Doctoral Program in Health Professions Education

Individuals eligible for the doctoral program:

• Are a health professional with preparation in education OR
• Are a health professions educator with a master’s degree in social or biomedical sciences.
• UCSF or UCSF-affiliated faculty; or staff involved in health professions education; exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis
• Are scholarly in health professions education, e.g., they have completed the UCSF Teaching Scholars Program or equivalent
• Are proposed for the program by a program faculty member agreeing to act as the primary supervisor (promotor), based on CV, interview and research plan.
• Publications in education research are highly desirable.

Steps in the application process are spaced over the first year:

1. Request an informational meeting with a doctoral program faculty member. Send your CV to [email protected] and brief description of your research interest that aligns with the program.
2. Successfully meet the criteria for the doctoral program.
3. Criteria include:
   • demonstrated capacity for conceptual thinking;
   • strong desire to conduct research;
   • adequate content expertise in an area for research;
   • adequate educational background and experience.
4. Receive an invitation for a formal interview and present your research interests describing alignment with the expertise of doctoral program faculty.
5. Complete a first draft of Training and Supervision Agreement (TSA) with guidance from assigned faculty mentors from UCSF and Utrecht during the first in-residence week of the program. 
6. Tuition payment begins January of the 1st year when the candidate begins attending the doctoral seminar.

Broadly speaking, CFE medical education research faculty focus on several key areas with attention to how this research aligns with improving education at UCSF and beyond. These key areas will evolve as we collaborate with other researchers at UCSF, regionally, nationally, and internationally. However, each faculty member has specific research interests and expertise. Below lists are current faculty who facilitate the program; note several are no longer serving as the primary supervisor for new students.

• Patricia O’Sullivan, EdD, UCSF Program Co-Director - no longer serving as primary supervisor for new students

• Bridget O’Brien, PhD, UCSF Program Co-Director

• Marieke van der Schaaf, PhD, UMC Utrecht Program Director

• Christy Boscardin, PhD (UCSF)

• Arianne Teherani, PhD (UCSF)

• David Irby, PhD (UCSF, emeritus – no longer serving as primary supervisor for new students)

• Olle ten Cate, PhD (UMC Utrecht - no longer serving as primary supervisor for new students)