Advances in methods and content for education in global health epidemiology

Global health has increasingly been gaining recognition as a distinct field in recent years. However, most introductory-level courses in epidemiology rely on examples primarily from the U.S. and Europe. In 2009, a joint program of Harvard Medical School and the Harvard School of Public Health was initiated to offer an intensive summer session on advancing global health delivery (Global Health Effectiveness program). This three and a half week summer course was geared largely towards mid-career professionals working in low- and middle-income countries and low-resource settings in high income countries. Based on the focus of this student population and the integration of epidemiology into the broader summer program, there was a need to reframe introductory epidemiology with respect to the burden of disease in these settings. Drawing on the theoretical and methodological base of epidemiology and biostatistics, examples focused on the burden and risk factors of maternal mortality, childhood malnutrition, and infectious disease, including TB, HIV, and other STDs. The format for the class included alternating didactic and student-facilitated learning in small groups. The presentation will focus on this shift in content as it relates to the format for the course.