Health Research Methodology

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The Graduate Program in Health Research Methodology provides exciting new opportunities for advanced training in research methodology. The program is offered at the M.Sc. and Ph.D. level. Students are encouraged to enroll in full-time study, although requests for part-time studies will be considered at both the M.Sc. and Ph.D. level.

Through coursework and involvement in research projects students are exposed to evaluative frameworks and research methods derived from clinical epidemiology, biostatistics, epidemiology, health economics, health services research, health policy analysis, psychology, sociology, geography, political science, history, bioethics and education.

Trainees are challenged to integrate theory and methods from these alternative disciplinary perspectives to create innovative research and evaluation methods that can contribute to an improved understanding of health and disease (in individuals and populations) and strengthened health services and systems.

Students may choose to specialize in one of the following fields: Clinical Epidemiology, Biostatistics (Ph.D. level), and Health Technology Assessment.

Enquiries: 905 525-9140 Ext. 27718
E-mail: carrl@mcmaster.ca
Website: https://healthsci.mcmaster.ca/hei-hrm

Faculty/Fall 2023

Please refer to the Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact (HEI) (formerly the Department of Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics) for individual faculty webpages highlighting research interests and recent publications

This list includes HRM faculty members who are approved to participate on supervisory committees or be a thesis supervisor. Please refer to the HRM website (https://healthsci.mcmaster.ca/hei-hrm) for specific details re: thesis supervisors and supervisory committee members at the MSc and PhD level.

Professors

Julia Abelson, B.A. (Hons) (McMaster), M.Sc. (Harvard School of Public Health), Ph.D. (Bath)
Sonia Anand, B.A. (Queen’s), M.D., Ph.D. (McMaster), F.R.C.P(C)
Joseph Beyene, B.Sc. (Addis Ababa), M.Sc. (Guelph), Ph.D. (Toronto)
Deborah Cook, M.D., M.Sc. (McMaster), F.R.C.P.(C)
Richard Cook, B.Sc. (McMaster), M. Math, Ph.D. (Waterloo)/Part-time
P.J. Devereaux, B.Sc. (Dalhousie), M.D., Ph.D. (McMaster)
Alison Fox-Robichaud, M.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.P.(C)
Amiram Gafni, B.Sc., M.Sc., D.Sc. (Technion, Haifa)
Gordon H. Guyatt, B.Sc. (Toronto), M.D., M.Sc. (McMaster),F.R.C.P.(C)
Steven Hanna, B.Sc. (Toronto), M.A., Ph.D. (Western)
Alfonso Iorio, M.Sc., M.D. (Perugia), Ph.D
Roman Jaeschke, M.D. (Krakow, Poland), M.Sc. (McMaster)
John Lavis, M.D. (Queen’s), M.Sc. (London School of Economics),Ph.D. (Harvard)
Mitchell A. Levine, M.D. (Calgary), M.Sc. (McMaster), F.R.C.P.(C)
Mark Loeb, B.Sc., M.D. (McGill), M.Sc. (McMaster), F.R.C.P.(C)
Maureen Meade, M.Sc. (McMaster), M.D. (McGill)
Victor Montori, M.A. (Peruana Cayetano Heredia), M.Sc. (Medicine, Mayo Clinic)/Part-time
Guillaume Pare, M.Sc. (McGill), M.D. (Montreal)
Parminder Raina, B.Sc. (Saskatchewan), Ph.D. (Guelph)
Holger J. Schünemann, M.D. (Hanover, Germany), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Buffalo)
Lisa Schwartz, B.A., M.A. (McGill), Ph.D. (Glasgow)
Jean-Eric Tarride, B.A., M.A. (Toulouse), Ph.D. (Concordia)
Lehana Thabane, B.Sc. (Lesotho), M.Sc. (Sheffield), Ph.D. (Western)
Feng Xie, B.Sc. (Shanghai), M.Sc. (Fudan), Ph.D. (Singapore)
Salim Yusuf, M.B.B.S. (Bangalore), Ph.D. (Oxford)

