Clinical Science Scholars Program at Semmelweis University

  • Certificate Program
Semmelweis sign.

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Application Deadline: March 20, 2026

Unlock your potential in clinical research and advance your impact on medical innovation. Working with Semmelweis University, Harvard Medical School has designed an innovative certificate program for clinicians and clinician-scientists to equip you with the skills and expertise to advance clinical research in Hungary and Central Europe. Join a world-class learning experience and take your career to the next level.

  • Blended

This program requires attendance at three intensive workshops — two in-person and one virtually.

Please see more program fee information below.

Certificate

This program offers HMS Associate Member status.

Nine Months, 3 Required Workshops; 5-7 Hours/Week

On This Page

Overview

Harvard Medical School’s Clinical Science Scholars (CSS) program at Semmelweis University provides advanced training in health care research and methods. Using a blended learning model that incorporates online tools, live virtual seminars and engaging workshops, the curriculum is focused on enhancing your skills at every stage of the research process–from writing grant proposals and launching new projects to analyzing data and presenting your results. 

A blended, nine-month program, CSS is anchored by three workshops – two residential (at Semmelweis University in Budapest and at Harvard Medical School in Boston) and one live virtual workshop – that are designed to offer a mix of traditional and innovative teaching methods. Students will participate in interactive webinars – including review sessions by faculty and special seminars from leading experts – and have access to more than 85 pre-recorded, on-demand lectures. 

Our flexible cohort model makes it possible to advance your knowledge while allowing you to continue meeting your current personal and professional responsibilities. The 2025–2026 program begins on July 14, 2025, at Semmelweis University in Budapest, Hungary. 

Semmelweis University is an institution of higher education in Hungary and the Central European region within the areas of medicine and health sciences and a Hungarian representative in international rankings. With its 250 years of tradition, Semmelweis University is a center of knowledge built on the integration of education, research and health care. 

Learning Objectives

  • Design and perform observational and experimental clinical research
  • Analyze, interpret, and present clinical research data
  • Write and revise successful grant proposals
  • Lead clinical teams across a variety of health care settings
HMS Postgraduate Medical Education logo Postgraduate Certificate

Participant Types

Clinicians working in clinical research at the faculty level (or equivalent)

About the Program

In this immersive program, you will explore the latest advancements and best practices in clinical research. CSS is a rigorous training program that will further develop your skills and knowledge in clinical research methods. Throughout the program, you will learn alongside a talented group of peers collaborating to create a deeper and more enduring understanding of the topics.  

The program emphasizes team-based learning, with scholars working together in teams to collaborate, discuss, and problem-solve while also learning from one another. In addition, scholars will have access to program faculty throughout the year for guidance and support.

The comprehensive program curriculum features monthly interactive webinars as well as more than 85 recorded online lectures. In addition to the core coursework, you can personalize your experience by choosing an elective (Secondary Analysis of Clinical Trials, Genetic epidemiology, or Cost-effectiveness and health decision making) that align with your interests. Throughout the program, scholars are expected to develop and submit a research proposal.

Program Format

A blended, nine-month program, CSS is anchored by three workshops – two residential (at Semmelweis University in Budapest and at Harvard Medical School in Boston) and one live virtual workshop – that are designed to offer a mix of traditional and innovative teaching methods. Students will participate in interactive webinars – including review sessions by faculty and special seminars from leading experts – and have access to more than 85 pre-recorded, on-demand lectures. 

Who Should Apply

This program is designed for clinicians working in clinical research at the faculty level (or equivalent). Candidates holding an:

  • MD
  • PhD
  • MBBS
  • DMD
  • DDS
  • PharmD
  • DNP
  • An equivalent degree is eligible to apply

The review committee will consider candidates with a master’s degree for admission on a case-by-case basis. 

Curriculum

The CSS curriculum is designed to enable scholars to expand their knowledge and sharpen their skills in clinical research.

Epidemiology

The Epidemiology Module is designed to provide you with the methods of epidemiology and their applications to clinical research. Lectures explore principles of epidemiology as the importance of measurement, including:

  • Types of outcome measures and measures of association
  • Diverse array of study designs available in clinical research, including cross-sectional studies, cohort studies, case-control studies, and experimental designs
  • Types of potential biases, including selection bias and measurement bias
  • Confounding and methods for its avoidance and control
  • Effect modification

Research Ethics

The Research Ethics module is designed to examine common challenges in the conduct and review of biomedical human subjects research, including:

  • Evolution of ethical codes and regulations
  • Responsibility of physicians as investigators
  • Preparation of the research protocol application and informed consent documents
  • Challenges of conducting research involving children and adolescents

