"There is a great need at this time for clinical professionals to develop expertise and leadership in the fields of healthcare quality and patient safety."
- Kevin Weiss, Co-Director
	"Quality Improvement by Changing Systems &  Using Teams" lecture John X. Thomas, Jr., PhD Senior Associate Dean for Educational Programs Feinberg School of Medicine Northwestern Universty

The 1999 Institute of Medicine report “To Err is Human: Building a Safer Health System” revealed that between 44,000 and 98,000 people die each year in the United States due to preventable medical errors. Medical errors are the 5th to 8th leading cause of death in the United States, above motor vehicle accidents, breast cancer, and AIDS. Improving patient safety and providing quality healthcare is one of the most urgent issues facing the healthcare system today. This program will prepare medical students to be the next generation of healthcare quality and patient safety leaders and experts.

Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine is a leader is healthcare quality and patient safety education and research. Northwestern University was the first institution in the country to offer a Master’s degree in these new and important fields.

The combined MD/MS degree program is designed for medical students enrolled in Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine. The Master of Science Degree in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety is a part-time program that can be integrated into the four-year full-time medical school curriculum.

For detailed information on the Master of Science in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety degree please visit http://www.medschool.northwestern.edu/ihs/education/master/index.html

Applications to the MD / MS program ordinarily begin with an application to AMCAS for Admission to a U.S. Medical School.  Applicants must also apply for the Master’s in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety program directly to the Graduate School.  APPLY NOW at www.tgs.northwestern.edu/admission.

In addition to the online application and application fee, applicants are required to submit the following documents:

1. Letters of Recommendation: Two letters of recommendation from a faculty member or employer who can address the applicant’s interest in healthcare quality and patient safety and ability to do graduate level work. These can either be submitted electronically via The Graduate School online application or by mail to:

Master’s Program in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
Admissions Office
Institute for Healthcare Studies
Feinberg School of Medicine
Northwestern University
750 N. Lake Shore Drive, 10th Floor
Chicago, IL 60611
Tel: 312-503-5533
Fax: 312-503-2755
MastersIHS@northwestern.edu

2. Graduate Entrance Exam: Applicants should provide their MCAT scores in the online application. Although the GRE is not required, it may bolster an application.  Applicants whose native language is not English must score 600 or higher on the Test of English as a Second Language (TOEFL).  The TOEFL is administered by the Educational testing Service (ETS).  For more information consult the Web site at http://www.toefl.org/

3. Transcripts: Applicants are required to submit one set of original transcripts (bearing the registrar’s signature and/or institution’s seal) from each postsecondary institution attended. The transcripts should document all courses taken, grades received and (if applicable) degree earned. These should be mailed to the Admissions Office.

4. CV: Applicants are required to submit their most recent Curriculum Vitae which can either be sent electronically to MastersIHS@northwestern.edu or by mail to the Admissions Office.

5. Writing Sample: Applicants are asked to provide a description of one key issue in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety and discuss possible solutions (responses should be no more than 750 words).The Writing Sample can either be sent electronically to: MastersIHS@northwestern.edu or by mail to the Admissions Office.

APPLICATION DEADLINE - Applications and supplemental materials must be received by the Graduate School by April 30, 2010.