SSPH+ PhD Program in Public Health

Transition from SSPH+ PhD Program in Public Health to SSPH+ Inter-university Graduate Campus

New students register for the SSPH+ Inter-university Graduate Campus which has followed the SSPH+ PhD Program in Public Health since 1 June 2024.

For enrollment: https://www.vacances-scolaires-gouv.com/2026-2027-calendrier-scolaire

To register for the SSPH+ Inter-University Graduate Campus, you have to be accepted as a PhD student at one of the 12 partner universities (Basel, Bern, Fribourg, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Neuchâtel, Svizzera italiana, Zurich, BFH, SUPSI, ZHAW), and your first supervisor needs to be a SSPH+ Faculty Member.

Students who registered for the SSPH+ PhD Program before May 31, 2019, are expected to finish in the actual program within three years. Moreover, they will become automatically part of the SSPH+ Inter-University Graduate Campus and can finish under this new system as an alternative.

Students registering after May 31, 2019, will be welcomed directly on the SSPH+ Inter-University Graduate Campus – the new hub of inter-university high quality SSPH+ PhD courses, trainings, and events.

Cost-free SSPH+ PhD courses (with small non-refundable registration fee of 30.- CHF per course) and access to attractive courses and programs of our partners at reduced fees will be granted to all students registered under the former and the new system.

SSPH+ PhD Program in Public Health (for students who registered before 1 June 2019)

The SSPH+ PhD Program in Public Health is a training- and networking program of the Swiss School of Public Health. The School is a joint initiative of eight Swiss Universities (Basel, Bern, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, Lugano, Neuchâtel and Zurich). The PhD program aims to provide students in a discipline relevant to Public Health the best possible preparation for their role as public health scientists and experts. The key elements of the program are as follows:

The program offers a structured learning environment for PhD students.
The SSPH+ Inter-university Graduate Campus organizes courses taught by national and international experts. The courses offered are open to all interested persons.
PhD students enrolled in the SSPH+ PhD program have free access to courses of the SSPH+ inter-university Graduate Campus (apart from a processing fee of 30 CHF).
PhD students enrolled in the SSPH+ PhD Program have reduced fees in courses of partners (e.g. Seasonal Schools).
The program awards an SSPH+ PhD program certificate which supplements the PhD degrees that are awarded by the Swiss Universities according to their regulations.
The SSPH+ PhD program has been implemented according to the Bologna Process and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

Program

What this program is about

The SSPH+ PhD program is a training and networking program for PhD students in a discipline relevant to Public Health. Students and supervisors should familiarize themselves with the guidelines governing the program. The key elements of the program are as follows:

The program offers a structured learning environment for students. Students maintain a portfolio so they and their supervisors can monitor the development of the student’s scientific skills and competences. The portfolio is a basis for regular assessment of the student’s progress.
The SSPH+ PhD program organizes courses taught by national and international experts. The courses cover basic skills in public health research, advanced methods, and thematic workshops. They are designed to allow students to develop a broad Public Health perspective and to acquire specialized skills.
PhD students enrolled in the SSPH+ PhD program have free access to SSPH+ PhD courses (apart from a processing fee of 30 CHF), and reduced fees for the courses offered by the seasonal SSPH+ schools, namely the Spring School in Geneva, the Summer School in Lugano and the Winter School in Wengen.
The program awards an SSPH+ PhD program certificate which supplements the PhD degrees that are awarded by the participating Swiss Universities, according to their regulations.
The SSPH+ PhD program has been implemented according to the Bologna Process and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

Guidelines of the Program

What this program involves

The SSPH+ PhD program is a structured training and networking program for PhD students who are working on a PhD thesis relevant to Public Health and are registered in one of the 12 foundation universities of SSPH+. Students and supervisors should familiarize themselves with the guidelines governing the program. The key elements of the program are as follows:

The program offers a structured learning environment for students. Students maintain a portfolio so that they and their supervisors can monitor the development of their scientific skills and competencies. The portfolio is a basis for regular assessment of the student’s progress.
The SSPH+ PhD program office organizes courses taught by national and international experts. The courses cover basic skills in public health research, advanced research methods, and thematic workshops. They are designed to allow students to develop a broad Public Health perspective and to acquire specialized
PhD students enrolled in the SSPH+ PhD program have cost-free access to SSPH+ PhD courses (beside a processing fee of 30 CHF), and reduced fees to postgraduate SSPH+ network offerings such as the seasonal schools (Spring School and Summer School in Geneva, Summer School in Lugano and Winter School in Wengen). These internal SSPH+ offers are listed on the website and are subject to change.
The program awards an SSPH+ PhD program certificate which supplements the PhD degree awarded by the participating Swiss universities according to their regulations.
The SSPH+ PhD program has been implemented according to the Bologna Standards and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS).

