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Public Health &Epidemiology
September 18, 2012
WHAT IS PUBLIC HEALTH?
• Focus…
• Maintaining and improving the health of the
population through
• Research
• Intervention
• Prevention
• Tools…
» Epidemiology
» Biostatistics
» Policy
» Social & Behavioral Science
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EXAMPLES
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Infectious disease outbreaks
Drug safety
Clinical trial design and Analysis
Human Genetics
• mapping disease loci and their contribution to disease
Identifying determinants of chronic diseases
• Heart disease, cancer, respiratory, neurological,
psychiatric, injuries
Policy development and Analysis
Disease Surveillance
Health Services Administration
Clinical effectiveness
Many, many, more…
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SO…WHAT DO YOU ACTUALLY DO AGAIN?
• Epidemiology
o Combines math, statistics, and modeling to analyze the
distribution and incidence of disease in the population,
and to evaluate interventions
• Biostatistics
o The theory and application of statistical science to
analyze public health problems and to further
biomedical research
• Human data
o Randomized and observational studies
o Methods to obtain unbiased and precise results
• Areas of application
o HIV and other infectious diseases, cancer, metagenomics, health
disparities, environmental exposures, psychiatry, basic biology
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WHAT DOES OUR RESEARCH LOOK LIKE?
• Specific aims / Hypotheses
• Previous literature, public health concern
• Design study
• Randomized trial, observational follow up, disease
surveillance, simulation
• Collect data
• surveys, measurements, biomarkers, etc.
• Data management
• Correct for measurement error, impute missing data,
reduce data complexity (dimensional reduction)
• Statistical analysis of primary or secondary data
• Models + assumptions
• Quantify degree of uncertainty in results
• Work with clinicians and health professionals
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CAREER PATHS AND MORE INFORMATION…
Association of Schools of Public Health
• http://www.asph.org/
• http://www.whatispublichealth.org/
• (Public health career info)
American Statistical Association
• http://www.amstat.org/
• (Biostats career info)
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DEPARTMENTS AT HSPH
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Biostatistics (SM, PhD)
Environmental Health (SM, SD, PhD, DPH)
Epidemiology (SM, SD, DPH)
Genetics and Complex Diseases* (PhD)
Global Health and Population (SM, SD, DPH)
Health Policy and Management (SM, PhD)
Immunology and Infectious Diseases* (PhD)
Nutrition* (SD, DPH, PhD)
Society, Human Development, and Health (SM, SD, DPH)
Master of Public Health (MPH, MD/MPH, JD/MPH)
Interdisciplinary Non-degree Programs
*partly or exclusively basic science
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HARVARD’S DEGREE PROGRAMS IN EPI
• Master of Science
• 42.5 credit (one year)
• No thesis required
• Master of Science
• 80 credit (two years)
• Thesis required
• Doctor of Science (ScD) / Doctor of Public Health (DPH)
• 2 years coursework
• Epidemiological theory, study design and analysis,
biostatistics, and concentration specific electives
• Written exam
• Oral exam
• Dissertation defense (3 publishable papers)
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Concentrations in Epidemiology
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Cancer Epidemiology and Cancer Prevention
Cardiovascular Epidemiology
Clinical Epidemiology
Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology
Epidemiologic Methods
Epidemiology of Aging
Infectious Disease Epidemiology
Molecular and Genetic Epidemiology
Neuro-Psychiatric Epidemiology
Nutritional Epidemiology
Pharmarcoepidemiology
Reproductive, Perinatal, and Pediatric Epidemiology
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WHAT’S HARVARD EPI LIKE?
