HCP Today

The department of health care policy’s mission is to improve the health of the public through comprehensive health policy research. One of ten core basic and social science departments at Harvard Medical School, it has the largest research portfolio and full time faculty in health policy at Harvard University.

• The department has approximately 22 full-time core faculty members with a primary research appointment here and often secondary appointments in affiliated teaching hospitals or other Harvard schools. Another 15 affiliated faculty have secondary or part-time appointments in the department.
• HCP faculty members have served on MedCAC, MedPAC, The CBO Panel of Health Advisers, PCORI, and many other national and federal advisory groups. 70% of HCP core faculty members have been elected to the Institute of Medicine, and one to the National Academy of Sciences. They also serve on several private and public boards.
• The department’s research covers multiple areas related to quality, costs, and access, much of which is related to new or proposed health care efforts both locally and nationally. It succeeds because of close relationships with policy makers and many collaborators throughout the country.
• HCP has a rich educational program and runs one of the highest ranking courses at HMS, a required course in health policy for first and third-year medical students. Over 100 doctoral students have been educated in health policy. HCP is a co-sponsor of the Harvard Medical School/Harvard Business School MD/MBA program. The MD/MBA program has had over 44 enrollees with approximately 10-12 students accepted each year. 

The department of health care policy continues to find new, innovative ways to impact the field of health policy by collaborating with specialists in and out of the department. As the landscape changes, the department will continue working to make an impact to improve quality of care for those who need it.