Study requirements

Public Health is an interdisciplinary domain, and students from many different backgrounds enroll in the program. The program organizers have defined the following study requirements to ensure that students will graduate with a broad education across the various disciplines.

Training

The total number of required ECTS training credits depends on the student’s previous training and educational background in Public Health. The following table provides an overview of the minimum number of basic credits required. For each applicant, the final number of credits required will be determined on an individual basis.

Students with a Master’s degree in Public Health:
18 ECTS
Students with a Master’s degree in one of the core disciplines of Public Health (epidemiology; social and behavioral science in health research; health systems research; or MDs with additional Public Health training):
20 ECTS
Students with a Master’s degree in a field related to Public Health:
22 ECTS
Students with a Master’s degree not related to Public Health:
26 ECTS

The SSPH+ PhD program is implemented according to the Bologna Process and follows the guidelines of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS). 1 ECTS credit corresponds to an approximate workload of 25-30 working hours. Course certificates are issued if students attend at least 80% of class hours, pass the required assessments, and turn in successful assignments.

A maximum of 20% of the required credit points can be earned through courses that do not grant official ECTS. However, these credit points need to reflect a workload similar to the one defined for official ECTS and must be approved by the supervisor and by the program directors. During work on the PhD, a maximum of 1 ECTS in total can be credited for active participation at an international scientific conference, including acceptance of an abstract as first author and an oral or poster presentation.

Public Health knowledge

PhD students in Public Health are expected to become experts in a specific field of PH research. They should also become familiar with the following fundamental concepts of Public Health:

Epidemiology: determinants of health and illness, epidemiological study designs, sources of error and bias, causal inference, risk factors, statistical concepts for analyzing and interpreting data, etc.
Social and behavioral science in health research: social conditions of health, health inequities, cultural and psychosocial factors that affect health and health behavior, theories and interventions in health promotion and prevention, and methods of quantitative and qualitative health research.
Health systems research: effectiveness, efficiency and equity of health care systems; outcome research; basic knowledge of health economics; health policy.
Students should direct their studies towards achieving expert knowledge in one of these three fields (the area most relevant to the research project) and basic knowledge in the other two areas. Supervisors and PhD students must prepare a study schedule that covers the three fields with appropriate coursework.
Basic research skills are part of the PhD training. Students should be able to:
Write a scientific paper, submit a grant application, and resolve ethical issues.
Pose innovative and important research questions, based on a thorough knowledge of the literature, public health needs, and relevant theoretical and conceptual models; select an appropriate interventional or observational study design to address a research question.
Work in a multi-disciplinary team, conduct ethical and responsible research, communicate the findings and implications of Public Health research effectively to scientific and lay audiences (through multiple modalities such as scientific writing, presentations, and teaching).
Describe the policy implications of their own research and describe these implications for a broad audience.

Portfolio

SSPH+ PhD students will assess their progress themselves through their portfolios. They must meet annually with the members of their doctoral committee to discuss their progress on their PhD project and to adjust the training plan if necessary. After these annual meetings the supervisor sends a short note to the SSPH+ PhD program coordination office confirming that the meeting took place. If local institutions (e.g., graduate schools) also require these kind of meetings, they will count for the SSPH+ PhD portfolio.

The student’s self-assessment documents should indicate in detail their learning process and demonstrate their competence to conduct research in their specific research area. Self-assessments also detail the process by which broader Public Health competencies were acquired, the development of personal and soft skills, and improvement in management and leadership competencies and other transferable skills. When gaps are identified, the working plan should be adjusted to fill these gaps.

Doctoral committee

A doctoral committee in line with the respective university or graduate school requirements and consisting of at least the thesis supervisor and two additional experts should be established to guide the student’s PhD work. The committee discusses training requirements with the student, carries out the annual assessments, and meets with the student to discuss and support her/his progress on the PhD project.

SSPH+ PhD program certificate

Each university awards the PhD degree according to its own regulations.

After the PhD candidate has received the final PhD diploma from her/his university and all formal SSPH+ requirements have been met, the SSPH+ PhD program certificate is awarded. The student must have earned the agreed-upon number of ECTS, participated in annual meetings, and listed teaching activities and conference visits, including scientific presentations. In terms of scientific publications, the student needs to have a minimum of two peer-reviewed articles accepted for publication and one article accepted for peer review at a scientific journal. At least two of these three articles need to be first-authored by the doctoral student.

These activities are summarized in the final application document for the certificate, which is to be submitted to the SSPH+ PhD program coordination office along with a PDF file containing all course certificates, the final PhD diploma, and the thesis. The SSPH+ PhD program certificate will be awarded only if the signed final document is complete and approved by the academic directors.

SSPH+ PhD Final Certificate

This applies ONLY for students who have registered for the SSPH+ PhD Program in Public Health before 1 June 2019

To get the final certificate of the SSPH+ PhD Program in Public Health, your PhD defense needs to take place before 1 June 2022.

