Public Health Field Leader Fellowship

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Public Health Management Institute (PHMI)

Public Health Field Leader Fellowship (PHFLF)

Public Health Management Institute (PHMI), is in collaboration with the US Government's Centres for Disease Control/Global AIDS Program (CDC-GAP), President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the International Centre Human Health Advancement (ICHHA); PHMI initiates projects for promoting Public Health Leaders for Human Health Advancement to maximize the skills and the capacity of Public Health Leaders in Govt., Pvt., NGOs along with prevention and control of HIV/AIDS. Currently offers the one-year hands of Public Health Field Leader Fellowship (PHFLF) to medical, health and other social science experts

PHFLF Mission & Objectives

The PHFLF aims to enhance practical knowledge and skills of public health professionals working in governmental and non-governmental organizations in the principles of public health prevention, strategic planning, and management. Through the Fellowship, PHMI and its partners will contribute to a reduction in the prevalence and severity of HIV/AIDS in India through development of highly qualified public health leadership and management.

Objectives

The overall objectives of the Fellowship are:

1.

To familiarize Fellows with fundamental concepts of public health and how they can be applied to HIV

2.

To help Fellows identify evidence-based strategies in HIV surveillance, prevention, treatment, and care

3.

To develop the Fellows' field management and leadership skills

4.

To encourage Fellows to engage in critical thinking in planning and implementing public health programs

5.

To promote the continued study and interest in best practices of public health and its applications to HIV

Standardization of healthcare in India

Fellowship Structure

Novel to the current teaching ideology in India, the PHFLF is a unique educational model--a 12-month curriculum which includes a total of 6 bi-monthly weeks of on-site instruction, supplemented by distance learning assignments. A distinctive aspect of the program is the fact that all Fellows are concurrently employed as mid or senior level public health managers. This enables them to apply skills gained in the Fellowship through real time, on-the-job challenges-mutually benefiting the Fellow and the agencies for which they work.

Each of the six contact weeks focuses on a particular theme in-depth. This not only introduces Fellows to a range of fundamental public health principles, but also provides them with a solid foundation of skills and understanding in each of the areas. Instructional methods and techniques are modelled on adult learning theories--didactic presentations coupled with small group exercises, field assignments, case studies, quiz, debates, and role-play.

Fellows engaging in active discussion during group work in one of the contact course sessions

A contact course session during one of the fellowship weeks held in Chennai

Fellows are responsible for completing one homework assignment in between each of the contact weeks. These assignments are crafted to bridge the themes of the six contact weeks and ensure that Fellows apply the skills learned in preceding weeks. This distance learning module takes Fellows through the entire process of planning for a public health intervention, and has been designed such that each assignment builds upon the other to culminate in a project proposal to be presented in the final week of the program. Fellows must achieve a passing score on each assignment, graded by the assigned mentor. Due to strict restrictions on the use of U.S. Government funds to conduct research, these topics must

steer away from formal research, such as randomized controlled trials or the collection of biologic samples.To maximize the synergy of contact courses, distance learning assignments, and on-the-job application of skills, Fellows are assigned a mentor who provides support throughout the entire course of study. The mentor provides regular feedback and "grades" each homework assignment prior to the start of the subsequent Fellowship week. Mentors also fill out an evaluation on the Fellows at the end of the Fellowship to verify successful completion of the homework assignments. Additionally, mentors are expected to make one site visit to the Fellow's place of employment to assess Fellow's ability to apply fellowship concepts to his/her work, and meet with the Fellow's supervisor to ensure the agency is benefiting from the Fellow's enrolment in the program. Upon completion of the Fellowship, Fellows receive a certificate and are strategically positioned within reputed public health organizations.

Fellowship Curriculum

Fellowship sessions follow a comprehensive curriculum and are complementary to the "Core Competencies of a Master's Degree in Public Health Project" of the American Schools of Public Health (ASPH). The components of the curriculum are as structured as follows:

• Week 1: Getting to Know Your Community and the Virus

• Week 2: Data for Decision Making

• Week 3: HIV Prevention Strategies and Cost-effectiveness

• Week 4: Communications and Advocacy

• Week 5: Public Health Management

• Week 6: Emerging Issues in HIV and Public Health

An integral and distinctive component of each contact week is the one-day field assignment, the purpose of which is to practice skills imparted in the classroom directly and immediately in the 'field'. As these assignments are entirely Fellow-driven (with minimal guidance from faculty), critical thinking, leadership, team work, time-management, interpersonal, and presentation skills are also strengthened in the process. Fellows are required to work as a team and present findings of the given field assignment in front of their colleagues during the week.

Group of fellows planning for their field assignment

The curriculum is designed to promote adult learning principles. Articles are given in advance of contact weeks to motivate the Fellows to read background material before the session. This is supplemented with objectives of the sessions, which are linked to the reading. In year two, there will be linkage questions with the reading to stimulate discussion and to enable integration of the material in to the fellow's existing fund of knowledge. The syllabus also states the training methodologies which will be used in the corresponding session. The basic reading is provided in hard copies, while supplementary or advanced reading is given electronically.