• Focus on theoretical aspects of
• Study design
• Source of and adjustment for bias
• Particular emphasis on causal inference methods
• developed at Harvard
• Particularly strong in cancer, genetics, nutrition,
cardiovascular, pharmacoepidemiology, and epidemiologic
methods development
• Recognized as a thought leader
• pioneered novel study designs
• Expanding interest in global chronic diseases
• Access to many of the longest running cohorts
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DEGREE PROGRAMS IN BIOSTATISTICS
• PhD
• no prior advance degree required, trains students in
development of methodology, consulting, and teaching
• MS (80 credits)
• 50 credits in probability, statistical inference, survival
analysis, longitudinal analysis, clinical trials, statistical
genetics, computing, computational biology
• MS (60 credits)
• prepares students for applied research, 40 credits of
coursework, 20 credits of collaborative research
practicum
• MS (42.5 credits)
• requires previous master’s in a mathematical science or
doctorate in quantitative field
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APPLICATIONS, DEADLINES, FUNDING ETC.
• http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/
• December 15th
• Program specific entry requirements
• Epidemiology
• Prior MPH, MS, or work experience
• Strong background in biology and mathematics
• Biostatistics
• Required courses: calculus through
multivariable integration, linear algebra
• Recommended courses: probability, statistics,
advanced calculus, numerical analysis
• GRE, recommendations, etc.
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FUNDING
• Biostatistics
• Guaranteed
• Epidemiology
• No guarantee, start looking early
• Initiative for Maximizing Student Diversity (2 years)
• Office of Financial Aid
• University wide (varies, specific criteria)
• Presidential (5 years)
• Doctoral Scholarships (up to 5 years)
• Loans and grants
• Departmental
• Discretionary (for returning students)
• NIH Training grants
• Non-institutional awards (e.g. FDA)
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FUNDING
• NIH
• Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
(NRSA)
• F-31 (offered by specific institutes
• Fellowship to promote diversity related research
• http://www.nigms.nih.gov/Training/RuthKirschstei
n
• Minority Component as well
• IMSD program aids you in submitting a competitive
application
• CDC
• Grants for Public Health Research Dissertation (R36)
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MIDAS CENTER FOR COMMUNICABLE
DISEASE DYNAMICS
• “Models of Infectious Disease Agent Study”
• Funded September 2009 by NIH
• Hub for research, outreach and education
• Doctoral Funding
• Complete funding for Master’s in ID Epi
• Tuition waiver
• Salary
• Travel scholarships
• Up to $2000 to travel to meet with faculty at Harvard or
attend conferences elsewhere
• GRE prep course funding
• Summer program in Epidemiology
• http://ccdd.hsph.harvard.edu/opportunities
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• What is Infectious Disease Epi ?
• Marc Lipsitch (Director) assisted CDC and
advised White House during H1N1 pandemic
• Predict transmission rate
• Predict course and severity of pandemic
• Determine effectiveness and long-term sideeffects of HIV treatments
• Analyze spread of antibiotic resistance in
hospitals
• Career paths in academia, policy, government
or private industry
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• Student life in ID Epi
• Large supportive community
• Annual ID Epi Symposium
• Showcase student and staff work
• 2nd Thursdays casual networking function
• Informally over pizza and beer
• Spring seminar lunch series
• Scientists present work to students
• Weekly “Chalk Talks”
• Students and faculty informally discuss their
research and provide feedback
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• ID Epi Website
• www.idepi.hsph.harvard.edu
• MIDAS Center Website
• www.ccdd.hsph.harvard.edu
• Point of Contact
• for internships, applications, travel scholarships, and
more:
• Felisa Nobles
• [email protected]
• 617-432-1498
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SUMMER PROGRAMS
• Intensive 4-week program designed to expose students
to quantitative methods for biological, environmental,
and medical research
• Includes:
• Coursework in biostatistics
• Research project w/ faculty and grad student mentor
• GRE practice test
• Lectures in Biostatistics, Epidemiology, and Society,
Human Development, & Health
• Opportunity to meet researches in other public health
fields
• Application Deadline: February 15
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THANK YOU!
Questions?
Comments?
Concerns?
Contact Information:
• Felisa Nobles
• [email protected]
• John Paulson
• [email protected]
• Admissions
• [email protected]
• Today’s Speaker: Molly Franke, ScD
• [email protected]
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