I really appreciate how both instructors took the time to incorporate questions and comments from workshop day 1 into their workshop day 2 presentation. They both created such a welcoming atmosphere, while dealing with a highly sensitive subject.
—2025 Summer Institute Attendee
Key Dates
- Registration Closes: May 18, 2026
- Institute Begins: June 8, 2026
- Institute Ends: June 26, 2026
Explore new topics in population health sciences, patient-reported outcomes, and a variety of research methods that will provide new frameworks you can apply on the job. Our workshops employ live discussions, case studies, hands-on learning, or lectures. All sessions draw on the expertise of Duke University faculty and will give you new tools that will strengthen your knowledge base and research.
This is a single workshop delivered over two days.
Instructor
Heather King, PhD, Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences
Sahar Shibeika PhD student in Population Health Sciences
In this workshop, attendees will be introduced to the ever-evolving field of Population Health Sciences, which draws on multidisciplinary perspectives to understand the determinants of health across populations and designs evidence-informed approaches to improve the health of those populations.
Attendees will see examples of population health research projects and become familiar with key domains of population health research such as:
- Research question formulation
- Strengths and limitations of commonly-used population-based data sources
- Stakeholder engagement throughout the research process
Workshop Outcomes:
By the end of this workshop participants will have acquired a big-picture understanding of the field of population health sciences, and will be well-prepared for more in-depth workshops offered by the PHS virtual Summer Institute.
Recommended Audience: Undergraduate and graduate students, fellows, residents, trainees, program or research staff, and scientists interested in learning more about population health sciences
Date: Monday, June 8, 2:00 pm - 4:45 pm ET & Tuesday, June 9, 10:00 am - 12:45 pm ET
Modality: Virtual
Class Size: No Limit
This is a single workshop delivered over two days.
Instructor
Michael Fern, PhD, Chief Administrative Officer
This workshop will equip learners with practical frameworks to develop successful nonprofit or for-profit ventures that address pressing public health challenges. Through case studies and hands-on application, participants will learn how to identify opportunities and unmet needs, design solutions, and generate early financial support through donations or service revenue.
Date: Tuesday, June 9, 2:00 pm - 4:45 pm ET & Wednesday, June 10, 10:00 am - 12:45 pm ET
Modality: Virtual
Class Size: No Limit
Instructor
Brad Hammill, DrPH, Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences
This workshop will explore the use of geospatial data in studies examining health outcomes. Participants will learn concepts in geospatial data science, including data wrangling and data analysis. Real-world examples will illustrate issues and methods.
Recommended Audience: This session is developed for public health professionals, students, researchers, and faculty members with an interest in using geospatial data in health outcomes research and who are seeking practical skills in mapping and analyzing spatial data.
Date: Thursday, June 11, 10:00 am - 12:45 pm ET
Modality: Virtual
Class Size: No Limit
This workshop is offered in a hybrid format, either in-person or via Zoom.
Instructor
Amy Corneli, PhD, Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences
This workshop will highlight the fundamental principles and common pitfalls in the design, implementation, and dissemination of qualitative descriptive research, focusing on the areas of medicine and population health sciences.
Workshop Outcomes:
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Explain the various approaches to qualitative inquiry
- Describe how to select the best design and method to answer qualitative research questions
- Apply key principles of questionnaire design and interviewing for gathering rich qualitative data
- Describe essential information to include in participant summaries and peer-reviewed manuscripts that report qualitative research findings
- Avoid common pitfalls in qualitative research
Recommended Audience: For those interested in designing, conducting, and writing up qualitative research at the investigator level, either for studies using only qualitative research or studies using qualitative research as one component/study aim of a larger study.
Date: Friday, June 12, 10:00 am - 4:45 pm ET
Modality: Hybrid
Class Size: 35 in person, online participants are unlimited
This workshop is offered in a hybrid format, either in-person or via Zoom.