Biostatistics

The Biostatistics module is designed to provide you with the knowledge to import data into a statistical package from a database or excel spreadsheet considered essential in clinical research. Participants will learn to utilize Stata statistical software and other advanced computing methods for:

  • Foundations in biostatistics
  • Regression and modeling
  • Analyzing longitudinal data
  • Modeling regression and survival analysis
  • Representing polynomial trends for time (e.g., linear or quadratic) and linear mixed-effects models
  • Generating polished, manuscript-ready figures and tables

Clinical Trials  

The Clinical Trials module is designed to address key issues in data analysis, treatment regimens and follow-up procedures, and monitoring and interim analysis plans. Faculty lectures will include the areas of:

  • Study design and implementation, including different designs
  • Endpoints
  • Study protocol
  • Study population
  • Recruitment
  • Baseline assessment
  • Randomization
  • Stratification
  • Blinding

Leadership/Teamwork 

The Leadership/Teamwork module is designed to emphasize the importance of leadership development and management in clinical science. Faculty will discuss:

  • Concepts of leadership in the areas of leading research teams
  • Sharpening personal leadership, negotiation, and communication skills
  • Use Harvard Business School Case Method teaching to illustrate and learn from case scenarios in an interactive setting
  • Cultivating a network of collaborations that can offer support and partnership throughout and beyond the program

For the capstone project, scholars will write a formal proposal based on an original research question. You will begin writing your proposal prior to the second virtual workshop. Faculty and peers will provide feedback on your work throughout the process. Once completed, the capstone projects will be ranked by a faculty panel. The scholars authoring the “Top 10” proposals will be invited to present their studies via webinars, and all program participants will be invited to attend. The “Top 3” of these presentations will be presented at the final workshop in Boston. 

Participants are required to pass all assessments with a grade of 70% or higher. At the end of each module, participants must take and pass a multiple-choice quiz to receive credit for completing the module.  

A multiple-choice midterm will be administered after the first two modules, and a final exam consisting of multiple choice and open response questions will be administered a month prior to the final workshop. Assessments only include questions found in the learning modules (pre-recorded lectures).

Program Faculty and Teaching Team

Gyongyi Szabo.

Gyongyi Szabo

MD, PhD

  • Mitchell T. Rabkin, M.D. Chair; Professor of Medicine; and Faculty Dean, Harvard Medical School
  • Chief Academic Officer, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
  • Chief Academic Officer, Beth Israel Lahey Health
Krisztina Fischer.

Krisztina Fischer

MD, PhD, MMSc

  • Associate Professor of Radiology, Harvard Medical School
  • Faculty Director of Master of Medical Sciences in Medical Education, Harvard Medical School
Jamie Robertson.

Jamie M. Robertson

PhD, MPH

  • Program Director, Global Clinical Scholars Research Training and Foundations of Clinical Research
  • Senior Research Scientist, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
  • Assistant Professor of Surgery, Harvard Medical School

Ajay K. Singh

MBBS, FRCP, MBA

  • Senior Associate Dean for Master's Academic Affairs, Office of Graduate Education, Harvard Medical School
  • Renal Physician, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Béla Merkely

MD, PhD, MSc, DSc, FESC, FACC

  • Rector, Semmelweis University
  • Chairman, Sports Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University
  • Director and Chair, Semmelweis University Heart and Vascular Center

Zoltan Ungvari

MD, PhD

  • Director, International Training Program in Geroscience, Semmelweis University & University of Oklahoma HSC

Péter Hegyi

MD, PhD, DSc, MAE

  • Director, Semmelweis University, Centre for Translational Medicine

Program Fee

Program fees for individuals affiliated with Semmelweis University are $10,000 (USD). The standard program fee is $12,000 (USD). Program fees do not include airfare, accommodation, meals, or educational materials.

  Program Fee
Affiliated with Semmelweis University$10,000
Standard Program Fee$12,000

Application Requirements

Interested applicants should use our online application to apply for the Clinical Science Scholars: Semmelweis University program.

Please make sure you have attached:

  1. Current Curriculum Vita (CV)
  2. Motivation letter describing your previous scientific results including any publications and clinical trials patents (maximum two pages)
  3. Letter of Recommendation

We will acknowledge receipt of all applications and maintain all application information in strict confidence.

Students can expect to hear a decision on their application within three to four weeks from the date all application materials were submitted. 

Gyongyi Szabo.

Gyongyi Szabo, MD, PhD

Faculty Dean, Harvard Medical School

Our team is excited to bring this collaborative and innovative clinical research training program to Central Europe. Working together, we will be building the research infrastructure of this region while enhancing your skills to be leaders in improving patient outcomes.

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