Long-term impact of a PhD training partnership between Universities and local Departments of Public Health in Canada
1
Epidemiology, Biostatistics and OH, McGill University, Montreal, (Quebec), Canada
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT:
Better alignment between academic research and public health practice and policies are critical to improve public health actions. We developed a novel research training program through sustained university–public health partnerships to shift the center of gravity of training from universities to formal public health organizations (PHOs) used as research training laboratories. Over 12 years, 63 doctoral and post-doctoral trainees were funded to participate in the Program. It offered training based on core competencies development, including (1) foundational knowledge of public health, (2) transdisciplinary research, (3) intervention research ethics, (4) development of research networks and partnerships, (5) knowledge translation, and (6) research career management. Fifty-five university researchers and public health practitioners cosupervised trainees (one university mentor and one PHO mentor for each trainee, in complementary roles). Mentors came from a wide range of disciplines (epidemiology, sociology, anthropology, political sciences, geography, psychology, nursing, etc. Teams of mentors were from different disciplinary backgrounds, thus facilitating the development of new, interdisciplinary partnerships. The trainees were embedded into public health teams to experience frontline public health practice. Doctoral candidates were required to spend 60% of their time for 3 years in a PHO and post-doctoral fellows, 80% of their time for 2 years. In qualitative exit interviews, trainees said that the program increased their understanding of public health and of intervention research in public health. In particular, internships and mentorship allowed trainees to apply research skills in context and integrate learning in relation to applied public health needs. Ten years after the end of the program 55% of all former trainees held an academic position in PH research, 31% a position within a PHO and 10% were involved in research management. In conclusion, our program provides an example of how to successfully link research training and practice to meet emerging needs in public health.
Better alignment between academic research and public health practice and policies are critical to improve public health actions. We developed a novel research training program through sustained university–public health partnerships to shift the center of gravity of training from universities to formal public health organizations (PHOs) used as research training laboratories. Over 12 years, 63 doctoral and post-doctoral trainees were funded to participate in the Program. It offered training based on core competencies development, including (1) foundational knowledge of public health, (2) transdisciplinary research, (3) intervention research ethics, (4) development of research networks and partnerships, (5) knowledge translation, and (6) research career management. Fifty-five university researchers and public health practitioners cosupervised trainees (one university mentor and one PHO mentor for each trainee, in complementary roles). Mentors came from a wide range of disciplines (epidemiology, sociology, anthropology, political sciences, geography, psychology, nursing, etc. Teams of mentors were from different disciplinary backgrounds, thus facilitating the development of new, interdisciplinary partnerships. The trainees were embedded into public health teams to experience frontline public health practice. Doctoral candidates were required to spend 60% of their time for 3 years in a PHO and post-doctoral fellows, 80% of their time for 2 years. In qualitative exit interviews, trainees said that the program increased their understanding of public health and of intervention research in public health. In particular, internships and mentorship allowed trainees to apply research skills in context and integrate learning in relation to applied public health needs. Ten years after the end of the program 55% of all former trainees held an academic position in PH research, 31% a position within a PHO and 10% were involved in research management. In conclusion, our program provides an example of how to successfully link research training and practice to meet emerging needs in public health.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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