To maximize the synergy of contact courses, distance learning assignments, and on-the-job application of skills, Fellows are assigned a mentor who provides support throughout the entire course of study. The mentor provides regular feedback and "grades" each homework assignment prior to the start of the subsequent Fellowship week. Mentors also fill out an evaluation on the Fellows at the end of the Fellowship to verify successful completion of the homework assignments. Additionally, mentors are expected to make one site visit to the Fellow's place of employment to assess Fellow's ability to apply fellowship concepts to his/her work, and meet with the Fellow's supervisor to ensure the agency is benefiting from the Fellow's enrolment in the program. Upon completion of the Fellowship, Fellows receive a certificate and are strategically positioned within reputed public health organizations

Resource Faculty

Sessions during contact weeks are conducted by Indian and international experts in the field of Development, Management, and/or Public Health, who have had hands-on field experience. The selection of the resource faculty is based on their skills, knowledge, and experience, as well as their teaching interest and ability. PHMI has used more than 30 experts to teach sessions, including faculty from: CDC, NASTAD, AIDS Prevention and Control Project (APAC), UNAIDS, Population Services International (PSI), Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative (TAI), Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society (TNSACS), Gates Foundation, BBC World Trust, HLFPPT, FHI, Internews, JHU, and many more. A Resource Faculty Guide developed by PHMI is provided to each faculty prior to his/her session. It includes an overview of the Fellowship, curriculum objectives, training session expectations, short bios of the fellows, and the pre and post session evaluation sheet upon which the session with be assessed for future inclusion in the syllabus. The guide also emphasizes the use of interactive techniques to promote effective adult learning.

Dr. Swarup Sarkar who works for UNAIDS Thailand flew to India specially to give a lecture during one of the contact course weeks of the fellowship

Ms. Supriya Sahu, PD of TANSACS, giving insights on the Tamil Nadu HIV/AIDS epidemic during a contact course session

Mr. Manoj Gopalkrishna, CEO of Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust, giving a lecture on social marketing

Mentors

Mentors are expected to guide and advise the fellows over the course of the year so as to ensure that each fellow receives optimum gains out of the program, and to help shape his/her public health career goals. The mentor will assist the fellow in project work (including documentation), provide a periodical progress report on the fellow, and be a faculty/resource person for fellowship contact sessions and for curriculum/training resource material design. The mentorship program of the fellowship is based on a three-tire approach:

a. Internal mentors who, on a voluntary basis, review homework and support the PHMI team with curriculum development and course materials.

b. Regional mentors: identified primarily by the fellows in their respective area of operation, or from the regions/states to which fellows belong. Regional mentors, being public health experts and familiar with state level HIV/AIDS related programs and policies, could ideally provide 'on-the-site' assistance to fellows

c. International Mentors: Mentors who are placed at , Chicago University , Pittsburgh University , CDC Atlanta, Harvard University , and other international organisations. These mentors add further value to the entire mentorship process by providing further global, insights into the latest developments in the public health sphere. The idea is that fellows will benefit from local, national, and international perspectives, and integrate these into their daily work. International mentors serve entirely on a voluntary basis, and will be available via phone or e-mail. Should they be visiting India at any point of time, efforts to physically meet the fellow(s) would be encouraged and greatly appreciated.

Our Fellows

PHMI plans to maintain contact with the graduated Fellows, and will invite them to special functions such as Technical Symposiums and Workshops, Commencement and Valedictory ceremonies, and the Final Week Six Project Dissemination Day. Graduated Fellows will also been used as Resource Faculty. Inaugural Batch: 2007 - 2008 The inaugural batch comprises 25 Fellows with health, medical, and social science backgrounds, representing 9 states across India. The Fellows work at both government (e.g. State AIDS Control Societies, Medical Colleges) and private sector agencies (e.g. Population Services International, Catholic Health Association of India, Pathfinder, Family Health International, Clinton Foundation, World Health Organization, Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust, Karnataka Health Promotion Trust). Representation from numerous and diverse key players in India has facilitated public health collaborations with PHMI, as well as demonstrated the interest in and strengthened the support for the Fellowship (Fellow's Profile available on line: click www.phmi.org activities Public Health Field Leader Fellowship

Admissions

PHMI will announce admissions for the Fellowship through newspapers, electronic forum announcements (AIDS India, SAATHII, Devnet), government and private medical institutions, NGOs, SACS, NACO etc. Recruitment and selection process is led by PHMI and an external HR agency, involving key stakeholders. Given the stated goals of the Fellowship, considerable preference is given to those with previous experience and continued desire to work in the field of HIV/AIDS.Minimal criterion for prospective candidates: The criterion for selection is stringent and involves all the Stakeholders. Applicants should be Indian Nationals who hold a Post-graduate degree in Social Sciences, Statistics, Management, or Medicine (or MBBS), with three years prior work experience in a related field. Additionally, they must prove current employment, provide a letter of support from their supervisor to allow full participation in all six contact weeks, and must be aged 40 years or less on date of application. Fluency in English and commitment to a career in Public Health and/or Development in India must be demonstrated.Applicants are screened using a unique selection process, including assessment of CV, letter of intent, references, letters of recommendation, and essay questions. Then, a short-listed batch is gathered for participation in a live-debate discussion with other applicants on a pre-selected topic unknown to them until time of debate. Their interpersonal, leadership, and cognitive skills are scored by a panel of judges given pre-determined criteria. Short-listed applicants are also given a "psychometric assessment" test for which the panel is provided results to use when making final decisions.

For more details contact:

S.SAMRAJFellowship DirectorPublic Health Management Institute (PHMI), in association with CDC-GAP/PEPFARe-mail: sam.phmi@...