Research opportunities for PH training at LSHTM Helen

Research opportunities for PH training at LSHTM Helen Hogan Clinical Lecturer and Educational Supervisor London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine

Various opportunities 3 types of training placement at LSHTM: n Short: for research experience or defined project (up to 6 months) • post Part B MFPH exams n Longer placement for developing academic career/ Ph. D (12 months +) • post Part B MFPH exams n Academic Clinical Fellowships

Where n Three departments: -Public Health and Policy (includes European Centre on Health of Societies in Transition. ECOHOST, Health Services Research Unit, Health Policy Unit) -Epidemiology and Population Health -Infectious and Tropical Disease

ECOHOST n n n Agriculture, food and disease risk Tobacco control Public health aspects of communicable disease control e. g. planning for pandemic flu Migration and health Assessing and comparing healthcare in different countries

Short placements Examples of FY 2 Projects completed in 4 month placements in ECOHOST over the last 2 years: • Progress and shortcomings in European national strategic plans for pandemic influenza (report for the EU) • Evaluating the impact of smokefree legislation on different ethnic groups in London • Systematic review of school fruit and vegetable schemes (presented to European Commission DG agri as part of legislative impact assessment for 300 million Euro new initiative, Brussels Nov 2007) • Input to Portuguese Presidency of EU: Impacts of Migration on Health in the EU

n n Example: 4 th year trainee. 4 month attachment to ECOHOST Question: "what strategies does the tobacco industry use to influence policy making within the EU, and what are the points and systems of influence it uses? " Qualitative analysis of previously secret tobacco industry documents, Triangulation with other sources, including official EU docs, media, and interviews with key actors. Benefits: Intellectual space to pursue project without distraction, learning new academic skills, try out to see if want to pursue academic career, publications, opportunity to influence important organizations such as EU

Health Service Research Unit n n Surgical quality and outcomes as part of the Clinical Effectiveness Unit of the Royal College of Surgeons Quality of healthcare including patient reported outcome measures Models of healthcare and organizational change as part of the Service Delivery and Organization Programme Health Technology Assessment

n n Example: 4 th-5 th year trainee, 1 year attachment to HSRU Project focused on the relationship between patients’ and clinicians’ measures of outcome. Undertook a systematic review and performed some secondary data analysis Benefits: Opportunity to try out academic life (now considering a Ph. D), two publications, opportunity to teach on MSc and to attend seminars/lectures of both specific and general interest

Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases Example: 5 th year Trainee, 1 year placement based in International Centre for Eye Health Current research: -Developing a model to predict the amount of cataract surgery required by low income countries -Developing a funding proposal for a project to establish and evaluate a primary healthcare service for eye care in East Africa -Updating a WHO manual, Benefits: was able to get involved with personal tutoring and teaching a wide variety of audiences, experience writing a grant, publications and presentations at international conferences. Hopes to go on to do a Ph. D

‘Walport’ clinical academic fellowships: n n Usually have two fellows: working towards development of grant applications to fund Ph. D Example of an ACF study recently awarded a Welcome Fellowship Consideration of the health system needs for transition from pre-elimination to elimination phases of malaria in Sub Saharan Africa. Collaboration between ITD, IC and LSE. Involves infectious disease modelling, economic evaluation, policy analysis. Case study in Tanzania.

How to apply If you are interested: n Informal discussions between trainee and educational supervisors • Trainee should be clear on purpose of placement, and types of skills/ interests they would like to pursue n DO YOUR RESEARCH – via LSHTM website ‘Research’: (who does what) • Educational supervisor can help facilitate contacts with potential supervisors Introduction of new structured application process: n Trainee obtains approval of Deanery programme director for academic placement n ‘Official’ application to LSHTM (educational supervisors) via short ‘application form’ n Educational supervisor assesses ‘fit’ of trainee to placement (through meeting), and liaises with potential project supervisors at LSHTM n Finally, project supervisor obtains agreement for trainee placement from Head of Unit/ Head of Department (including start date) NB Requires some forward planning

Who to contact Karen Lock and Helen Hogan Educational Supervisors Karen. Lock@lshtm. ac. uk Helen. Hogan@lshtm. ac. uk