Implementation Science Reading Course

The Implementation Science Reading Course (ISRC) is a 10-session, virtual education program co-hosted by the Center for Dissemination & Implementation Science (CDIS) and the Northwestern University Clinical & Translational Sciences (NUCATS) Dissemination & Implementation Science Program. The course is designed to teach investigators and practitioners the fundamentals of implementation science, with examples from a variety of healthcare fields and an emphasis on promoting health equity. This highly popular course runs biweekly from January to May every year.

Curriculum & Learning Outcomes

Education is driven by three main components:

• Curated readings, typically two to three scientific articles per session.
• Team-taught didactics, led by a series of Northwestern experts in implementation science and community partners.
• Small-group discussions, co-led by a CDIS member and a course participant.

By the end of the course, participants will achieve a set of beginner-level competencies in implementation science. Participants who attend at least 7 virtual sessions will receive a course completion certificate. After completing the course in 2025, 68 percent of participants hoped to apply implementation science (IS) in clinical contexts.

Who Should Take the Course?

The Northwestern Implementation Science Reading Course was designed for individuals with beginner- or novice-level familiarity with implementation science principles, frameworks and methodologies. Of 110 course participants in 2025, only 17 percent had ever applied for funding to conduct implementation science (IS) and less than 15 percent had ever submitted an IS manuscript. 

Students, trainees and faculty from any Northwestern University school or clinical affiliate are welcome to participate. In recent years, participants have come from a wide range of professional backgrounds and institutions affiliated with Northwestern and/or NUCATS, including Lurie Children's Hospital and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab.

We also strongly recommended ISRC for anyone who is considering applying for NUCATS D&I pilot funds or other D&I sponsored funding.

How to Register

The 2026 course registration period will open the first week of November 2025. To be notified, join our listserv by emailing cdis@northwestern.edu.

Sample Course Topics

Every fall, our Course Planning Committee convenes to review and refine the planned session topics and assigned readings. Changes are directly informed by feedback from prior participants, to ensure the course reflects the implementation science interests and training needs of our Northwestern community.