PhD in Biomedical Sciences Study plan for the track on Global Health

PhD in Biomedical Sciences
Study plan for the track on Global Health
This PhD track includes research in global health leading to the delivery of first the outline or
proposal for the thesis followed by the final thesis. In addition, coursework (the taught component of
the program) in global health must be successfully completed by the PhD student. The program aims
mainly to develop scientific competencies in the science of global health implementation.
The research work can be undertaken traditionnally, within a research group at the Université de
Genève, or in another university (in Switzerland or abroad), or within the context of a position held in
an international organisation, an NGO, or in a company from the public or the private sector. In the
later case, it is expected that the PhD research work is directly related to the occupation.
The PhD research work is supervised by a professor from the Faculty of Medicine of the Université de
Genève. Joint supervision can be envisaged, by any other competent faculty or professional
belonging to another Faculty of the Université de Genève or from elsewhere.
Further details about guidelines and procedures regarding this PhD program are published as internal
directives.
This program complies with accreditation criteria of the Association of Schools of Public Health in the
European Region (ASPHER, Brussels)
This innovative, hybrid program is completed largely via distance (e-learning and e-supervision),
requiring a high level of interaction and commitment from PhD students, including homework
(readings, exercises, essays and a comprehensive exam), as well as periodic residential seminars
organized by the Swiss School of Public Health+.
A. DOCTORAL PROGRAM
The doctoral program has two components accruing 20 ECTS (European Credit Transfert System)
1. Residential weeks: 3 weeks per year, preferably during the first two years of the PhD: 2
ECTS per week, totaling 12 ECTS
2. Distance learning: 3 majors (6 ECTS) and preparation for the Comprehensive exam (2
ECTS)
1. Residential weeks
Three residential weeks are organized each year by the Swiss School of Public Health+, to be taken
preferably during the first two years of the PhD. The Winter School organized at Wengen delivers
courses on epidemiology and biostatistics. The Spring School at Geneva delivers courses in global
health. The Summer School at Lugano delivers courses in health policy, health economics, and health
management.
The Spring School of Global Health will be launched at Geneva for the first time in early June 2015
(just after the World Health Assembly), by the Institute of Global Health (Faculty of Medicine of the
Université de Genève and Ecole Romande de Santé Publique), in collaboration with the Graduate
Institute of International and Development Studies.
The Winter and Summer Schools are well established and host each year more than 100 participants,
offering 1 to 2 ECTS accredited doctoral courses each week (a total of 2 ECTS per week). The course
portfolio allows for repeated attendance from participants without repeating the same course.
Residential weeks
Names
Year 1: Winter School,
Wengen
Year 1: Spring School,
Geneva
Year 1: Summer School,
Lugano
Year 2: Winter School,
Wengen
Year 2: Spring School,
Geneva
Year 2: Summer School,
Lugano
Total (4 semesters)
Face to face
Home work
Total
ECTS
40h
20h
60h
2
40h
20h
60h
2
40h
20h
60h
2
40h
20h
60h
2
40h
20h
60h
2
40h
20h
60h
2
240 hrs
120 hrs
360 hrs
12
Distance learning courses may start either prior to or after the residential course (to prepare them or
to go further)
Course evaluations are conducted at the beginning of each semester.
2. Distance learning program
A weekly training session is organized on a dedicated Internet platform where all PhD students are
required to join during two hours, each week, for about 60 sessions within the two first years of the
PhD. These courses are delivered according to 3 majors and one course to prepare for the
Comprehensive Exams.
MHL : Major in Health Leadership (2 x 1 hour sessions during 16 weeks)
MGH : Major in Global Health (2 x 1 hour sessions during 12 weeks)
MMR : Major in Methodology for Research (5 x 1 hour sessions, 4 of them during 16 weeks
and one during 12 weeks)
MCE : Preparation to Comprehensive Exams (1 hour sessions during 12 weeks)
Distance learning
MHL
MGH
MMR
MCE
Total (4 semesters)
Face to face
32h
24h
76h
12h
144 hrs
Home work
16h
12h
32h
36h
96 hrs
Total
48h
36h
98h
48h
240 hrs
ECTS
2
1
3
2
8
Evaluation of courses are specified at the begining of each semester. Evaluations are taken during
residential weeks.
B. THESIS OUTLINES
Thesis outlines or proposals are submitted to the PhD Committee during the second session of the
Spring School of Global Health, at Geneva, i.e. one year after enrollment in the PhD program. The
thesis outlines include a presentation of the research project, with updates, and a feasability study of
the research work to be achieved, with details on any troubles or problems met during the first
months, and if any preliminary findings already obtained. At this stage, if the PhD student does not
receive a mark as « satisfactory », he/her has one more chance to succeed at the next residential
week.
Steering Committee
Members
Prof. Antoine Flahault, Directeur du programme et Président du Comité directeur, Institut de santé
globale, Département de santé et médecine communautaires, Faculté de médecine, Université de
Genève
Prof. Antoine Geissbühler, Département de radiologie et informatique médicale, Faculté de
médecine, Université de Genève
Prof. François Chappuis, Département de santé et médecine communautaires, Faculté de médecine,
Université de Genève
Prof. Alain Gervaix, représentant du décanat, Département de pédiatrie, Faculté de médecine,
Université de Genève
Prof. Didier Pittet, Service de contrôle et prévention de l’infection, Hôpitaux universitaires de
Genève, Département de médecine des spécialités, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Genève
Permanent Invited Members
Prof. Nicolas Levrat, Institut de santé globale, Université de Genève
Prof. Ilona Kickbusch, Institut des hautes études internationales et développement
Prof. Doris Schopper, Centre d’enseignement et de recherche en action humanitaire, Faculté de
médecine, Université de Genève
Prof. Clara James, Haute école de santé Genève
Prof. Fred Paccaud, Ecole romande de santé publique
Prof Dominique Sprumont, Directeur de l’Institut de Droit de la Santé, Université de Neuchâtel
Prof. Charlotte Braun, Directrice de la Swiss School of Public Health+
Prof. Gérard Escher, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne
Prof. Suzanne Hobbs, Université de North Carolina, USA
Prof. Rajae El Aouad, Université Mohammed VI, Casablanca, Maroc
Représentant de Malaya University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaisie
Responsables pressentis des modules de formation doctorale
MLS : Leadership en santé (2 cours : Marcel Tanner et Gaudenz Silberschmidt)
MSG : Santé globale (2 cours : Antoine Flahault et Ilona Kickbusch)
MRS : Méthodologie de la recherche (5 cours Muriel Bochud, Walter Zingg, Kutalik Zoltan
Emiliano Albanese, Dominique Sprumont)
MCE : Préparation aux Comprehensive Exams (1 cours : Idris Guessous et Yves Jackson)