Associate Professors

Jan Brozek, Ph.D. (Jagiellonian)
Varun Chaudhary, M.Sc. (McMaster), F.RC.P.C
Amit Garg, M.D., M.A. (Toronto), Ph.D. (McMaster), F.R.C.P.C.,F.A.C.P./Part-time
Stelios Georgiades, B.A., M.A., (Oregon), Ph.D, (McMaster)
Kim Lewis, B.Sc (McMaster), B.Ed. (Queen’s), M.Sc., MD (Calgary), M.Sc. (McMaster)
Matthew Hodge, B.A. (Yale), M.Sc. (London), M.D.C.M., Ph.D.(McGill)/Part-time
Stacey Marjerrison, BSc, M.D. (McMaster), MSc (Toronto)
Mark Oremus, B.A. (McGill), M.A. (Concordia), M.Sc., Ph.D. (McGill)/Part-time
Daria O’Reilly, B.Sc. (Dalhousie), M.Sc., Ph.D. (Memorial)/Part-time
Jeffrey Pernica, MSc (McGill), MSc (McMaster), MD (Dalhousie), FRCPC DTMH
Pablo Serrano, M.Sc., MPH (University of Toledo), Ph.D (McMaster), MD
Harsha Shanthanna, , MD (Shivaji University), MSc, Ph.D. (McMaster)
Gita Wahi, M.Sc, Ph.D (McMaster), M.D. (Western)
John You, B.Sc. (McMaster), M.Sc., M.D. (Toronto), FRCPC