You have maximum one year time after your PhD defense took place to complete and hand in your application for the final certificate of the SSPH+ PhD Program in Public Health.

The very last application for the final certificate of the SSPH+ PhD Program in Public Health will be accepted on 1 June 2023.

All students who have registered before 1 June 2019 can apply for the SSPH+ Certificate in Public Health of the new SSPH+ Inter-university Graduate Campus instead.

The PhD candidate reports the date of the defense to the coordination office within 2 weeks after the defense has taken place.

Application procedure:

To get the SSPH+ PhD Program Certificate, the following documents need to be sent to the coordination office (by email):

Application form for final certificate (see templates and forms), in 2 copies:
1 copy as Word file
1 copy as PDF file, signed by the PhD candidate and by the supervisor
One PDF of all course certificates or/and graduation record of home university
PDF of thesis or link to it
Scan of the final PhD diploma of the home university (can be submitted at a later date)
for max. 1 additional ECTS: Proof of active participation at an international scientific conference (including acceptance of an abstract as first author and oral or poster presentation)

Requirements for the SSPH+ Final Certificate:

Number of ECTS as agreed on the registration form has been collected
All 3 main fields of public health are covered with a minimum of 2 ECTS each
Annual doctoral committee meetings have taken place and the signed confirmation forms have been handed in
A minimum of 3 scientific publications (at least 2 of them as first author) comprising at least:
2 peer-reviewed articles accepted for publication at a scientific journal
1 article accepted for peer review at a scientific journal

Forms and Templates

Annual Meeting Confirmation Form (Word)
Template Self-Assessment (Word)
Example of Self-Assessment (PDF)
Application Form_for_Final_Certificate_(Word)

Courses

Course program and registration for courses is now on the website of the new SSPH+ Inter-university Graduate Campus: https://ssphplus.ch/en/graduate-campus/en/graduate-campus/course-program/.

Students of the former SSPH+ PhD Program in Public Health and of the new SSPH+ Inter-university Graduate Campus (IGC) can register for IGC courses at the processing fees of 30 CHF per course.

SSPH+ PhD Courses 2024

20 – 22 November 2024 Introduction to Statistical Software Stata and Electronic Data Capture Software REDCap
(Epidemiology / General Courses and Soft Skills)
(basic & Advanced)
Dr. Adrian Spoerri
ISPM, University of Bern
Yves Bochud, MSc, CTU
University of Bern
4 – 8 November 2024 GIS for Public Health
(Epidemiology / General Courses and Soft Skills)
(basic & Advanced)
Dr. Danielle Vienneau, Dr. Kees de Hoogh,
Swiss TPH, University of Basel
22 – 25 October 2024 Clinical Epidemiology: From Theory to Applications
(Epidemiology)
(basic) Prof. Albert Hofman
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
30 September, 7 + 14 October 2024 Social_status, social interactions and capital: social science applications in public health
(Social and Behavioral Science in Health Research)
(basic) Dr. Kristen Jafflin, University of Basel
Dr. Stéphane Cullati, University of Geneva
16 – 20 September 2024 Evidence Synthesis Methods (Epidemiology)
(basic & advanced) Prof. Georgia Salanti, Prof. Matthias Egger
ISPM, University of Bern
10 – 11 September 2024 Introduction to the Statistical Software R
(Epidemiology / General Courses and Soft Skills) Dr. Jan Hattendorf, Swiss TPH, University of Basel
4 – 6 Sep 2024 Writing a Journal Article … and Getting it Published
(General Courses and Soft Skills) Prof. Nicola Low
ISPM, University of Bern
10 – 12 July 2024 Introduction into multilevel modelling of clustered data
(Epidemiology / Social and Behavioral Science in Health Research)
(basic) Prof. Martin Röösli
Swiss TPH, University of Basel
3 – 5 July 2024 Applied Bayesian Statistics in Medical Research
(Epidemiology)
(advanced)
Prof. Marcel Zwahlen
ISPM, University of Bern
Dr. Simon Wandel
Novartis Pharma AG, Basel
28 – 29 May 2024 Basics of Ethics in Health Sciences Research
(General courses/ soft skills)
(basic)
Dr. Verina Wild, Institute of Ethics, History and Theory of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilian-University, Munich, et al.
18 – 20 March 2024 Writing a Journal Article … and Getting it Published
(General courses/ soft skills) Prof. Claudia Kuehni
ISPM, University of Bern
11 – 15 March 2024 Applied Logistic Regression
(Epidemiology)
SSPH+ PhD course
Prof. Stanley Lemeshow,
The Ohio State University
PD Dr. Ben Spycher,
ISPM, University of Bern
04 – 06 February 2024 Qualitative Health Research: Advanced Module
(Social and Behavioral Science in Health Research)
(advanced)
SSPH+ PhD course Prof. Brigit Obrist,
Institute of Social Anthropology, University of Basel and Swiss TPH, University of Basel
31 January – 01 February 2024 Qualitative Health Research: Introductory Module
(Social and Behavioral Science in Health Research / General Courses and Soft Skills)
(basic)
SSPH+ PhD course Prof. Brigit Obrist,
Institute of Social Anthropology, University of Basel and Swiss TPH, University of Basel

