phd in healthcare technology

Health Sciences Informatics, PhD

School of medicine.

The Ph.D. in Health Sciences Informatics offers the opportunity to participate in ground-breaking research projects in clinical informatics and data science at one of the world’s finest biomedical research institutions. In keeping with the traditions of the Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins Hospital, the Ph.D. program seeks excellence and commitment in its students to further the prevention and management of disease through the continued exploration and development of health informatics, health IT, and data science. Resources include a highly collaborative clinical faculty committed to research at the patient, provider, and system levels. The admissions process will be highly selective and finely calibrated to complement the expertise of faculty mentors.    

Areas of research:

• Standard Terminologies
• Precision Medicine Analytics
• Population Health Analytics
• Clinical Decision Support
• Translational Bioinformatics
• Health Information Exchange (HIE)
• Multi-Center Real World Data
• Telemedicine

Individuals wishing to prepare themselves for careers as independent researchers in health sciences informatics, with applications experience in informatics across the entire health/healthcare life cycle, should apply for admission to the doctoral program.

Admission Criteria

Applicants with the following types of degrees and qualifications will be considered:

• MA, MS, MPH, MLIS, MD, PhD, or other terminal degree, with relevant technical and quantitative competencies and evidence of scholarly accomplishment; or
• In exceptional circumstances, BA or BS, with relevant technical and quantitative competencies, with some combination of scholarly accomplishment and/or professional experience in a relevant field (e.g., biomedical research, data science, public health, etc.)

Relevant fields include: medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, nursing, ancillary clinical sciences, public health, librarianship, biomedical science, bioengineering and pharmaceutical sciences, and computer and information science. An undergraduate minor or major in information or computer science is highly desirable. Professional work experience in one of these fields is also highly desirable. 

The application is made available online through Johns Hopkins School of Medicine's website . Please note that paper applications are no longer accepted. The supporting documents listed below must be received by the SOM admissions office by December 15 of the following year. Applications will not be reviewed until they are complete and we have all supporting letters and documentation.

• Curriculum Vitae (including list of peer-reviewed publications and scientific presentations)
• Three Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• Official Transcripts from undergraduate and any graduate studies
• Certification of terminal degree
• You are also encouraged to submit a portfolio of published research, writing samples, and/or samples of website or system development

Please track submission of supporting documentation through the SLATE admissions portal.

If you have questions about your qualifications for this program, please contact [email protected]

Program Requirements

The PhD curriculum will be highly customized based on the student's background and needs. Specific courses and milestones will be developed in partnership with the student's advisor and the PhD Program Director.

The proposed curriculum is founded on four high-level principles:

• Achieving a balance between theory and research, and between breadth and depth of knowledge
• Creating a curriculum around student needs, background, and goals
• Teaching and research excellence
• Modeling professional behavior locally and nationally.

Individualized curriculum plans will be developed to build proficiencies in the following areas:

• Foundations of biomedical informatics: e.g., lifecycle of information systems, decision support
• Information and computer science: e.g., software engineering, programming languages, design and analysis of algorithms, data structures.
• Research methodology: research design, epidemiology, and systems evaluation; mathematics for computer science (discrete mathematics, probability theory), mathematical statistics, applied statistics, mathematics for statistics (linear algebra, sampling theory, statistical inference theory, probability); ethnographic methods.
• Implementation sciences: methods from the social sciences (e.g., organizational behavior and management, evaluation, ethics, health policy, communication, cognitive learning sciences, psychology, and sociological knowledge and methods), health economics, evidence-based practice, safety, quality.
• Specific informatics domains: clinical informatics, public health informatics, analytics
• Practical experience: experience in informatics research, experience with health information technology.

Basic Requirements

• "Core" courses
• Student Seminar & Grand Rounds
• Selective and Elective courses
• Mentored Research (in Year 1)
• Qualifying Exam (in Year 2)
• Proposal Defense (in Year 2 or 3)
• Dissertation (Years 2-4)
• Final Dissertation Defense (Year 4)
• Research Ethics

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Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Healthcare Technology

• Request Information

Earn a PhD in Healthcare Technology, become a leader in medical data management

The PhD in Healthcare Technology is a unique program designed to meet the constant growth of the healthcare industry. With the recent rise in patient visits, research studies, and administrative duties, there is an increase in the amount of data that needs to be managed. Innovation and support of the healthcare industry is becoming critical, and leaders in cybersecurity, analytics, and technology management are imperative to a thriving healthcare industry. With the growing demands of telehealth, data privacy, and cybersecurity, a number of healthcare tech companies are emerging and looking to serve the evolving healthcare market. As medical technologies improve and the current healthcare climate changes with the needs of the community, the demand for companies to create scalable solutions for a larger patient population is critical. Meet the growing needs of our community by joining the global workforce in this cutting-edge field.

Careers in Healthcare Technology include:

• Bioinformatics Analyst – median base pay at $87,590  1   
• Clinical Data Manager– median base pay at $113,116  1
• Data scientist – median base pay at $131,000, ranked 3rd in “best jobs in America 2022”  2
• Machine Learning Scientist - median base pay at $130,489, ranked 6th in “best jobs in America 2022”  2
• Data engineer – median base pay at $131,673, ranked 7th in “best jobs in America 2022”  2
• Medical Writer – median base pay at $100,000  3
• Healthcare Outlook’s Top 10 Data Science Jobs in Healthcare Industry
• Glassdoor’s 50 Best Jobs in America for 2022
• Indeed’s Salaries in the United States

The median salary for medical and health services professionals is $104,280, with higher earning potential seen at $195,630.  2

In the US, there is expected to be an estimated shortage of 37,800 to 124,000 physicians by 2034, including shortfalls in both primary and specialty care. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics anticipates that the demand for Nurse Practitioners will increase 52% between 2020 and 2030 and for Registered Nurses, it is expected to increase 9%.