Assistant Professors

Anita Acai, BSc (Guelph), MSc, Ph.D (McMaster)
Thomas Agoritsas, M.D., Ph.D. (McMaster)/ Part-time
Elie Akl, Ph.D., M.P.H. (New York), M.D. (Saint Joseph)/Part-time
Elizabeth Alvarez, B.Sc., M.D., M.P.H(Toledo), Ph.D (McMaster)
Laura Anderson, Ph.D. 
Gord Blackhouse, B. Comm., M.B.A., M.Sc. (McMaster)/Part-time
Flavia Kessler Borges, M.D
James Bowen, B.Sc.Ph.m., M.Sc. (Toronto)/Part-time
Matthias Briel, M.D. (Albert-Ludwigs), M.Sc. (McMaster)/Part-time
Dianne Bryant, B.Sc. (McMaster), B.A. (Waterloo), M.Sc. (Western),Ph.D. (McMaster)/Part-time
Romina Brignardello-Peterson, DDS, Ph.D. (Toronto)
Jason Busse, BSc (University of Toronto), MSc (University of Toronto), DC (CMCC), PhD (McMaster)
Wenonah Campbell, M.Sc. (Dalhousie), Ph.D. (Western)/ Assistant Clinical Professor
Soo Chan Carusone, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Toronto), Ph.D. (McMaster)/Part time
Derek Chu, MD, Ph.D, FRCPC (McMaster)
Andrew Costa, B.Sc., Ph.D. (Waterloo)
Russell de Souza, B.A. (Queens), B.A.Sc. (Ryerson), M.Sc. (Toronto), Sc.D (Harvard School of Public Health)
Aristithes Doumouras, MD (Queen’s), MPH (Harvard)
Julie Emili, M.D., C.C.F.P., F.R.C.P. (McMaster)/Part-time
Gary Foster, B.A., Ph.D. (McMaster)/Part -time
Lauren Griffith, B.S., M.S. (Michigan), Ph.D. (Toronto)
Godefroy Emmanuel Guindon, B.A. (McGill), M.A. (Victoria), Ph.D. (McMaster)
Jemila Hamid, M.Sc. (Uppsala), Ph.D. (Swedish)/Part-time
Diane Heels-Ansdell, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Guelph)/Part-time
Robert Hopkins, Ph.D., MBA, M.A. (McMaster), B.Sc. (Calgary & McMaster), B.A. (Waterloo)/Part-time
George Ioannidis, BA, MSc, Ph.D (McMaster)/Part-time
Shofiqul Islam, Ph.D. (McMaster)
Brad Johnston, P.D. (McMaster), Ph.D. (Alberta), ND (Canadian College of Naturopathic Medicine), B.Sc (New Brunswick)/Part-time
Aaron Jones, BSc (Clemson U), MSc (UNCCH), Ph.D. (McMaster)
Moin Khan, MSc, MD. (McMaster), FRCSC
Sarah Khan, BSc, MSc (McMaster), MD (Ottawa)
Fiona Kouyoumdjian, Ph.D. (Toronto), MD (Dalhousie)
Michael Livingstone, B.A.Sc. (McMaster), M.D. (Western), M.Sc (McMaster)
Jinhui Ma, M.Sc., Ph.D. (McMaster)
Maura Marcucci, M.D. (Italy), M.Sc. (McMaster)
John Marshall, M.D., M.Sc. (McMaster), F.R.C.P.C. (Medicine)
Lawrence Mbuagbaw, M.D. (University of Yaoundé), M.PH. (University-Hadassah), Ph.D. (McMaster)
Cristina Mattison, Ph.D. /Part-time
Meghan McConnell, B.Sc. (Hons)(Acadia), Ph.D (McMaster)
Andrew Mente, B.A., M.A. (York), Ph.D. (Toronto)
Sandra Monteiro, Ph.D., M.Sc. (McMaster), B.Sc. (Toronto)
Sohail Mulla, Ph.D., M.Sc., B.H.Sc. (McMaster)/Part-time
Giulia Muraca, BSc (UofT), MPH, Ph.D. (UBC)
Robby Nieuwlaat, B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Maastricht, Netherlands)
John Oudyk, B.A.Sc. (Waterloo), R.O.H., M.Sc., (McMaster)/Part-time
Sameer Parpia, Ph.D., M.Sc., B.H.Sc. (McMaster)
Michael Pysklywec, B.A.Sc., M.D. (Queen’s), D.O.H.S., M.Sc.(McMaster), C.C.F.P., C.C.F.P. (EM)/Part-time
Behnam Sadeghirad,  MPH, PhD (McMaster), Pharm D (Kerman University)
Jennifer Salerno, B.Sc (McMaster), MSc (Queen’s), Ph.D (Toronto)
Pasqualina Santaguida, B.Sc. (Toronto), M.Sc. (Waterloo),Ph.D. (Toronto)/Part-time
Imran Satia, B.A, MB Bchir, MA (Cambridge), Ph.D (Manchester)
Nancy Santesso, PhD (McMaster), MLIS (Western), BASc (Guelph), RD
Sunjay Sharma, MD (Western), MSc , FRCSC (Toronto), FRCSC (McMaster) FACS
Reed Siemieniuk, BSc (Waterloo), Ph.D, MD (McMaster)
Jessica Spence, MD (University of Manitoba), Ph.D. (McMaster), FRCPC
Jennifer Tsang, M.D., Ph.D., F.R.C.P.(C)
Philippe Violette, M.D., M.Sc. (McMaster)/Part-time
Mike Walsh, B.Sc. (Simon Fraser), M.D., M.Sc. (Calgary), Ph.D (McMaster)
Michael Wilson, BH.Sc. (McMaster), Ph.D. (McMaster)
Xiaomei Yao, M.D., M.sc
Yuan Zhang, B.Sc, M.Sc (Peking University), Ph.D (McMaster)

