The Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics (DBEI) and Master of Public Health (MPH) Program at the University of Pennsylvania have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish an Epidemiology track within the MPH Program, a university-wide, interdisciplinary, and interprofessional graduate program focused on preparing the next generation of public health leaders.
The expansion of the MPH Program, which also includes Generalist, Global Health, and One Health tracks, addresses the need for experts who can approach complex health issues from an epidemiological perspective. The new track will equip students with specialized epidemiological knowledge and training and produce graduates who will make valuable contributions within the areas of disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, data analysis, and evidence-based public health interventions.
“Epidemiology has long been the scientific underpinning of public health practice and policy making,” said Enrique F. Schisterman, PhD, Chair of the DBEI and Perelman Professor in Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics.
“As we continue to face global public health challenges, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, the climate crisis, and the opioid epidemic – to name a few timely examples – it is more important than ever to produce public health professionals who possess a deep understanding of the patterns, causes, and effects of health-related issues within populations.”
Created in partnership with the Graduate Group in Epidemiology and Biostatistics (GGEB), which also manages the Epidemiology Ph.D. program within the DBEI, the highly competitive Epidemiology track will offer a curriculum tailored to MPH Program applicants with career goals in epidemiological research and its applications to public health. Students accepted into the track will be expected to complete 14-course units of coursework and a minimum of 125 hours of fieldwork and to submit a successful capstone project at the end of the program.
“The MPH program is in its twenty-first year at Penn and is known for its interprofessional approach to public health, as seen by its collaborations with other programs and schools across the University. The new Epidemiology track gives students the opportunity to have both in-depth epidemiology training and experiences alongside an interdisciplinary public health education, which will only expand their career potential,” said Hillary C. M. Nelson, PhD, MPH, Director of the MPH Program.
Applications for the Epidemiology track of the MPH program must be submitted by February 1, 2024. Following this deadline, the Admission Committee will review verified applications and invite applicants to interviews that will be conducted March 15-31, 2024. Learn more about the Epidemiology track and its application requirements.
“We are excited about this collaboration between the Department of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Informatics and the Master of Public Health Program at Penn and view it as an opportunity for the University of Pennsylvania to cement its role as a leader in the improvement of public health outcomes for all through epidemiological research, education, and service,” said Schisterman.