The Doctor of Philosophy in Rehabilitation Sciences (PhD-RS) program at the Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions trains scientists to conduct research in health and rehabilitation-related fields. Students may be clinicians in a health or rehabilitation field (e.g., physical or occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, nursing, medicine) or scientists, engineers, or other professionals seeking advanced graduate study and interprofessional research training. Graduates from the program are well prepared to pursue a research-oriented career in academic, research, and/or health care settings. The program provides students the opportunity to work with internationally renowned experts in the heart of the Boston-based, U.S. medical community.
A hallmark of the program is the interdisciplinary composition of its faculty, curriculum, and student body. Students typically come from a mix of rehabilitation-related disciplines, including but not limited to physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, nursing, engineering, health analytics, and/or physiatry/rehabilitation medicine. The focus on clinical research and the interdisciplinary structure of the program are well-aligned with national priorities in health care and rehabilitation (e.g., NIH Roadmap), which increasingly emphasize evidence-based practice and interdisciplinary approaches to patient management and research. We are dedicated to advancing clinical outcomes and enhancing the quality of life for those we serve. We empower future health professions leaders to impact health and well-being while upholding the highest standards of integrity, inclusion, and professional excellence.
The PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences Program is led by the Program Director, who is responsible for the overall vision, leadership, and administration of the program. The Associate Director supports the Director in these responsibilities and helps oversee day-to-day program operations.
The Program Executive Committee (EC), chaired by the Program Director, supports program governance and decision-making. The EC includes the Associate Director and selected doctoral-level Program Faculty with experience in PhD training, research mentorship, and scholarly activity. Working in collaboration with the Director, the EC contributes to key aspects of the program, including: (1) developing and reviewing program policies and procedures; (2) reviewing and approving faculty participation in the program; (3) reviewing and approving Research Mentors; (4) participating in the admissions review process; (5) approving the structure and membership of qualifying examination and dissertation committees; and (6) monitoring student progress across the program.
Members of the EC serve on qualifying examination committees, Academic committees, and Admissions committees. They may serve on dissertation committees, consistent with their areas of expertise.
The academic policies of the Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions are published in the Catalog which is available online at the University’s website (www.mghihp.edu). Academic policies of the PhD in Rehabilitation Sciences Program are presented in this Policies and Procedures Manual (P&P Manual). Students are required to familiarize themselves with and adhere to the policies and procedures contained in both the Catalog and this Manual.
The Mass General Brigham University of Health Professions is an affirmative action/equal opportunity institution and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, creed, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, status as a parent, or national origin. The University respects, values all people, and welcomes all students to participate fully in all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to the University community.