In addition to international graduate education in epidemiology, the Epidemiology Unit also aims to strengthen the health system and build the capacity of local health researchers and health personnel.
Our services to the region and the global health community include but are not limited to:
1. International Collaborations and Capacity Building Activities
Activities of the Epidemiology Unit in recent years include but are not limited to:
1) Serving as a WHO Collaborating Centre: In 2012, the Epidemiology Unit was designated as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Epidemiology. In this capacity, the Epidemiology Unit provides training to health professionals in collaboration with the WHO and promotes multi-center epidemiological studies, and mentors and provides training to academic institutes in Indonesia, Myanmar, Cambodia and Bhutan.
2) Served as the Lead Partner in the "Asia Health Research Network" South-South Exchange Program, supported by FredsKorpset Norway (currently known as NOREC, the Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation) during 2008-2012. The Epidemiology Unit coordinated the exchange of early and mid-career professionals at partner institutions (academic institutions and health service organizations in China, Nepal, Mongolia and Bangladesh). The Epidemiology Unit also trained a number of professionals from partner organizations in its M.Sc. (Epidemiology) and 10-month fellowship programs.
3) Built collaborations and engagements with universities in Aceh Province, Indonesia, under a development grant from the Rockefeller Foundation
4) Served as the lead author and co-author in the SE Asia Health Series, China Medical Board, Rockefeller Foundation and the Lancet
2. Institute of Research and Development for Health of Southern Thailand (RDH)
The Institute of Research and Development for Health of Southern Thailand (RDH) is the development arm of the Epidemiology Unit. RDH is a contact point for Epidemiology Unit to provide consultation to local health and development organizations and engage in capacity building of local institutes. The missions of RDH are:
- Strengthening of capability of small academic institutes in the southern region.
- Application of academic expertise to solving the unrest situation in the south by establishing and maintaining a database of affected persons in collaboration with hospitals in the region.
- Promotion of PSU graduate volunteers to participate in community development and forge links between academics and local communities.
3. PSU Graduate Volunteer Program
The Graduate Volunteer Program recruits recent university graduates to engage in a year of service with local under-served communities. Graduate Volunteers are tasked with identifying problems faced by the community and designing and implementing a participatory action research (PAR) project to provide a solution to the problem. The Graduate Volunteer Program is organized by RDH with technical support and supervision from Epidemiology Unit staff.
A number of Graduate Volunteers continue to collaborate with Epidemiology Unit after completion. Two Graduate Volunteers have completed their doctoral degrees and four are currently pursuing advanced studies. PAR studies from the Program have also culminated in three publications.
4. Consultation and Collaboration with the Thai Ministry of Public Health
Providing consultation and collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health, southern region, in dealing with regional health problems such as Chikungunya outbreak, diseases requiring vaccination and chronic illnesses