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Health Systems Program

Implementation Science and Health Systems Research

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Implementation Science and Health Systems Research in the Health Systems Program

Our work on health systems research and implementation science supports the design and evaluation of health systems strengthening strategies, as well as implementation processes. Faculty across the program apply different disciplinary lenses to health systems research—from economics to biostatistics and management theory—and our implementation research typically works closely with implementers to understand how interventions can best be adapted to their particular context. We apply science to ensure strong health systems that can rapidly scale up effective interventions, particularly for low-income communities worldwide.

Our faculty work to improve the performance of health systems in low- and middle-income countries and the quality of health care services. Our faculty work in areas such as human resources for health, health program monitoring and evaluation, health systems strengthening, and noncommunicable disease prevention.

Meet some of our implementation science and health systems research faculty

Sara Bennett
Professor
International Health

Sara Bennett, PhD, MPhil, examines health policy and systems in low- and middle-income countries with a focus on institutional capacity, sustainability, and systems governance.

Ligia Paina
Assistant Professor

Ligia Paina, PhD ’14, MHS ’08, studies how to improve health systems policies and programs so they provide equitable, quality care and are responsive to poor and marginalized communities.

Md Zabir Hasan
Assistant Scientist
International Health

Md Zabir Hasan, PhD ’19, MPH, MBBS, studies health policy and systems to strengthen health equity, global health, and health systems in low- and middle-income countries.

Shivam Gupta
Associate Scientist
International Health

Shivam Gupta, PhD ’09, MPH ’04, MBBS, studies primary health care, health systems strengthening, and road safety in low- and middle-income countries.

Examples of Latest Projects

Uttar Pradesh Health Systems Support Project: The UPHSS team at BSPH provides technical and advisory support in collaboration with its partners in various areas of health systems strengthening, analytics, and capacity building. This project, overseen by a consortium of partners and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, works at the intersection of health systems processes, institutions, regulations, and governance in Uttar Pradesh, India.

CDC National Public Health Institute Support: Faculty are supporting the Georgian National Center for Disease Control to strengthen the Georgian public health workforce. The work is focused on developing public health competencies, conducting competency assessment, development of public health workforce strategy, analysis of human resources for health data to support development of the public health workforce, and support in the design and development of a human resource information system.