Instructor
Hayden Bosworth, PhD, Vice-Chair and Professor of Population Health Sciences
During this half-day workshop, attendees will discuss methods for undertaking research and program evaluation within health services organizations and systems. Using case studies, we will explore the ‘state of the art’ in research methods.
Workshop Outcomes:
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Critique published health services research and health program evaluations
- Design and implement more effective interventions that translate evidence into practice, policy and public health by identifying community, patient, clinician and organizational factors that serve as barriers and facilitators
- Design more comprehensive evaluations of interventions that translate evidence into practice by applying the basics of process and outcome evaluation, and by identifying the appropriate qualitative and quantitative effect measures
- Identify different types of study design including observational, pre-experimental, and experimental and their inherent threats to internal and external validity
- Develop, evaluate, and implement healthcare delivery interventions
Recommended Audience: Individuals carrying out policy research, social science research, or program impact evaluation within health delivery systems as well as those developing and implementing programs to improve healthcare outcomes.
Date: Monday, June 15, 10:00 am - 12:45 pm ET
Modality: Hybrid
Class Size: 35 in person, online participants are unlimited
This workshop is offered in a hybrid format, either in-person or via Zoom.
This is a single workshop delivered over two days.
Instructors
Semra Ozdemir, PhD, Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences
Juan Marcos Gonzalez, PhD, Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Identify appropriate uses of different preference-elicitation formats
- Understand relevant applications of patient-preference information in population health sciences and health policy
- Critically evaluate specific decisions associated with the development of a patient-preference instrument
- Conceptualize how to create a survey
Date: Monday, June 15, 2:00 pm - 4:45 pm ET & Tuesday, June 16, 10:00 am - 12:45 pm ET
Modality: Hybrid
Class Size: 35 in person, online participants are unlimited
This workshop is offered in a hybrid format, either in-person or via Zoom.
Instructors
Hayden Bosworth, PhD, Vice-Chair and Professor in Population Health Sciences
Lesley Curtis, PhD, Chair and Professor in Population Health Sciences
During this half-day seminar, attendees will learn ways to integrate digital health into research and program evaluations within health services organizations and systems. Using case studies, we will explore the ‘state of the art’ in digital health and how it can be harnessed for interventions, data collection, and evaluations. We will also explore the intersection of digital health and health equity, identifying approaches to minimize unintended consequences of digital health interventions.
Workshop Outcomes:
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Operationalize and define what is meant by digital health
- Critique published health services research and health program evaluations
- Design and implement interventions that incorporate digital health
- Design more comprehensive evaluations of interventions that incorporate digital health by applying the basics of process and outcome evaluation, and by identifying the appropriate qualitative and quantitative measures of effect
- Identify potential barriers and facilitators to the use of digital health
- Identify approaches to minimize the inequitable impacts of digital health
Recommended Audience: Those carrying out policy research, social science research, or program impact evaluation within health delivery systems as well as developing and implementing programs to improve healthcare outcomes.
Date: Tuesday, June 16, 2:00 pm - 4:45 pm ET
Modality: Hybrid
Class Size: 35 in person, online participants are unlimited
This workshop is offered in a hybrid format, either in-person or via Zoom.
Instructors
Abigail Rader, PhD Student in Population Health Sciences
Maryam Aziz, PhD Student in Population Health Sciences
During this workshop, attendees will explore how machine learning and large language models can be used in population health research. Through interactive case studies, participants will delve into innovative applications of these tools and how they can advance health outcomes and research methodologies.
Workshop Outcomes:
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Understand the role of machine learning and large language models in population health research
- Explore real-world case studies to illustrate applications of AI in population health.
- Learn to interpret and communicate findings in AI-based studies.
Recommended Audience: Researchers and professionals interested in leveraging AI methodologies to advance population health research.
Date: Wednesday, June 17, 10:00 am - 12:45 pm ET
Modality: Hybrid
Class Size: 35 in person, online participants are unlimited
This workshop is offered in a hybrid format, either in-person or via Zoom.