Research

Ongoing research of students of the SSPH+ PhD Program in Public Health

For all students of the SSPH+ PhD Program in Public Health and of the SSPH+ Inter-university Graduate Campus: https://ssphplus.ch/en/graduate-campus/students/

Basel

Adebayo-Ojo, Temitope
Joint effects of ambient air pollution mixtures on health outcomes in Cape Town, 2001 – 2016
(Supervisors: Prof. Nino Künzli, Prof. Nicole Probst-Hensch)
Ahn, Pauline Yongeun
Health System Resilience: key for unlocking the complex health system strengthening agenda
(Supervisor: Prof. Kaspar Wyss)
Ali, Faisal Nooh
Epidemiological and clinical investigations of chronic noncommunicable
diseases in Eritrean refugees living in Ethiopia and Switzerland
(Supervisor: Prof. Daniel Paris)
Allabadi, Hala
Mental health needs among cardiovascular disease patients in a Palestinian population
(Supervisors: Prof. Nicole Probst-Hensch, Prof. Elisabeth Zemp)
Angora, Kpongbo Etienne
Population genetic structure and hybridization of schistosomes in Côte d’lvoire
(Supervisor: Prof. Jürg Utzinger)
Arowosegbe, Oluwaseyi
Modelling daily PM2.5 concentrations at high spatio-temporal scale in South Africa and assessing the association between ambient air pollution and acute cardiorespiratory hospitalizations and mortality
(Supervisors: Dr. Kees de Hoogh, Prof. Martin Röösli)
Baumann, Aron (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
How are Swiss health policymakers using evidence to inform their decisions?
(Supervisors: Prof. Kaspar Wyss, Prof. Nino Künzli)
Bauwens, Jorgen
Impact of non-adherence to vaccination schedules
(Supervisor: Prof. Jan Bonhoeffer)
Branca-Dragan, Sanda
Answering important clinical research questions using data from the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study: the STCS Liver Benchmarking project and the STCS Allograft twin study
(Supervisors: PD Dr. Michael Koller, Prof. Jürg Steiger)
Brunner, Nina
The impact of scaling up rectal artesunate on severe malaria case management practices in three Sub-Saharan Africa countries
(Supervisors: PD Dr. Manuel Hetzel, Prof. Christian Lengeler)
Cottler-Casanova, Sara
Conditions Related to Sexual Health: From ICD-10 to ICD-11 – An internet-based case-control study on the new diagnostic criteria for sexual dysfunctions
(Supervisor: Prof. Elisabeth Zemp)
Denz, Adrian
Mathematical Modelling of Mosquito Movement
(Supervisors: PD Dr. Nakul Chitnis, Prof. Christian Lengeler)
Dietler, Dominik
Associations between natural resource extraction projects and environmental determinants of health in Africa
(Supervisors: Dr. Mirko Winkler, Prof. Jürg Utzinger)
Eburi Losoha, Maria Esther Leticia
Improvement of immunization uptake among pregnant women in Equatorial Guinea: Mixed methods approach
(Supervisors: Prof. Claudia Daubenberger, PD Dr. Sonja Merten)
Fatou, Mathurin
Measuring the interaction of mosquitoes with topical repellents and insecticide-treated nets using 3D infrared video tracking
(Supervisors: PD Dr. Pie Müller, Prof. Jürg Utzinger)
Fischer, Fabienne
The epidemiology of legionellosis in Switzerland: Evidence for policy & action
(Supervisors: Prof. Daniel Mäusezahl, Prof. Günther Fink)
Garbazza, Corrado
Chronobiology, sleep-related risk factors and light therapy in perinatal depression: the “Life-ON” Project
(Supervisors: Prof. Nicole Probst-Hensch, Prof. Christian Cajochen)
Giduthuri, Joseph Gnanouday
Developing a generic protocol and innovating methods for community study and improved coverage with antenatal influenza vaccination (AIV)
(Supervisors: Prof. Jürg Utzinger, Dr. Nicolas Maire)
Gryaznov, Dmitry
Longitudinal evaluation of the accuracy and completeness of clinical trial protocols
(Supervisors: PD Dr. Matthias Briel, Prof. Heiner Bucher)
Hassan, Mahmoud
Drug Discovery for Eumycetoma
(Supvervisor: Prof. Marcel Tanner)
Heerdegen, Anne Christine (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Analysis of Management Capacity and the Effects of Management Strengthening Interventions at District Level in Low and Middle-Income Countries
(Supervisor: Prof. Kaspar Wyss)
