Building HEOR Expertise for Real-World Healthcare Decisions
Health Economics and Outcomes Research (HEOR) examines the value of healthcare interventions by assessing clinical outcomes, costs, quality of life, and real-world effectiveness to inform evidence-based decision-making.
The Tufts HEOR Certificate equips working professionals with applied, decision-relevant HEOR skills in an online, nine-month format. The curriculum emphasizes practical methods, including cost-effectiveness analysis, economic modeling, outcomes research, and health technology assessment, preparing learners to contribute to value-based healthcare decisions across sectors.
In this Q&A, hear from program director Peter J. Neumann, Sc.D., who is also the director of the Center for the Evaluation of Value and Risk in Health (CEVR) at Tufts Medical Center and a professor of medicine at Tufts University School of Medicine.
What led to the development of the Tufts HEOR Certificate, and what gaps in the field were you hoping to address?
“The HEOR Certificate grew out of a very practical need we were seeing across the field: people wanted real, usable HEOR skills, but many working professionals couldn’t commit or did not want a full degree program. The certificate is designed as an online, nine-month program to help people gain a grounding in the methods that are routinely used in HEOR applications, including cost-effectiveness analysis, economic modeling, and outcomes research.”
Why is HEOR expertise increasingly important in today’s healthcare, life sciences, and policy decision-making environments?
“We’re in an era where healthcare decision-makers are constantly being asked to do more with limited resources and to explain why certain choices make sense. HEOR helps bridge that gap. It gives decision-makers a way to connect clinical benefits with costs, quality of life, and real-world consequences. As pressures around affordability, access, and value continue to grow, HEOR has become a core competency across healthcare, industry, and policy.”
In your view, what meaningfully differentiates the Tufts HEOR Certificate from other HEOR or health economics training programs?
“A few things really stand out. First, the certificate is closely connected to the work of CEVR, so learners are taught by experts with extensive experience in shaping HEOR research and policy discussions. Second, the program is applied. The goal is for participants to leave with skills they can use immediately, not just theoretical knowledge. And finally, it’s designed for working professionals: online, mostly asynchronous, no thesis, but still plenty of opportunities to engage with faculty and peers through discussions and live sessions.”
How is the curriculum intentionally designed to support learners from diverse professional backgrounds?
“One of the strengths of the course is that we assume people are coming in with very different backgrounds. Participants might come from industry, clinical practice, public health, policy, consulting, or be exploring a career transition, and the course material is tailored for people from a broad range of disciplines. The flexible online format helps accommodate different schedules, and the workload is designed to be manageable.”
What core competencies or perspectives do you believe are most important for learners to develop through the certificate?
“At its core, the program is about helping learners think clearly about value in healthcare. That includes understanding cost-effectiveness analysis, economic modeling, real-world evidence, and health technology assessment; and learning how to interpret and communicate those findings in decision-relevant ways. This training will help students ask the right questions about evidence, uncertainty, and trade-offs.”
Based on your experience, how do learners typically apply HEOR training as they advance or pivot in their careers?
“What we hear most often is that people start using what they learn almost immediately, whether that’s framing decisions differently, contributing more confidently to cross-functional discussions, or applying HEOR concepts to strategy, access, or policy work.”
Who do you see benefiting most from the HEOR Certificate at this stage in their professional journey, and why?
“The certificate is especially well suited for people who find themselves increasingly pulled into value-based conversations, whether they work in biotech, healthcare delivery, policy, consulting, or public health. It’s also a strong option for professionals who want to pivot into HEOR-related roles or deepen their credibility in this space without stepping away from their current job.”
What guidance would you offer professionals who are considering HEOR training as part of their long-term career development?
“If you want to play an effective role in strategic decision-making around coverage, pricing, evidence generation, and health policy, this course will provide you with a leg up over others who lack that HEOR training.”
Related Links:
HEOR Program Information
HEOR Curriculum
HEOR Admissions