Career opportunities for PhD graduates in General Medical and Services Sciences are diverse and depend on the candidate’s educational background (medical and health sciences, biological sciences, biostatistics/epidemiology), and—when applicable—on any medical specialisation obtained.
In academic and research settings, the PhD degree represents a key qualification for access to research and teaching positions at universities and research centres, and for participation in national and international competitive projects. For medical graduates, the PhD degree in addition to specialist training is also valued in public recruitment procedures and may strengthen the overall professional profile.
Research and development activities may also be carried out in:
• Scientific Institutes for Research, Hospitalisation and Healthcare (IRCCS) and national/international academic research centres.
• Public and private research organisations, including those operating in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological, biomedical and diagnostic fields.
• Settings focused on evidence-based assessment and healthcare planning.
Within healthcare services, the PhD pathway may support access to roles requiring advanced skills in clinical research, epidemiology, data analysis, and evaluation of effectiveness and appropriateness of interventions, including positions contributing to clinical governance, monitoring of healthcare activities, and health policy planning at local or regional level.
Among extra-academic outlets, the programme also highlights opportunities within national healthcare institutions and regulatory/evaluative contexts (e.g., the Italian National Institute of Health, the Italian Medicines Agency, the Italian National Agency for Regional Health Services), as well as foundations and research institutes working on health services research and real-world evidence (e.g., Fondazione ReS, Ricerca e Salute). Graduates may also contribute to research support offices, scientific secretariats, ethics committee coordination units, and the management of funded research projects.