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Dartmouth Geisel Launches New MS in Health Data Science Online Program and Welcomes Inaugural Cohort

On Thursday, September 11, the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine warmly welcomed 21 students to the inaugural cohort of its new Master of Science in Health Data Science Online program. This fully online degree is designed to be completed over 21 months, with students engaging deeply in one course at a time. The program structure is designed to provide flexibility for working professionals.

While the program officially began earlier in the month, the live virtual orientation session held on Thursday from 4:00 to 5:30 PM marked a celebratory milestone and brought the full cohort together for the first time via Zoom. Prior to the session, students had been active in their Program Essentials course on Canvas, where they explored Geisel’s values and culture, completed training, and developed personal learning goals for their graduate studies.

The live session opened with a warm welcome from Jennifer Emond, MS, PhD, and Craig Westling, DrPH, MPH, MS. Emond and Westling set an encouraging tone for the new academic journey, offering reflections on the significance of pursuing a master’s degree and advice for embracing this new chapter with confidence. Both emphasized the value of reaching out for support and contributing to a collaborative learning environment.

Also joining the session was Brittny Calsbeek, PhD, Senior Lecturer from the Department of Biomedical Data Science, who shared her enthusiasm for the program and cheered on the incoming students. Her remarks echoed the sense of community and excitement that defines the Geisel experience.

A highlight of the session was an introduction to student support services, including resources available through the Office of Student Life and the Office of Academic Advising and Accessibility. Students were actively engaged, asking thoughtful questions and expressing interest in opportunities to participate in the broader Geisel community, including seminars, guest talks, and interdisciplinary projects.

To wrap up the event, students were invited to join their cohort’s Slack workspace, with a fun twist. Anyone who accepted the invitation and posted a fun fact in the #random channel would be entered into a raffle. The winner, chosen by a spin of a virtual wheel, was Sudiksha Ramakrishnan, MS HDS '27. Congratulations, Sudi! With the orientation complete, students have now begun their first course, Foundations of Data Science, taught by Dr. Noelle Kosarek. 

The launch of the MS in Health Data Science Online marks an exciting new chapter for Geisel, expanding access to its rigorous and mission-driven education in the rapidly evolving world of data science and healthcare. We are thrilled to welcome this accomplished and diverse group of learners and look forward to all they will achieve in the years to come.

Welcome, MS Health Data Science Online Class of 2027!

POSTED 9/22/2025 AT 02:52 PM IN #HealthDataScience #2025