The 21st century is one of lifestyle deaths where 75% of morbidity is associated with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), said deputy for international affairs at the Health and Hygiene School of Tehran University of Medical Sciences.
“Various healthcare challenges due to modern-day living and new complicated disorders have increased healthcare costs,” Dr. Amirmohsen Takian told a press conference on the eve of the opening of the 4th Iran International Public Health Summer School (IPHS) at the TUMS.
“NCDs are the reason behind three-fourths of premature deaths globally, and to fully grasp what that means for families, societies, and governments, medical students must be aware of the social factors affecting people’s eating habits and wellbeing,” he noted.
After three successful rounds, the fourth summer school will start on August 12 with focus on social indicators of health, epidemiology, environmental health and policy making in the health sector.
The secretary of the board of directors of the summer school, Dr. Aidin Parnia, said the program seeks to kick-start knowledge-based activities in public health education.
“The TUMS is moving towards the third generation of academic development to expand the functional areas of medical universities from mere conventional study and research to entrepreneurship and cooperation. Currently most knowledge-based activities are focused on medical and pharmaceutical products, and not on quality educational services,” he said.
Third generation universities seek to play a major role in addressing a nation’s critical problems, by linking industry and the labor market to create jobs alongside education and research.
The third generation of academic development dates from the late 1990s onwards and resulted from the need for universities to respond to demands related to globalization.
Expanding Community Health Knowledge
IPHS provides an opportunity for medical students to exchange basic knowledge concerning community health promotion. For those who seek medical practice, it is a good platform to build up their abilities on health services and intervention management.
New methods incorporated at this year’s edition include story-based learning and real world simulation. The entire course will be held in English.
Major topics covered by previous rounds of the IPHS included primary health care, need assessment and situation analysis in public health, social determinants of health, global health, strategies for public health services and interventions, eliminating inequalities in the health sector, and a review of research methods in public health.
The month-long educational program organized by TUMS aims to promote public health by introducing the key concepts to the participants, using engaging themes and models. It includes three weeks off-campus and a week of on-campus learning.
“The summer school aims to boost the knowledge and skills of medical and sociology students on general health and healthcare policies,” said Deputy Health Minister Ali Akbar Sayyari.
Promoting interdisciplinary cooperation is one of the goals that the TUMS pursues through the course. From the over 200 university students including the US, Europe, and East Asia, 63 local and 4 foreign students have been selected.
Accommodation will be provided to students at the TUMS dormitory (Kooy-e-Daneshgah) which is close to the on-campus learning venue at the National Museum of Medical Sciences History of Iran.
In the off-campus program, the basics of public health will be offered to the participants. On campus, they will learn how to be public health specialists and also the principles of decision making in the health system.
Medical students and public health enthusiasts can visit the website at www.iphs.ir for more details about the event.