Hella, Jerry (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Tuberculosis transmission in rural and urban Tanzania: A modelling approach using shared re-breathed air in estimating airborne disease transmission
(Supervisor: PD Dr. Lukas Fenner)
Honegger, Ursina
Prevalence, determinants, pathophysiology and long-term outcome of exercise-induced myocardial stunning
(Supervisor: Prof. Christian Müller)
Karim, Aliya
A Systems-Wide Analysis of the RAcE Programme: A Multi-Case Health System Study of an Integrated Community Case Management Program in Five African Countries
Keller, Ladina
Improved treatment options for the control of soil-transmitted helminthiases
(Supervisor: Prof. Jennifer Keiser)
Lazarova, Angela
Quality management of clinical trials conducted in resource-limited settings
(Supervisor: Prof. Christian Burri)
Mapesi, Herry
Non-communicable diseases in people living with HIV in Rural Africa: tackle the double burden
(Supervisors: Prof. Daniel Paris, Prof. Manuel Battegay)
Marxer, Carole (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Build-up of a validated linked cohort of mothers and infants using Swiss claims data and following determination of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes in Switzerland
(Supervisors: Prof. Christoph Meier, Prof. Christian Lengeler)
Matowo, Nancy
Entomological and molecular characterization, insecticide resistance testing and screening for arboviruses, filarial worm and malaria parasites in culicine species in Ulanga and Kilombero districts, south-eastern Tanzania
(Supervisors: Prof. Marcel Tanner, Prof. Brigit Obrist)
Mc Cord, Kimberly (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
The use of routinely collected data in clinical trial research
(Supvervisor: Prof. Heiner Bucher)
Menang, Olga
Determinants of Health Systems Capacity for Effective Pharmacovigilance systems Implementation in Low and Middle Income Countries
(Prof. Christian Burri)
Meyre, Pascal
Incidence of and causes for all-cause hospitalizations in patients with atrial fibrillation
(Supervisor: Prof. Stefan Osswald)
Mhlanga, Shakuntala
Associations of pesticide exposure and media use on the neurobehavior of children in the Western Cape, South Africa
(Supervisor: Prof. Martin Röösli)
N’Dri, Bédjou Prisca
Malaria in Elibou region, south of Côte d’Ivoire: transmission and insecticide resistance
(Supervisors: Dr. Giovanna Raso, Dr. Choauibou Mouhamadou, Prof. Juerg Utzinger)
Nimako, Belinda
Linkages between Natural Resource Extraction Projects and the Health System for Sustainable Development
(Supervisors: Dr. Mirko Winkler, Prof. Jürg Utzinger)
Obas, Katrina
The role of depression on blood pressure control in Kosovo – A cohort study
(Supervisors: Prof. Nicole Probst-Hensch, Prof. Sabina De Geest)
Patel, Chandni
Optimizing Drug Therapy against Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis
(Supervisor: Prof. Jennifer Keiser)
Reiker, Theresa
Mathematical modelling of malaria control in low-transmission settings
(Supervisors: Prof. Tom Smith, Prof. Melissa Penny)
Sanchez Samaniego, Giuliana
Household burden of disease and NCD control and prevention – Understanding patient perceptions and health systems use in the Peruvian Andes
(Supervisor: Dr. Daniel Mäusezahl)
Saucy, Apolline (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
The triggering effects of aircraft noise events on cardiovascular mortality in Zürich, Switzerland: a case-crossover study
(Supervisor: Prof. Martin Röösli)
Shayo, Kuwawenaruwa August Joachim
Effects of the regional complementary pharmaceutical supply system on improving access to medicines in Dodoma and Morogoro regions, Tanzania
(Supervisors: Dr. Fabrizio Tediosi, Prof. Kaspar Wyss)
Tangermann, Louise
The effects of transportation noise on cognitive functions, behavior and health related quality of life in adolescents
(Supervisors: Prof. Martin Röösli, Prof. Nino Künzli)
Tran, Thi Duc Hanh
Mitigating the re-emergence of rickettsial and other rodent-borne zoonoses in Vietnam: a call for One Health
(Supervisors: PD Dr. Esther Schelling, Prof. Jürg Utzinger)
Vavassori, Laura (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Dispersal dynamics of the Asian tiger mosquito
(Supervisors: Dr. Pie Müller, Prof. Juerg Utzinger)