Associate Members

Ellen Amster (Family Medicine; Religious Studies)
Gina Agarwal (Family Medicine)
Noori Akhtar-Danesh (Nursing)
Uma Athale (Pediatrics)
Donald Arnold (Medicine)
Cynthia Ballion (Pathology)
Elif Belgic, Pediatrics
Mohit Bhandari (Surgery)
Louise Bordeleau (Oncology)
Asm Borhan
Khrista Boylan (Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences)
Luis Braga (Surgery)
Scott Brimble (Medicine)
Melissa Brouwers (Oncology)/Part-time
Regina Browne (Nursing)
John Cairney (Family Medicine)
Angelo Canty (Mathematics & Statistics)
Rahul Chanchlani (Pediatrics)
Karen Choong (Pediatrics)
Catherine Clase (Medicine)
David Conen (Medicine)
Jennifer Couturier (Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences)
Mark Crowther (Medicine)
Elizabeth Darling (Obstetrics & Gynecology)
Maureen Dobbins (Nursing)
Lisa Dolovich (Family Medicine)
Kelly Dore (Obstetrics & Gynecology)
James Douketis (Medicine)
Rohan D’Souza, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Eric Duku (Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences)
Jonathan Dushoff (Biology)
Peter Ellis (Medicine)
Laurie Elit (Obstetrics & Gynecology)
Forough Farrokhyar (Surgery)
Mark Ferro (Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences)
Kathy Georgiades (Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences)
Hertzel Gerstein (Medicine)
Andrea Gonzales (Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences)
Lawrence Grierson (Family Medicine)
Michel Grignon (Economics)
Wael Hanna (Medicine)
Jeff Healey (Medicine)
Nancy Heddle (Medicine)
Chrisopher Hillis, Oncology
Anne Holbrook (Medicine)
Michelle Howard (Family Medicine)
Jeremiah Hurley (Economics)
Eileen Hutton (Obstetrics & Gynecology)
Susan Jack (Nursing)
Magdalena Janus (Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences)
Sanjit Jolly (Medicine)
Lydia Kapiriri (Health, Aging & Society)
Anne Klassen (Pediatrics)
Andre Lamy (Surgery)
Darryl Leong (Medicine)
Mark N. Levine (Oncology)
Ellen Lipman (Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences)
Alice Lytwyn (Pathology & Molecular Medicine)
Joy MacDermid (Rehabilitation Science)
Harriet MacMillan (Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences and Pediatrics)
Maureen Markle-Reid (Nursing)
Davide Matino, Medicine
Sarah McDonald (Obstetrics & Gynecology)
Natalia McInnes (Medicine)
Shamir Mehta (Medicine)
Dominik Mertz (Medicine)
Paul Moayyedi (Medicine)
Amber Molnar (Medicine)
Amit Mukerji, Pediatrics
Paola Muti (Oncology)
Alexandra Papaioannou (Medicine)
Melissa Parker (Pediatrics)
Gregory Pond (Oncology)
Bram Rochwerg (Medicine)
Peter L. Rosenbaum (Pediatrics)
Koroush Sabri (Surgery)
Constantine Samaan (Pediatrics)
Zena Samaan (Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences)
J-D Schwalm (Medicine)
Hsien-Yeang Seow (Oncology)
Deborah Siegal, Medicine
Sam Shulman (Medicine)
Marko Simunovic (Surgery)
Marek Smieja (Pathology and Molecular Medicine)
Ranil Sonnadara (Surgery)
Wendy Sword (Nursing)
Koon Teo (Medicine)
Achilleas Thoma (Surgery)
Ryan Van Lieshout (Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences)
Harriet Van Spall (Medicine)
Meredith Vanstone (Medicine)
Scott Water (Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences)
Timothy Whelan (Medicine)
Richard Whitlock (Surgery)
Andrew Worster (Medicine)

Professors Emeriti

Kathryn J. Bennett, B.A., M.Sc. (McMaster), Ph.D. (Waterloo)
Stephen Birch, B.A. (Sheffield), M.Sc. (Bath), D.Phil. (York)
Mita Giacomini, B.S., M.P.H., M.A., Ph.D. (California)
Charles H. Goldsmith, B.Sc., M.Sc. (Manitoba), Ph.D. (N. Carolina State)
R. Brian Haynes, B.Sc., M.D. (Alberta), M.Sc., Ph.D. (McMaster),F.R.C.P.(C)
Brian Hutchison, M.D. (Western), M.Sc. (McMaster)
Ann McKibbon, B.Sc. (Guelph), M.L.S. (Western), Ph.D. (Pittsburg)
Geoffrey Norman, B.Sc. (Manitoba), M.A. (Michigan), Ph.D.(McMaster)
Harry S. Shannon, B.A. (Oxford), M.Sc. (Birmingham), Ph.D. (London)
Gregory L. Stoddart, B.A. (Western), Ph.D. (British Columbia)
David L. Streiner, B.A. (City College of New York), M.S., Ph.D.(Syracuse)
Stephen D. Walter, B.Sc. (London), Ph.D. (Edinburgh)

Fields of Specialization

The HRM program can provide students the opportunity to specialize in one of three ‘fields of specialization’. The three fields are: clinical epidemiology, biostatistics, and health technology assessment. Please note that Biostatistics is only offered at the PhD level. The original HRM program, wherein students opt not to declare a field of specialization will continue to be available as “HRM Classic”.