Instructors
Hayden Bosworth, PhD, Vice-Chair and Professor of Population Health Sciences
Elizabeth Rojo, MA, PhD Student in Population Health Sciences
During this workshop, we will explore the intersection of climate change, population health, and social equity, examining how environmental changes impact health outcomes across diverse communities. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the social determinants of health, focusing on how climate change exacerbates health disparities and discussing the role of researchers in policy and advocacy.
Workshop Outcomes:
By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:
- Analyze the intersection between climate change and social determinants of health, identifying how environmental changes disproportionately impact vulnerable populations.
- Examine evidence-based strategies for mitigating health inequities through policy, community engagement, and public health initiatives.
- Explore key policy frameworks and advocacy strategies aimed at mitigating the health effects of climate change, emphasizing the role of public health professionals in shaping effective climate action.
- Through case studies and interactive discussions, students will learn how to advocate for policies that promote health equity, resilience, and sustainable practices at local, national, and global levels.
Recommended Audience: Researchers and professionals committed to addressing the health challenges posed by climate change.
Date: Thursday, June 18, 10:00 am - 12:45 pm ET
Modality: Hybrid
Class Size: 35 in person, online participants are unlimited
This workshop is offered in an in-person format only.
Instructors
Courtney Van Houtven, PhD, Professor in Population Health Sciences
Brystana Kaufman, PhD, Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences
Non-randomized study designs and advanced regression models are useful tools for answering critical questions about population health and health policy. In this workshop we will learn how to use econometric tools to support causal inference, apply these tools to real world data, and draw causal conclusions based on those data. At the end of this workshop, students will be able to evaluate the strengths and limitations of evidence from non-randomized study designs and use these tools to answer questions in population health and health policy.
Workshop Outcomes: This workshop aims to equip you with skills to support causal inference. To reach this goal, you will learn how to:
- Understand the basic assumptions underlying advanced regression techniques and interpret results from these models.
- Recognize what conclusions can and cannot be drawn given specified combinations of assumptions and data.
Recommended Audience: Research staff, scientists, faculty members, and professionals who have a solid background in statistics and application of regression models.
Date: Thursday, June 18, 2:00 pm - 4:45 pm ET
Modality: In-person
Class Size: 35 max limit
This is a single workshop delivered over two days.
Instructors
Jennifer Gierisch, PhD, Associate Professor in Population Health Sciences
Andrea Thoumi, PhD Student
Research study findings are used to form the foundation of clinical practice, patient decision-making, community action, and policy. Yet, funders, policymakers and the research community state that research can be ineffectual and irrelevant without key input and collaboration from “end-user” communities, namely those that are impacted by the findings (eg., patients, clinicians, and caregivers.)
To bridge this gap, population health researchers and clinical scientists should know:
- How to engage diverse groups outside academia
- How to be responsive to their needs, preferences, and values
These approaches will generate more applicable evidence for clinical and health policy decision-making and increase the dissemination and sustainability of research findings in the real world.
This workshop will introduce various approaches and principles on how to include patients and other key groups as collaborators in the research process and will build skills that optimize authentic engagement. Learn how to apply community-engaged research approaches as an evidence-based method to improve study feasibility, acceptability, relevance, and rigor.
Workshop Outcomes: By the end of the workshop, participants will get a practical foundation in strategies and approaches that support meaningful engagement with diverse groups in the research process. Participants will also understand the principles and practices that foster authentic partnered and engaged research and become familiar with its key components such as:
- Determining the role of engaged approaches in population health science
- Identifying patient, clinician, and community collaborators and informants
- Fostering methods for intentional engagement (e.g., how to support and train community collaborators and build engagement into your research proposals)
Recommended Audience: Researchers, research staff, and students who are new to engaged research approaches and are interested in learning how to start incorporating such methods into their studies.
Date: Monday, June 22, 2:00 pm - 4:45 pm ET & Tuesday, June 23, 2:00 pm - 4:45 pm ET
Modality: Virtual
Class Size: No Limit
This is a single workshop delivered over two days.