Bern

Anderegg, Nanina
Correcting analyses of cohort studies for loss to follow-up: comparing conventional and advanced statistical models
(Supervisor: Prof. Matthias Egger)
Asangbeh, Serra Lem
Developing a Cervical Cancer Prevention and Care Cascade in Low-
and Middle-Income Countries
(Supervisor: PD Dr. Julia Bohlius)
Chalkou, Konstantina
Real world predictions of treatment effects using evidence synthesis for health technology assessment
(Supervisor: Prof. Georgia Salanti)
Chihota, Belinda
Epidemiology of modifiable non-communicable disease risk factors among HIV-infected adults in Southern Africa
(Supervisors: PD Dr. Gilles Wandeler, Dr. Michael Vinikoor)
Chiocchia, Virginia
Methods of ranking competing treatments in network meta-analysis
(Supervisors: Prof. Georgia Salanti, Prof. Tianjing Li)
Davidović, Maša
Cancer prevention for women living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa
(Supervisors: PD Dr. Julia Bohlius, Dr. Mazvita Sengayi)
de Jong-Mazairac, Jacqueline Helena
Is there variability in pelvic floor and abdominal muscle response induced by different cough and forced expiration patterns?
(Supervisor: Prof. Fiona Burkhard)
Farag, Sarah
A randomized phase II trial comparing Bendamustine and Melphalan with Melphalan alone as conditioning regimen for autologous stem cell transplatation (ASCT) in myeloma patients
(Supervisor: Prof. Thomas Pabst)
Gonzalez Jaramillo, Valentina (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
End-of-life decisions in patients with heart failure
(Supervisors: Prof. Steffen Eychmüller, PD Dr. Lukas Hunziker)
Grisotto, Giorgia
Cardiometabolic Health in Women: The Role of Diet
(Supervisors: Prof. Oscar Franco, Dr. Taulant Muka)
Hamza, Tasnim
Flexible generic framework for evidence synthesis in health technology
assessment
(Supervisor: Prof. Georgia Salanti)
Hauser, Anthony
Predicting population- and individual level of HIV drug resistance in sub-Saharan Africa: mathematical modelling studies
(Supervisor: Prof. Matthias Egger)
Kalua, Thokozani
Impact on viral load suppression in HIV patients in Malawi with introduction of TLD as the first-line regimen
(Supervisor: Prof. Matthias Egger)
Kurz, Johanna
Longitudinal assessment of small airway physiology in healthy children and children with cystic fibrosis using the multiple-breath washout technique
(Supervisors: PD Dr. Florian Singer, Prof. Claudia Kühni)
Mazzei Abba, Antonella
Background ionizing radiation and the risk of childhood cancer
(Supervisors: PD Dr. Ben Spycher, Prof. Maria Blettner)
Mesa Vieira, Cristina
Mental and cardiometabolic consequences of chronic exposure to violence
(Supervisor: Prof. Oscar Franco)
Mugglin, Catrina
Access to treatment and treatment outcomes among elderly HIV-infected patients in Malawi
(Supervisors: PD Dr. Olivia Keiser, Prof. Matthias Egger)
Nthumba, Peter
Implementation of the WHO Surgical site infection prevention guidelines in a rural sub-Saharan African maternity unit: finding the right strategy for sustained results
(Supervisors: Prof. Matthias Egger, Prof. Joseph Solomkin)
Otth, Maria (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Pulmonary dysfunction after childhood cancer: diagnosing early stage disease
(Supervisors: Prof. Claudia Kühni, Prof. Philipp Latzin)
Ramírez Mena, Adrià
Understanding the hepatitis B continuum of care to inform elimination strategies in Sub-Saharan Africa and Switzerland
(Supervisors: Prof. Gilles Wandeler, Prof. Marcel Zwahlen)
Roa Diaz, Zayne Milena
The interaction between lifestyle and menopausal ageing and their impact on cardiovascular disease in women
(Supervisors: Prof. Oscar Franco, Dr. Muka Taulant)
Schindera, Christina (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Cardiovascular disease in childhood cancer survivors
(Supervisor: Prof. Claudia Kuehni)
Seo, Michael
Evidence-synthesis methods for personalizing the choice of treatment
(Supervisors: Prof. Marcel Zwahlen, Dr. Orestis Efthimiou)
Tafadzwa, Dhokotera Gladys
Cervical cancer control in South African women: a model for precision public health
(Supervisors: PD Dr. Julia Bohlius, Dr. Mazvita Sengayi)
Taghavi, Katayoun
Methods of improving visually based cervical screening in low- and middle income countries
(Supervisor: PD Dr. Julia Bohlius)