The PhD in Healthcare Technology is for current professionals in healthcare and leadership positions responsible for administration, analytics, cyber protection, and other key facets of the healthcare information technology industry. This degree provides a path for personnel to explore new ground in this unique and rapidly evolving field. It is designed for those with a background in health and data science such as: medical doctors, dentists, nurses, or other medical practitioners. 

Students will pursue a deep proficiency in this area using interdisciplinary methods taught by industry-leader faculty. Graduates will contribute significantly to the field through the creation of new knowledge, ideas, and technology. The PhD in Healthcare Technology program is designed as a bridging degree for experts interested in the advancement, expansion, and support of the healthcare sector on a national and international level, and focuses on the wider and emerging technologies of the industry. 

Why Capitol?

Expert guidance in doctoral studies

Degree courses are taught by a faculty of industry experts who know the means to success within the field. Their extensive experience in teaching and mentoring students guarantees you’ll receive the guidance you need to successfully complete your degree and build experience in the industry.

Proven academic excellence

Study at an award-winning, STEM university that specializes in technology education in high-demand fields. 

Program is 100% online

Our doctoral programs are offered 100% online, with no on-campus residencies required, allowing you the flexibility needed to balance your studies and career.  

Key Faculty

Vice President

Career Opportunities

Market demand for healthcare technology expertise

Learn the necessary skills to take on a leadership role and become a researcher, professor, specialist, or trusted expert in the field.

Degree Details

This program may be completed with a minimum of 60 credit hours, but may require additional credit hours, depending on the time required to complete the dissertation/publication research. Students who are not prepared to defend after completion of the 60 credits will be required to enroll in RSC-899, a one-credit, eight-week continuation course. Students are required to be continuously enrolled/registered in the RSC-899 course until they successfully complete their dissertation defense/exegesis.

The completion of the Ph.D. in Healthcare Technology program requires the student to produce, present, and defend a doctoral dissertation after receiving the required approvals from the student’s Committee and the Ph.D. Review Board. There are two options for completion of the Ph.D. in Healthcare Technology program:

The student will produce, present, and defend a doctoral dissertation after receiving the required approvals from the student’s Committee and the PhD Review Boards.

Doctor of Philosophy in Healthcare Technology Courses Total Credits: 60

HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY DOCTORAL CORE: 30 CREDITS

 HEALTHCARE TECHNOLOGY DOCTORAL RESEARCH AND WRITING: 30 CREDITS

Educational Objectives:  1. Students will evaluate the need for Healthcare Technology and the robust protection of healthcare systems. 2. Students will demonstrate advanced knowledge and competencies needed for the future in Healthcare Technology. 3. Students will analyze and synthesize theories, tools, and frameworks used in Healthcare Technology. 4. Students will execute a plan to complete a significant piece of scholarly work in Healthcare Technology. 5. Students will develop the skills to implement Healthcare Technology plans required for advanced global protection of healthcare assets.

Learning Outcomes: Upon graduation, graduates will be able to: 1. Utilize their knowledge of technological applications to create solutions that will  support healthcare organizations in streamlining processes, automating tasks, and  improving workflows. 2. evaluate complex problems, synthesize varying perspectives, and develop advanced. solutions to Healthcare Technology challenges. 3. Develop and implement Healthcare Technology plans for use in the protection of healthcare assets. 4. Graduates will contribute to the body of knowledge in Healthcare Technology and will design and implement an original scholarly work that addresses a current deficit in the Healthcare Technology body of knowledge.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition rates are subject to change.

The following rates are in effect for the 2024-2025 academic year, beginning in Fall 2024 and continuing through Summer 2025:

• The application fee is $100
• The per-credit charge for doctorate courses is $950. This is the same for in-state and out-of-state students.
• Retired military receive a $50 per credit hour tuition discount
• Active duty military receive a $100 per credit hour tuition discount for doctorate level coursework.
• Information technology fee $40 per credit hour.
• High School and Community College full-time faculty and full-time staff receive a 20% discount on tuition for doctoral programs.

Find additional information for 2024-2025 doctorate tuition and fees.

I realized my research interests had change while working in the mental health space and on my dissertation. One of my professors, a Capitol Tech graduate, led me to see that the university aligned better with my plans and would offer more support in pursuit of my doctorate degree.

-Quatavia McLester PhD in Healthcare Technology

Need more info, or ready to apply?

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Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program

Founded in 1970, the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST) is one of the world’s oldest interdisciplinary educational programs focused on translational medical science and engineering.

The program is an inter-institutional collaboration between MIT, Harvard, and local teaching hospitals, dedicated to fostering academic excellence, scientific rigor, and clinical expertise.

Our MD, PhD, and MD-PhD students study side-by-side, gaining a deep understanding of the biomedical sciences, a strong quantitative foundation, and extensive hands-on clinical experience in Boston-area hospitals. HST students engage in translational research projects, collaborating with MIT and Harvard faculty drawn from across departments and disciplines to develop preventative, diagnostic, and therapeutic innovations.

HST’s academic programs are described in the Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology Program section.

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