DBMI Launches New Educational Programs

Admissions for the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine PhD track and a two-year thesis master's program will open Fall 2023.

classroom of students with AI concept imagery overlaid

This fall, the HMS Department of Biomedical Informatics (DBMI) will open admissions for two new educational programs—the Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) PhD track and the Master of Medical Sciences (MMSc) in Biomedical Informatics (replacing the Master of Biomedical Informatics (MBI)). Leveraging world-class resources, interdisciplinary faculty, and collaborations with renowned hospital systems, DBMI is uniquely positioned to provide its trainees with best-in-class training and cutting-edge research opportunities.

Artificial Intelligence in Medicine PhD track

The Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) PhD track, led by co-Directors DBMI Chair Isaac “Zak” Kohane and HMS Professor of Medicine and Epidemiology Sebastian Schneeweiss, is an interdisciplinary program designed to train the next generation of academic and industry leaders in harnessing real-world health data and AI methods to transform healthcare. The curriculum emphasizes multidisciplinary collaboration, clinical immersion, and methodological expertise. Program trainees will have access to exclusively curated real-world health datasets that ensure a deep understanding of how to build tools for the clinical ecosystem that meet real-world needs.

Unique to the AIM PhD track is the partnership with renowned Boston area hospitals and the Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology (HST) program, which allows AIM trainees to enrich their understanding of AI challenges and opportunities in healthcare through clinical coursework at HMS and hospital rotations. 

Applications for the inaugural AIM cohort will open in September of 2023. Those with computational and/or quantitative training and impactful AI/ML research experience are encouraged to apply. Visit the AIM PhD track page to learn more.

Master of Medical Sciences (MMSc) in Biomedical Informatics

Launching in the fall of 2024, the Master of Medical Sciences in Biomedical Informatics (MMSc-BMI), led by DBMI Associate Professor Nils Gehlenborg, is a two-year thesis master's program for candidates with a baccalaureate or postgraduate degree interested in rigorous didactic and mentored research training in biomedical informatics. MMSc trainees will complete coursework during the first year and engage in a thesis research project under the mentorship of an HMS faculty member during their second year. At the end of the program, graduates will be well prepared to enter the workforce or continue their academic training. 

The MMSc-BMI program will be an enhanced version of its highly successful predecessor, the Master of Biomedical Informatics (MBI) program, by offering a more rigorous research experience that includes two semesters dedicated to research work and a longer tenure in the Harvard ecosystem.

Applications for fall 2024 admission will open in October of 2023. To learn more about the Master of Medical Sciences in Biomedical Informatics program, please visit our Master's Program page.