Geneva

Ahawo, Komi Mokpokpo
Acute bacterial meningitis surveillance program following introduction of Haemophilus Influenzae type b, Streptococcus pneumoniae (PCV-13) and Nesseiria meningitidis gr A vaccines in Cameroon: epidemiology, vaccine impact and cost effectiveness
(Supervisor: Prof. Alain Gervaix)
Alcoba, Gabriel
Snakebite incidence, public health impact, prediction of areas at risk, and access to quality care in 5 countries of tropical Africa and Asia
(Supervisor: Prof. François Chappuis)
Amul, Gianna Gayle
Comparative analysis of tobacco and alcohol policies in ASEAN:
Examining industry interference in the policy process (EXIIT) in
the Philippines and Singapore
(Supervisors: Prof. Jean-François Etter, Prof. Pascal Bovet)
Babington-Ashaye, Awa
Impact assessment of eHealth-based approaches to improve disease management and quality of life of people living with haemophilia in Sub-Saharan Africa. A case study of Haemophilia in Senegal
(Supervisors: Prof. Antone Geissbühler, Prof. Philippe de Moerloose))
Biquet, Jean-Marc
La sécurité du patient dans l’activité médicale
(Supervisor: Prof. Dominique Sprumont)
Catho, Gaud
Improvement of antibiotic use in hospitals through multifaceted, computerized interventions
(Supervisors: Prof. Stephan Harbarth, PD Dr. Benedikt Huttner)
Chipanta, David
Impact of Social Protection Programmes on access and use of HIV services Use: A Comparison Study in Two Urban and Two Rural Districts of Zambia
(Supervisor: Prof. Olivia Keiser)
Choi, Hye Lynn
Comparative analysis of pharmaceutical reimbursement system and economic evaluation for decision-making in National Regulatory Authorities
(Supervisor: Prof. Bettina Borisch)
Das, Debashish
Predictors of malaria-attributable mortality in complex medical emergencies in Africa
(Supervisor: Prof. François Chappuis)
De Ridder, David (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Spatial dependence of dietary intake and compared influence of individual versus neighborhood-level socioeconomic and environmental factors
(Supervisor: Prof. Idris Guessous)
Galjour, Joshua
Chronic political instability and the implementation of the HIV/AIDS response in Guinea-Bissau from 2000 to 2015: A case study of the intersections of politics and epidemiology
(Supervisor: Prof. Emmanuel Mpinga)
Gaudet-Blavignac, Christophe (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
HUBBLE – Health Bigdata in the Lemanic Region
(Supervisor: Prof. Christian Lovis)
Harper, Melissa
Development and Implementation of Low Intensity Psychological Interventions in Low and Middle Income Countries
(Supervisor: Prof. Emiliano Albanese)
Issom, David-Zacharie
From Heterogeneous Data to Smart Data: A Framework to Personalize the Reuse of Medical Information in Patient Decision Support
(Supervisor: Prof. Christian Lovis)
Kaboré, Lassané (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Impact of the 13-valent pneumococcal vaccine on Streptococcus pneumoniae carriage, all-cause clinical pneumonia, and invasive pneumococcal disease in Burkina Faso
(Supervisor: Prof. Alain Gervaix)
Kieselbach, Berit
Child and adolescent health outcomes for exposure to domestic violence
(Supervisor: Prof. Thomas Perneger)
Krupchanka, Dzmitry
Mortality gap associated with mental disorders in the Czech Republic
(Supervisor: Prof. Yasser Khazaal)
Lazo Porras, Maria de los Angeles
Process Evaluation of the COHESION project
(Supervisor: Prof. François Chappuis)
Lepere, Philippe
Improving the HIV treatment cascade by empowering patients via mHealth technology, in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. The COSANUCI study: assessing the contribution of the mHealth solution to increased life expectancy and health related well-being among people living with HIV receiving antiretroviral therapy
(Supervisors: Prof. Alexandra Calmy, Prof. Antoine Geissbühler)
Lisibach, Angela Edith
Automated detection of adverse drug events in hospitalized patients
(Supervisor: Prof. Chantal Csajka)
Mohammed, Ibrahim
Vaccinating under the Shadow of Boko Haram: Effect of the Boko-Haram Insurgency on Immunization Activities and Polio Mass Vaccination Programmes in North-Eastern Nigeria
(Supervisor: Prof. Alain Gervaix)
Muratalieva, Elvira
Global policies to control non-communicable diseases and its influence to the strengthening primary health care system in Kyrgyzstan
(Supervisor: Prof. Mathieu Nendaz)
Mwangi, Kibachio Joseph
Social determinants of health and non-communicable diseases in Kenya: A review of the burden of non-communicable diseases and their risk factors, barriers and enablers of appropriate health seeking behavior for the prevention, care and treatment in Kenya and the impact of integrating NCD prevention and control in primary health and community health platforms
(Supervisors: Dr. Idris Guessous, Prof. Antoine Flahault)
Nogier, Cyril
Monitoring and Evaluating the Transition from Global Health Initiatives: the case of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
(Supervisor: Prof. Alain Gervaix)
Ochoa, Carlos
Determination, analysis and prediction of snakebite’s risk and incidence for
humans and animals, to reduce its burden, optimize the access to care and
estimate the effects of future environmental and population changes in hotspots areas of Cameroon and Nepal
(Supervisor: Prof. François Chappuis)
Oshima, Yoshiyuki
Social determinants of substance use among gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (MSM) in Geneva, Switzerland
(Supervisor: Prof. Barbara Broers)
Ouaijan, Krystel
Prevalence of Malnutrition in Lebanese Hospitals, Recognition and Impact on the Right to Health
(Supervisor: Prof. Emmanuel Kabengele Mpinga)
Peters, Alexandra
Creating a Transposable Model for Hospital Environmental Hygiene
(Supervisor: Prof. Didier Pittet)
Polonsky, Jonathan
Evaluation of strategies for community-based disease surveillance among crisis-affected populations
(Supervisor: Prof. Laurent Kaiser, Prof. Christian Lengeler)
Sadeghimehr, Maryam
Comprehensive disease models and cost-effectiveness studies of Hepatitis C Virus
(Supervisors: Prof. Olivia Keiser, Dr. Janne Estill)
Saito, Hiroki
Hand hygiene and infection prevention and control (IPC) promotion in Japan and Uganda through implementation of WHO guidelines on core components of IPC programmes
(Supervisors: Prof. Didier Pittet, Prof. Benedetta Allegranzi)
Samhouri, Dalia (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Analysis of the implementation of the International Health Regulations: How can Compliance be improved
(Supervisor: Prof. Antoine Flahault)
Sinyangwe, Chomba
Understanding Dynamics of Policy Processes Related to Maternal Health in Zambia
(Supervisor: Prof. Doris Schopper)
Sureshkumar, Sugitha
The Transitional Epidemiology in Child Health
(Supervisor: Prof. Jean-François Etter)
Sy, Amy
Optimizing the distribution and capacity of healthcare workers in Sub- Saharan Africa using digital health
(Supervisor: Prof. Antoine Geissbühler)
Tartari, Ermira
Global burden of healthcare-associated infections: impact of the WHO Clean Care is Safe Care programme worldwide
(Supervisor: Prof. Benedetta Allegranzi)
von Grünigen, Sandrine
Improving safe handling of cytotoxic medicines in low and middle-income countries: evaluation of the impact of a blended-learning module – a pilot study
(Supervisors: Prof. Antoine Geissbühler, Prof. Pascal Bonnabry)

