International Master of Public Health (IMPH)

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The Hebrew University-Hadassah Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine is proud of its overseas students who since 1970 have made the International Master of Public Health (IMPH) Program a most rewarding and successful venture. More than 900 students from 102 countries across the globe have participated in this unique experience.

Most of our students come from low-income countries/regions, including those countries considered by the OECD as 'emerging' or 'transition economies'. The program also welcomes students from middle-high income countries and regions. Our alumni include graduates from Western Europe, the USA, and Canada.

The IMPH student body comprises physicians, nurses, other health professionals, economists, social scientists, and those interested in public health from other disciplines. Our students' wide range of cultural backgrounds and work experiences coupled with our demanding curriculum creates an environment that is at once scientifically challenging and culturally stimulating.

Many of our graduates return home at the completion of their training to occupy leadership positions in the health care systems of their communities and countries. Personal contacts with our alumni and news of their impressive contributions to the health of their countries and beyond is a continuing source of pride and pleasure.

Israel's Agency for International Development Cooperation (MASHAV) has been a vital element in the development and continuation of this unique program since its establishment.

A limited number of scholarships are awarded annually by MASHAV and other donors for selected candidates from lower-income regions, countries in transition, and small-island-countries.

Israel is known to be a welcoming society and along with providing you with public health knowledge and skills, we will be happy to show you many of the treasures of Israel and its capital city, Jerusalem.

Surrounded by terraced slopes and pine-forested hills west of central Jerusalem, our campus lies next to the quiet, picturesque village of Ein Kerem. Students can wander along flower-lined paths, interspersed with vines and olive trees, and watch artists at work. Quaint shops, restaurants, and galleries dot the landscape. On campus, one of the first sights to greet newcomers is the magnificent set of stained glass windows created by Marc Chagall.

Join us and become part of our world-wide family devoted to the advancement of public health practices, research, and teaching.

The Unique Advantages of the Braun School’s IMPH Program in Israel

• The program promotes excellence in international public health research and practice in a broad range of topics.
• The School has nearly 50 years' experience of teaching public health in Israel and in many other countries.
• The School and its programs have been accredited by the Agency for Public Health Education Accreditation (APHEA)
• In recognition of our ongoing public health training efforts in Israel and abroad, the World Health Organization designated the School (2007-2014) as a Collaborating Centre for Capacity Building in Public Health.
• The IMPH Program provides tools for examining public health problems in low and higher-income countries and formulating relevant intervention strategies at the community and national level.
• The emphasis throughout is on active learning by the student, individually and in groups
• Israel is both a developed (academically, technologically) and a still-developing young country. We have experienced and struggled with health issues in both these roles.
• Together with rigorous academic requirements, the program is tailored to the student’s needs and interests.
• Our teachers are deeply involved, caring, and have open communication with their students.
• Small group tutorial classes are provided for students requiring additional assistance in some core courses.
• The IMPH Program offers a wide range of social and cultural activities that serve to bond and integrate the students and introduce them to the historical and modern host country of Israel.

What we will try to provide you with:

• The fundamental principles of public health and community medicine through our curriculum in epidemiology, research methods, statistics, health administration, and other core and elective courses. Courses are taught by faculty members with vast international experience, bringing a high level of expertise to the training program.
• Practical experience in the application of these principles in the COPC workshop
• Practical experience in planning and carrying out a research project
• A rewarding and stimulating experience of studying in a foreign country and of meeting and working with people from different professional and cultural backgrounds and joining a global network of hundreds of public health professionals who have graduated from the program

What we expect from you, or more accurately, what you should expect from yourself:

• A realistic assessment of your knowledge of English so that you are not handicapped by an inability to read the material, write papers, or participate fully and freely in class. We do not offer an English language course. Without a very strong command of English, you will not fully benefit from the course and you might be unable to successfully complete the requirements of the course.
• A clear understanding of why you want the degree and how you plan to use it, and a firm intention to continue to work in the field of public health in your own country.

Study Curriculum

The overall objective of our program is to provide basic knowledge of the theory and practice of public health and community medicine for those either currently engaged in this field or planning to do so in the future.

The curriculum of study is comprised of core courses, elective courses, the COPC Workshop, and the writing of a mentored Thesis or Master's Paper.

