Public Health International Student Fellowship Initiative

Public Health International Student Fellowship Initiative

The Public Health International Modeling Fellows Initiative (the Initiative) was established in 2011 with support from The Benter Foundation. The goal of the Initiative is to enhance international capacity to apply advanced computational modeling methods to critical problems in global health. The Initiative accomplishes its objectives by training teams from selected countries in the use of modeling and simulation methods being developed at the PHDL and by establishing joint research projects for completion in their home country.

We are pleased to announce that through continued support from The Benter Foundation, the PHDL launched in the summer of 2015 a new international student exchange program. In May, the PHDL provided fellowships for Pitt Public Health graduate students to go abroad. Yuruo Li (below left), a masters in epidemiology student, spent time in Stellenbosch, South Africa, at the South African Center for Epidemiological Modeling and Analysis (SACEMA). Ashley Vineyard (below right), a masters in epidemiology student, spent time in Yangon, Myanmar, at the University of Public Health.

"Yuruo Li in South Africa""Ashley Vineward"

 

"From left to right: Faikah Bruce, Wan-Jen Wu, Claudia Torres"
From left to right: Faikah Bruce, Wan-Jen Wu, Claudia Torres
 
The PHDL is hosting three visiting scholars this summer. Faikah Bruce is a doctoral student from SACEMA, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa. Wan-Jen Wu is a doctoral student in epidemiology at the Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taiwan. She also works as a public health officer at the Taiwan CDC. Claudia Torres is a masters student in industrial automation at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá.
 
The students presented their fellowship research projects to the PHDL faculty and staff on August 17 (Faikah Bruce, Claudia Torres and Wan-Jen Wu) and on September 21 (Ashley Vineyard and Yuruo Li). Below are links to these presentations.
 
 
 
 

 

The Benter Foundation

The visiting exchange scholars along with PHDL faculty and staff had the opportunity on July 24, 2015, to meet and lunch with the funder of their fellowships, Bill Benter, President, The Benter Foundation. Also joining from the Foundation was Kathy Buechel, Executive Director. The scholars shared their academic backgrounds and described their fellowship research projects.
 
The Benter Foundation was founded in 2007 to support the leaders, organizations and ideas that help communities and individuals thrive. Since then, the Foundation has invested primarily in Pittsburgh-based organizations committed to advancing education, youth development, human services, the arts and humanities, global citizenship, and sustainable practices. Much of this work enhances the quality of life in the region and supports opportunities for individuals to reach their fullest potential.
 

"Benter Foundation group July 24 2015"

Front row, left to right: Sharon Crow, Wan-Jen Wu, Claudia Torres, Faikah Bruce
Back row, left to right: Guido España, Kathy Buechel, Mark Roberts, Bill Benter, Wilbert van Panhuis, Logan Brooks

 

PHDL

"Cathedral of Learning"

With generous support from the Benter Foundation, the Public Health Dynamics Lab (PHDL) established the Public Health International Modeling Fellows Initiative in 2011. The goal of the Initiative is to enhance international capacity to apply advanced computational modeling methods to critical problems in global health. The Initiative is training teams from selected countries in the use of modeling and simulation methods developed at the PHDL, and establishing joint research projects for completion in their home country.

A team of local experts in epidemiology, information technology and public policy in each cooperating country will visit Pittsburgh, during which time they receive training in the use of Pitt computational modeling software and methods. Training includes design of computational experiments; best practices in data collection and analysis; model parameter estimation; analysis of computational results; and design of indicated public health interventions. Pitt researchers continue consultation with the teams after they return to their home country, including a follow-up visit by members of the Pitt modeling team.

As part of the Public Health International Modeling Fellows Initiative, the PHDL has hosted Fellows from the following countries:

December 2014

Colombia

  • Dr. Fernando de la Hoz Restrepo, Director, National Institute of Health, Bogotá
  • Dr. Hernando Diaz Morales, Professor, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Colombia National University, Bogotá

October 2014

South Africa

  • Dr. Alex Welte, Director, South African Centre for Epidemiological Modelling and Analysis (SACEMA), Stellenbosch, South Africa
  • Dr. Wim Delva, Deputy Director, SACEMA
  • Ms. Cari van Schalkwyk, Researcher, Statistics, SACEMA
  • Dr. Rhoderick Machekano, Senior Biostatistician, Stellenbosch University

Myanmar

  • Dr. Nay Soe Maung, Rector, University of Public Health, Yangon, Myanmar
  • Dr. Htin Zaw Soe, Associate Professor of Statistics, University of Public Health

June 2012

Brazil

  • Dr. Giovanini Evelim Coelho, General Coordinator, National Program on Dengue Control
  • Dr. João Bosco Siqueira, Associate Professor, Federal University of Gioas
  • Mr. Stefano Barbosa Codenotti, Secretary of Health Surveillance, Ministry of Health
  • Dr. José Eduardo Pessanha, Municipal Health Secretariat, Belo Horizonte

December 2011

Taiwan

  • Dr. Feng-Lee Chang, Director-General, CDC Taiwan
  • Dr. Jen-Hsiang Chuang, Director of Epidemic Intelligence Center, CDC Taiwan
  • Dr. Yu-Lun Liu, Epidemic Intelligence Center, CDC Taiwan
  • Dr. Da-Wei Wang, Assistant Research Fellow, Institute of Information Science, Academia Sinica