Students in HRM classic pursue a general methods degree, or explore other areas such as medical education research, health informatics or health ethics, to name but a few.

Clinical Epidemiology

Clinical epidemiology employs sound research principles, tempered with practicality, to find the best answers to “real world” questions about clinical practice and health care. Individuals training in this field (who usually have a clinical background) acquire the skills required to undertake research that addresses fundamental questions about the effectiveness of clinical therapies, usefulness of screening and diagnostic tools, prognosis and disease causation. Issues related to research synthesis and knowledge translation may also be a focus. Individuals training in clinical epidemiology work alongside world leading clinical epidemiologists who are conducting their research in multiple sites around the world and changing the way medicine is practiced globally. The field of clinical epidemiology in the Health Research Methodology Program offers a unique opportunity to learn and work with the best clinical epidemiologists in the world, thus enabling graduates to make profound contributions to the practice of clinical medicine through research.

Students can enter the clinical epidemiology stream if they fulfill the following criteria:
1. They have a designation of a health care provider based upon a degree or diploma (e.g., doctors, physiotherapists, nutritionists).
2. Their HRM degree research primarily focuses on studies directly relevant to patients (e.g., randomized controlled trials, observational studies, or systematic reviews of health related questions).

If a student is not a designated health care provider and wants to appeal these criteria then towards the end of their HRM training they can submit a summary of the research (eg., course papers, studies and research) they have undertaken to the Clinical Epidemiology Stream Committee. The committee will review the student’s request to determine if it merits the designation of the clinical epidemiology stream.

Biostatistics (Ph.D. level)

The HRM Biostatistics PhD field is specially designed for applicants with an MSc in Mathematics and/or Statistics who wish to pursue doctoral work in Biostatistics. The program aims to provide trainees with the skills they need to conduct independent research into biostatistical topics, provide leadership as biostatistical collaborators in clinical, health systems and population health investigations and effectively teach biostatistics from introductory through to advanced levels. Graduates will possess the following skills: ability to apply biostatistical concepts, techniques and data-analytic strategies across the full spectrum of research questions and study designs; ability to contribute to grant proposals in the areas of research design, data analysis and interpretation; ability to teach biostatistical concepts to research colleagues who are not biostatisticians; and ability to adapt existing statistical techniques or to develop new techniques to solve research design and analytical programs. Graduates may pursue career opportunities in academia, government or private industry.

In addition to coursework related to research design, all students participate in a course on Biostatistical Collaboration. The aim is to develop the skills needed for successful collaborative research in the role of biostatistical consultant. These include communication of biostatistical concepts and the provision of leadership with respect to research design, analysis and reporting.

Health Technology Assessment

Health Technology Assessment (HTA) is defined as the evaluation of the clinical effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, and broader impact of drugs, medical technologies, and health systems, both on patient health and the health care system. HTA has gained increasing importance in health care decision making locally and around the world and over the last decade there have been numerous important methodological advances in the techniques of HTA. As a result there is a growing gap between the need for HTA and the availability of skilled researchers to conduct HTAs. The goal of the HTA field specialization is to train individuals who, upon graduation, will have the necessary skills to be actively involved in independent and collaborative research in the field of HTA. Graduates will possess the following skills: a strong foundation in the basic principles of HTA; advanced decision analysis; ability to apply research methods derived from health economics; understand and use basic and advanced biostatistics; and utilize health services research and health policy analysis concepts and methods.

Students will be expected to collaborate with one of the many research groups conducting HTA at McMaster University. 

Programs

• Health Research Methodology, M.Sc.

• Health Research Methodology, Ph.D

• Graduate Diploma in Clinical Epidemiology

• Health Research Methodology Courses

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