Cost identification and cost-conscious decision-making in health professions education: from opacity to opportunity

This dissertation explores a simple but important question: How can we train future health professionals well while using limited resources wisely? Today, universities and healthcare systems are under increasing pressure to educate more students, meet rising healthcare needs, and manage tightening budgets. To support these goals, this research examined what is currently known about how the costs associated with health professions education, why this information is so difficult to gather, and how educators and managers feel about using cost information in their everyday decisions.
Across several studies, the dissertation identifies major gaps in how health professions education costs are defined and measured, highlights challenges that make this research uniquely complex, and reveals a wide range of educator perspectives on using cost information in decision-making, from cautious to highly engaged. It also outlines practical steps institutions can take to improve transparency, strengthen collaboration, and support educators in making thoughtful, value-focused decisions. Ultimately, this work aims to ensure high-quality, sustainable health professions education through more transparent and cost-conscious decision-making.