John A. Burns School of Medicine
651 Ilalo Street, MEB 411
Honolulu, HI 96813
Tel: (808) 692-1840
Web: qhs.jabsom.hawaii.edu
Faculty
*J. J. Chen, PhD (Chair, Associate Graduate Program Chair)—biostatistics
*E. Lim, PhD (Graduate Program Chair)—biostatistics
*H. Ahn, PhD—biostatistics
*A. Brown, PhD—nutrition and disease
*J. Davis, PhD—biostatistics
*Y. Deng, PhD—bioinformatics
*V. Khadka PhD—bioinformatics
*C. Siriwardhana, PhD—biostatistics
*M. Taafaki, MS—clinical research and administration
Degree Offered: MS in clinical and translational research
The Academic Program
The Department of Quantitative Health Sciences (DQHS) promotes clinical and translational research, education, and related services through collaboration and innovation in areas of quantitative health sciences. The department strives to improve population and individual health by transforming health care through quantitative health methodological development; training and empowering the next generation of clinical and translational researchers in state-of-the-art quantitative health research techniques; and fostering interaction and collaboration with researchers across the Hawai‘i healthcare community. DQHS houses the Master of Science in Quantitative Health and Clinical Research (MSQHCR) graduate program, the Bioinformatics Core Facility, the Biostatistics Core Facility, and provide quantitative expertise and support to multiple institutional infrastructure grants.
Graduate Study
The Quantitative Health and Clinical Research (QHCR) graduate program will prepare graduates with skills for successful careers in clinical research and health data sciences and research support in academia, government laboratories, healthcare organizations, and pharmaceutical companies. The QHCR program leading to a Master of Science (MS) degree is currently offered with two tracks, both available in either Plan A (thesis option) or Plan B (capstone project option): Clinical Research (CR) and Quantitative Health Sciences (QHS).
Students enrolled in the CR track will focus on the study of methods suitable to investigate clinical research topics, and will develop the ability to apply ethical principles to ensure the safeguarding of human subjects in clinical trials. The QHS track will teach students the fundamentals of biostatistics and bioinformatics, and master the scientific principles and methodologies that underlie basic science, and clinical and translational research methods
The graduate program also offers a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Research (GCERT-CR), which is ideal for gap-year students, medical trainees, physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, and other health professionals with an interest in developing their skills for collaborative research. Students will gain knowledge of clinical research and trial design, clinical research protocol development, ethical conduct of clinical research, and the skill of statistical data analysis. The GCERT-CR is a fully online program, which accommodates the needs and time constraints of the busy professional learners. Students will be able to complete the required courses at their own pace if enrolled part-time or within 2 semesters if enrolled full-time. Credits earned through the GCERT-CR can be transferred to the Master of Science in Quantitative Health and Clinical Research if a student opts to pursue a MS degree.
By providing high-quality training, the program aims to increase the critical mass of clinical research and health data sciences at UH, including its minority investigators. Prospective students include junior faculty, fellows, residents, and other students from health sciences, natural sciences, mathematical and physical sciences.
Regarding long-term career outlook and job opportunities for program graduates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that employment in clinical and associated research will grow overall by 13% and in mathematics and statistics will grow by 33% in the U.S. from 2016 to 2026. The State of Hawai‘i projects a higher (34.8%) growth rate in medical scientists, and a 13.9% growth rate in computer and mathematics-related occupations.