生物医学和健康信息学是“处理生物医学信息，数据和知识的科学领域”，即它们的存储，检索以及对问题解决和决策的最佳利用。因此，它涉及生物医学的所有基本和应用领域，并且与现代信息技术紧密相关，特别是在计算和通信领域，即医学计算机科学。”（斯坦福大学，医学信息学的定义。）国家中心《生物技术信息学》将生物信息学定义为“科学领域”，医学，生物学，计算机科学和信息技术在此领域融合为一门学科。该领域的最终目标是能够发现新的生物学见解，并建立一个全球视野，从中可以辨别生物学与健康的统一原理。” / font>
An interdisciplinary approach to research and problem solving is increasingly necessary in today's complex and interconnected world. This program offers self-directed training at the highest level of scholarship for students interested in the field of biomedical and health informatics or as The National Center for Biotechnology and Information defines it the field of science in which medicine, biology, computer science and information technology merge to form a single discipline. As a student in this program, you will direct your course of study according to your interests and career goals while developing your abilities to generate, propose, conduct and report research that's ultimately aimed at incorporating scientific findings into improved community standards and policy. With help from faculty advisors, you will develop a plan of study that suits your interests and ambitions. To graduate, you will need to complete 36 hours of didactic coursework and 12 credit hours of dissertation research, all of which will culminate in a comprehensive examination, written dissertation and oral presentation of your dissertation research.