next generation of innovators and leaders in
global health care delivery."
Admissions
Q: What are the acceptance rates?
A: We don't have a good answer for this question yet because 2012 is the first year we have offered the
program. We launched the program in 2012 with 4 students. In 2013, we hope to accept 6-8 students into
the program. We expect the number of applicants to increase in the coming years.
Because the program is geared towards mid-career professionals, there will be fewer seats open for
students than for professionals with experience in the field. After the next few application cycles, it is
likely we will have more data to better answer this question.
Q: When is the next application cycle/deadline?
A: The application deadline for the class entering in July of 2013 is December 7, 2012.
Q: Are there rolling admissions?
A: Currently there is only one application cycle, so we do not have rolling admissions.
Q: Are materials to be postmarked or received by December 7, 2012?
A: All must be received by December 7, 2012.
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Q: What materials are required for admission?
A: A complete application will include:
__The completed application form available on this page:
http://ghsm.hms.harvard.edu/education/degree_programs/#apply
__Cover letter and resume as one document emailed to Christina Lively
__Three letters of recommendation to be sent by the referees to the program using the recommendation
form.
__Official transcripts for each post-secondary school attended.
__Official test scores as noted on the application.
Q: Are standardized test scores required for admission?
A: Standardized test scores are recommended but not required for admission with one exception: to
ensure an applicant has the necessary English language skills for success in the program, we require
TOEFL scores from applicants who answer “no” to the question immediately below.
English Proficiency
If English is not your first language, have you completed an undergraduate degree or at least 2 years of a
graduate degree in an English-speaking environment?
If you answer “no” please request official TOEFL scores.
If you answer “yes” TOEFL scores are not required.
All courses are conducted in English, therefore, applicants need to be proficient in English to ensure
success in the program.
Q: English is not my first language, but I have worked /gone to school in an English speaking
country for more than 2 years. Must I take the TOEFL?
A: The TOEFL is only required if applicants answer “no” to the question immediately above.
Q: I am currently in residency. Do you need proof of my residency in addition to transcripts?
A: No. We only need official transcripts from universities that you have attended. We do not need proof
of completion of residency programs.
Q: How do I send my test scores in?
Please request official TOEFL scores using Designated Institution Code 3151.
Please request official Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) scores using Designated Institution Code
0748.
Please print and send a copy of your official MCAT scores to the address listed below.
Please request official copies of other scores to be sent to
Christina Lively
Harvard Medical School
Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
641 Huntington Avenue
Boston MA 02115
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Q: May I apply to more than one program at Harvard in one year?
A: Yes, you may apply to more than one program at Harvard in one year. Keep in mind that Harvard is
quite decentralized. Therefore, the Harvard Medical School cannot access any materials you send to the
Harvard School of Public Health. You will need to send separate materials and complete separate
applications for each program you apply to.
In addition, the MMSc-GHD program does not allow students to defer entrance into the program at this
time, because the program is so small. Therefore, if you were to be accepted into the MMSc-GHD and the
other program you are applying to, you would need to choose between the programs.
If you decided to apply to the MMSc-GHD again, you would need to complete another application.
Q: Must letters of recommendation be emailed? Can they be mailed instead?
A: Yes. Letters of recommendation may be mailed to
Christina Lively
Harvard Medical School
Department of Global Health and Social Medicine
641 Huntington Avenue
Boston MA 02115
Financial Aid/Cost
Q: Is there financial aid?
A: The Harvard Medical School MMSc degree programs are need-blind in their candidate selection
process and have no knowledge of a candidate’s financial situation nor do they consider ability to pay in
the evaluation of a candidate’s application.
Students accepted into the MMSc degree programs have access to financial assistance through federal and
private loans and the individual academic program’s resources. Due to limited resources, the program
cannot always meet the financial need of students.
Q: What the cost of the program?
A: Tuition for the program is $32,000 for each of two years ($64,000 total). The annual cost of attendance
for the single-degree MMSc program is estimated to be approximately $67,100 per year (this includes
tuition, fees and living expenses) plus the cost of travel to the student’s mentored research site.
Q: Are there scholarships and fellowships available beyond what the MMSc can offer?
A: Please note that there is very limited financial aid available directly through the program. We urge
potential applicants to research other potential funding opportunities as well.
Below are some other funding ideas that you may want to research.
- Here is a link to a database for finding fellowship/scholarship and grant opportunities online:
https://webapps.sph.harvard.edu/live/student-funding-finder/
- In addition, the Fulbright Program offers funding for students from abroad seeking to pursue master's
degrees in the U.S.
http://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/
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Q: Is there any way to save on the costs of the program?
A: Yes, there are ways to save on some costs. Tuition is fixed. However, the living expenses included in
the budget are based on estimates made by the HMS financial aid office. Students may be able to save on
living expenses by living with a roommate or finding inexpensive housing. Students may also find other
ways to save money
Our budget assumes that students will keep an apartment at $1,700 per month for the entire two years of
the program. Students may elect to keep the apartment only for the first 12 months of the program, and
then find shorter term housing after they complete the 9 month project. This would save 9 months of rent.
In addition, students may be able to find more inexpensive housing options. Admitted students will be
able to apply for Harvard housing between March 1 and May 1, 2013.
Please email mmscghd@hms.harvard.edu for an updated cost of attendance.
Program logistics
Q: What are the dates of the program?
A: The MMSc-GHD program began right after July 4 (in 2012, it was July 5, 2012) and ends two years
later in May (Commencement this year is May 24, 2012).
We estimate the 2013 program will begin July 5 or 8, 2013, and that cohort of the program will finish on
May 21 or 28, 2014.
We estimate that the program will run on the following dates
Year 1
Summer 1 and 2: July 5 - August 16, 2013
Break: August 17- September 3, 2013
Fall: September 3 – December 13, 2013
Break: December 13, 2013 – January 1, 2014
Site visit: January 1, 2014 – January 31, 2014
Spring: January 31, 2014 – June 15, 2014
Year 2
On site project: June 15, 2014 - January 2015
Project write up: January 2015 – May 2015
Graduation: May 2015
The guidelines for dates above should allow for planning.
Q: May I complete the program part time?
A: At this time, the MMSc-GHD is a full time program and cannot be completed part time.
Q: May I work during the program?
The MMSc-GHD program is an intense program requiring a significant time commitment. It is possible
that students may choose to work during the program, but all students must be enrolled in the program
full time.
Students who are returning to a site where they have been employed for their 9 month on-site project may
be able to work part time during the project, but those students must ensure that they continue to complete
all requirements for the MMSc-GHD program in good time.
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The MMSc-GHD program cannot assist students in finding employment, nor make any special
allowances for students who choose to work while completing the program. We assume that students will
complete the program enrolled full time.
Q: Will courses from the MMSc-GHD transfer to other Harvard programs?
A: Harvard schools do not allow transfer of credits used to complete one program to count towards credits
needed for another program.
In addition, most Harvard schools (Harvard Medical School, Harvard School of Public Health, etc.) do
not allow students to transfer credits from programs at other schools, even those within Harvard.
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