Lausanne

Bovio, Nicolas
Occupational cancer in Switzerland
(Supervisor: Prof. Irina Guseva Canu)
Ehsan, Annahita (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Promoting Health through Community Action in Vaud, Switzerland
(Supervisor: Prof. Dario Spini)
Gebreab, Sirak
Psychosocial stress, psychiatric disorders and cardiovascular risk factors in the the general population
(Supervisor: Prof. Martin Preisig)
Le Pogam, Marie Annick
Geriatric patient safety indicators based on linked administrative health data to assess thrombo-embolic and hemorrhagic adverse events in Swiss older inpatients
(Supervisor: Prof. Bernard Burnand)

Lucerne

Huang, Jianan (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Informal Health Care by Family Members of Persons with Spinal Cord Injury in Switzerland
(Supervisor: Prof. Armin Gemperli)
Hwang, Aljoscha Benjamin
Analysis of clinical- and cost effectiveness of focused cognitive testing in elective inpatients
(Supervisor: Prof. Stefan Boes)
Napierala, Christoph (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
The implementation of DRG (Diagnosis Related Groups) on the economic situation with aspects of financing, quality and public health service provisioning
(Supervisor: Prof. Stefan Boes)

Lugano

Mannamplackal, Santhosh
Rehabilitation sector in the Swiss healthcare system: actual trends, consolidation of networks and emerging of integrated delivery systems
(Supervisors: Prof. Marco Meneguzzo, Prof. Stefano Calciolari)

Zurich

Kachalov, Viacheslav
Identifying determinants and drivers of the spread of antimicrobial resistance
(Supervisor: Prof. Roger Kouyos)
Kerksieck, Philipp (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Boundary Crafting: A New Measurement and its Relations to Occupation Health Parameters (working title)
(Supervisors: Prof. Holger Dressel, Prof. Georg Bauer)
Lehmann, Anja (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Effects of implementing lean management on psychosocial working conditions and employee health in a healthcare setting
(Supervisor: Prof. Georg Bauer)
Mattle, Michèle
Dancing towards Healthy and Happy Aging – Evidence of Dance-Related Exercise Programs to Prevent Falls of Seniors
(Supervisor: Prof. Heike Bischoff-Ferrari)
Nguyen, Huyen
The role of HLA diversity on HIV transmission and evolution along real-world transmission chains in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study
(Supervisor: Prof. Roger Kouyos)
Nittas, Vasileios (successful thesis defense, pursuing final certificate)
Digital Health: Using Electronic Patient-Generated Health Data to Facilitate Patient-Centered Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
(Supervisors: Prof. Milo Puhan, PD Dr. Margot Mütsch)
Werlen, Laura
Barriers to care in Swiss youth with mental disorders
(Supervisor: Prof. Meichun Mohler-Kuo)

Contact

SSPH+ PhD Program in Public Health/ SSPH+ Inter-university Graduate Campus Manager

Ann Walser
University of Fribourg
Population Health Laboratory
Route des Arsenaux 41
1700 Fribourg

phdph@ssphplus.ch