The emphasis throughout is on active learning by the student rather than passive participation in the classroom.

Our teachers are deeply involved, caring, and have open communication with their students.

Core Courses

The required courses which constitute the core of the IMPH studies include:

• Community Oriented Primary Health Care Workshop
• Control of Communicable Diseases
• Environmental and Occupational Health
• Health Economics
• Health Promotion and Health Behavior
• Interpretation of Epidemiological Data
• Introduction to Public Health
• Monitoring & Evaluation of Public Health Programs Workshop
• Organization of Medical Care
• Principles and Uses of Epidemiology
• Public Health Nutrition
• Public Health Practice, Organization, and Evaluation
• Public Health Seminar & Professional Site Visits
• Qualitative Methods in Public Health
• Research Forum
• Sociology of Health and Illness
• Statistical Methods for Public Health
• Survey and Research Methods

Elective Courses

Students also choose from a wide range of elective courses such as:

• Aging: Epidemiology and Services
• Economic Evaluation of Public Health and Medical Interventions
• Geographical Information Systems (GIS) and Public Health
• Health Promotion
• History of Public Health and Epidemiology
• Public Health Demography
• Maternal and Child Health
• Multidisciplinary Aspects of HIV/AIDS
• Public Health Ethics
• Selected Topics in Epidemiology
• Statistical Methods for Analysis of Rates

Examinations and Grading

Course grades are based on written or oral examinations, papers, or student presentations, depending on the course. Students must obtain a passing grade of 60 in each course to be eligible to receive the MPH degree.

COPC Workshop

A major component of the IMPH program is the Community-Oriented Primary Care (COPC) Workshop. COPC is an innovative approach to health care delivery at the population level that integrates clinical medicine and public health. The COPC model was developed in our School and is employed in communities worldwide. The main objective of this workshop is to develop community medicine in a primary health care setting or another framework, with special emphasis on the use of epidemiology in daily practice. Students apply the COPC principles and methods to data from their own communities.

Thesis

Students in the thesis track collect and analyze data on a relevant public health topic or conduct detailed secondary analyses of an existing database. This track is open to students who achieve above-average grades in the first semester courses. These are submitted in writing and defended in an oral examination at the end of the year.

Master Paper

Students who choose this track write a paper on a public health problem that is relevant to their country. The paper may comprise a detailed research project proposal, a program review, or an in-depth analysis of an emerging or existing public health problem.

Master papers are submitted in writing and presented at the end of the year.

Academic Year: October - September

The academic year is divided into two semesters and a summer session. The first semester begins in October and ends in January-February, and the second semester ends in June. The exact start and end dates vary from year to year.

The summer session (July - September) is primarily devoted to working on the Thesis/Master Paper (including fieldwork if necessary). Course exams are held in January-February and July; the oral defense of the thesis or presentation of the master paper takes place in September, prior to graduation.

Professional site-visits, social outings, cultural events, and lectures on current affairs and the history of the region take place throughout the year. Students join in the celebration of local religious festivals. Informal home visits facilitate contact with faculty members and other Israelis.

Comfortable on-campus housing is provided for scholarship students in apartments shared with other students in the program. Non-scholarship students can rent in these apartments (based on availability). Apartments can also be rented in close proximity to campus.

Aims and Objectives of the Course

The overall objective of our program is to provide basic knowledge of the theory and practice of public health and community medicine for those either currently engaged in this field or planning to do so in the future.

We will work toward helping you develop knowledge and skills in the following areas:

• Epidemiology, research methods, and biostatistics
• Health administration, health economics, and health systems
• Public health practice, planning, administration, and evaluation
• Planning and carrying out research projects
• Diagnosis of the state of health of a communities
• Design and implementation of community-based health programs
• Control of communicable diseases
• Environmental and occupational health
• Sociological and behavioral determinants of health
• Nutrition in public health, food security, and combating malnutrition
• Maternal and child health

Upon successful completion of the program you will be expected to:

• Initiate and participate in the promotion and development of public health practices in your own country on a national or regional level or in a local community setting
• Use epidemiological and other tools toward health system planning and evaluation, and health services delivery in geographical regions and within an institution
• Develop capacity-building programs responsible for training public health personnel in your country