Instructors
Heather King, PhD, Assistant Professor in Population Health Sciences
Leah Zullig, PhD, Professor in Population Health Sciences
This workshop focuses on dissemination, implementation, and improvement science and its format is a hybrid of didactic teaching and discussion. Those new to the field will receive an introduction to dissemination, implementation, and improvement science and an overview of the field, including different perspectives toward organizational improvement, and their importance in the context of the evolving US healthcare system and in the context of population health sciences. We will discuss relevant theories, models, and frameworks; commonly applied research designs; measures and measurement considerations; and implementation strategies. We will also address the balance between ensuring fidelity and maximizing fit for context.
Workshop Outcomes:
By the end of the workshop participants will be able to:
- Recognize dissemination, implementation, and improvement science in a local context as well as within the larger US healthcare system
- Interpret scholarly literature, including different perspectives towards organizational improvement
- Compare and contrast theories, models, and/or frameworks
- Critically evaluate commonly applied research study designs as well as measures
- Identify and describe implementation strategies
- Understand key concepts for adapting evidence-based programs to different populations within varied geographic or clinical settings
Recommended Audience: Clinicians, practitioners, researchers, students, trainees, and staff interested in an introduction to dissemination, implementation, and improvement science
Date: Wednesday, June 24, 1:00 pm - 3:45 pm ET & Thursday, June 25, 10:00 am - 12:45 pm ET
Modality: Virtual
Class Size: No Limit
Instructor
Brian Perry, MPH, Research Practice Manager
In this introductory workshop, attendees will explore the core principles and practices of qualitative thematic analysis, a widely used approach for making sense of text-based data. Designed for participants with little to no prior experience, the session will demystify the analytic process and highlight how thematic analysis supports rigorous, meaningful interpretation of interviews, focus groups, and other qualitative materials.
Participants will become familiar with foundational components of qualitative analysis, including:
- Understanding the purpose and value of thematic analysis
- Distinguishing deductive and inductive approaches
- Developing and organizing initial codebooks
- Applying codes to text and beginning to identify patterns
Workshop Outcomes: By the end of this workshop, participants will have a clear understanding of common methods used in qualitative analyses – particularly thematic analysis – and will be prepared to engage in more advanced discussions of rigor, interpretation, and analytic decision‑making in the qualitative research studies.
Recommended Audience: Students, trainees, program or research staff, and anyone new to qualitative research or seeking a structured introduction to thematic analysis.
Date: Thursday, June 25, 2:00 pm - 4:45 pm ET
Modality: Virtual
Class Size: No Limit
Instructor
Brian Perry, MPH, Research Practice Manager
This advanced workshop builds on foundational knowledge of qualitative analysis and focuses on the interpretive depth and methodological rigor needed to produce trustworthy findings. Attendees will examine strategies for refining codes, developing themes, and making analytic decisions that align with study goals and data characteristics. The session will also address approaches for documenting analytic choices, enhancing credibility, and navigating common challenges in qualitative interpretation.
Participants will engage with key domains of rigorous qualitative analysis, such as:
- Strengthening coding consistency and analytic transparency
- Moving from coded segments to coherent, well‑supported themes
- Assessing fit‑for‑purpose analytic approaches
- Applying strategies to enhance rigor, including reflexivity and audit trails
- Understanding the role and limitations of qualitative analysis software
Workshop Outcomes: By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to articulate and apply strategies for producing rigorous, insightful thematic findings and will be equipped to carry out more advanced qualitative analysis in their own projects.
Recommended Audience: Participants with a basic understanding of qualitative terminology and coding procedures, including students, fellows, research staff, and investigators seeking to deepen their analytic skills.
Date: Friday, June 26, 10:00 am - 12:45 pm ET
Modality: Virtual
Class Size: No Limit
Have questions about the Summer Institute? Contact us.