MAKERERE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF HEALTH SCIENCES

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1 PUBLIC HEALTH FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES OVERVIEW OF THE PUBLIC Health Fellowship Program (PHFP) Makerere University School of Public Health (MakSPH) in partnership with the Uganda Ministry of Health (MOH) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is implementing the Public Health Fellowship Program (PHFP), an initiative to develop the next generation of public health leadership for Uganda. The goal of this program is to develop a competent workforce by learning-through-service and responding to real public health problems of Uganda. The PHFP has four objectives: 1. Training: Develop a workforce competent in applied epidemiology and other cross-cutting aspects of public health practice 2. Service: Fill gaps and perform essential functions in public health practice within priority technical units and programs at national and sub-national levels 3. Advocacy: Establish/reinforce substantive public health specialist cadres at national, regional/district levels and ensure dedicated funding to sustain the capacity building efforts 4. Networking: Strengthen collaborations across various tiers of the health sector, other national and regional stakeholders The PHFP is a 2-year, non-degree full-time program offered on a competitive basis to Ugandan nationals who seek to become leaders in public health practice. The PHFP will be offered in four tracks, namely: Field Epidemiology Training Program, Laboratory, Health Informatics, and Monitoring and Evaluation. For the upcoming 2014/2015 intake, the PHFP offers ten (10) 2-year Fellowships in Field Epidemiology Training Program (FETP). The FETP will consist of didactic learning (20%) and project-based training (80%). Competency domains include field epidemiology, communications, public health programming, and management and leadership. Fellows will prove development of these competencies by completing a portfolio of projects in each of these domains. Fellows will serve in priority technical units of the Ministry of Health, regional level or district health services to complete this portfolio under the supervision and mentorship of national and international subject-area experts. The PHFP aims at training transformative leaders in health who are analytical in thinking, who can work effectively in teams and who can integrate inter-disciplinarity in their work. The training methodology takes on a hands-on approach that is guided by four main domains (applied epidemiology, effective communication, public health programming and leadership and management). For each domain, Fellows must demonstrate multiple competencies by executing projects to address public health priorities in Uganda. Public Health Fellows are attached to priority technical units of the Ministry of Health, regional health services and/or district health services. The attachment accounts for 80% of the experience. The remaining 20% is reserved for Fellows to attend modular trainings, seminars, debates, etc. that are supportive of competency development and linked to the fieldwork. During the field attachment, the Fellow is placed under the guidance of a host mentor, and also receives mentorship from the PHFP Secretariat, and from senior technical experts at MakSPH, MOH and CDC. The PHFP builds upon the rich tradition of capacity-building at MakSPH. Since 1994, MakSPH has been conducting Master s level training in Public Health and Health Services Research; training over 300 public health officers who occupy positions of responsibility at different levels of the public health system in Uganda. In 2002, MakSPH initiated the MakPH-CDC Fellowship Program aimed at enhancing leadership and management capacity of health program managers and leaders in Uganda. This capacity building program has trained over 85 Fellows in leadership and management of health programs, with over 90% of the graduates occupying senior leadership positions in Uganda and elsewhere. Additional information about the PHFP in general and the Field Epidemiology Training Program in particular can be obtained from the Training Manager, MakSPH-CDC Fellowship Program, Makerere University School of Public Health; telephone: ; jmatovu@musph.ac.ug. 1

2 APPLICATION INFORMATION FOR PUBLIC HEALTH FELLOWSHIPS Number of Public Health Fellows to be admitted: Up to ten Fellows will be admitted for the 2014/15 intake in field epidemiology Minimum Qualifications & Experience: Academic Qualifications: Successful applicants should have a Master s degree in any of the following disciplines: Public Health, Health Services Research, Epidemiology, Laboratory Technology, Microbiology, Veterinary Public Health, Nutrition, Environmental Health, and any other health related disciplines Required Work experience: Applicants should have 3-7 years of work experience in health-related field including human health, veterinary health, wildlife, environmental health etc. Applicants existing within the Public Service and those from hard-to-reach areas will have an added advantage. Candidates already in the civil service will be expected to commit to a two-year bonding requirement for continued service after completion of the fellowship. Fellowship duration: The Public Health Fellowship Program is a 2-year full-time training program. Selected individuals will spend 80% of the time in the field completing a portfolio of projects to demonstrate competencies in field epidemiology, communications, public health programming, and management and leadership. These field assignments will be hosted by priority technical units at the Ministry of Health, regional health services and/or district health services. The remaining 20% of the Fellowship Experience will be in modular, classroom trainings, debates, seminars and journal clubs. Candidate profile: Potential applicants should have strong analytic skills and demonstrated experience in epidemiology, and strong communication and interpersonal skills. They should be familiar with the scientific literature as it pertains to their areas of interest and should have good writing and presentation skills. Application process: Applicants should submit an application letter, updated curriculum vitae and two reference letters from professional referees who are known to them (see submission checklist below). Please include telephone and contacts as appropriate and attach certified copies of academic transcripts and certificates of degree programs undertaken. In addition, please submit a personal statement not exceeding 1 page describing why you think you are a suitable candidate for this Fellowship. Key dates to note Application deadline: June 15, 2014 Short-listing: Late June 2014 Interviews 1 st week of July 2014 Screening course for interviewed candidates: 1 st week of July 2014 Notification of successful candidates: 2 nd week of July, 2014 Approximate training start date: October 2014 Submission Checklist (Please make sure that your application package contains the following documents): Application letter Applicant s information form Personal statement Referee forms Letter of recommendation 2

3 Up-to-date curriculum vitae Certified copies of academic transcripts and degree programs undertaken Letter of endorsement and release from current institution (In-service applicants only) For more information about the Public Health Fellowship Program in general, or the Field Epidemiology Training Program in particular, please contact Mr. Joseph KB Matovu at the address indicated below: Joseph KB Matovu Makerere University College of Health Sciences, School of Public Health P.O. Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. Tel: Fax:

4 1. APPLICANT S INFORMATION FORM (To be filled by each applicant) 1.1 PERSONAL INFORMATION Name (exactly as it appears on academic documents) Gender: Male Female Date of Birth: / / Nationality: Marital Status: 1.2 APPLICANT CONTACT INFORMATION Home address Mobile Telephone: Address: 1.3 INSTITUTIONAL CONTACT INFORMATION Institution of current employment: Address of institution of current employment: Name of immediate supervisor Telephone contact of immediate supervisor of immediate supervisor Would you like us to contact your immediate supervisor as part of the screening process? Yes No How long have you been working in the health sector? Years How long have you been working in your area of specialization? Years 1.4 EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND (Please list most recent degree first) Institution, City, Country From (Month/Year) To (Month/Year) Degree Received Major Field 4

5 1.5 PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS HELD (Please list most recent position first) Organization, Country City, Position Held From (Month/Year) To (Month/Year) Reasons for leaving 1.6 PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES: Please list names, titles, and s of individuals from whom you have requested a letter of reference (Please attach 2 letters of reference with your application) Name, title, institution Relationship with referee (e.g. academic supervisor, immediate supervisor, etc.) & telephone contact 1.7 PUBLIC HEALTH AREAS OF INTEREST: Please indicate your public health interests by checking one of the boxes below. HIV/AIDS Maternal & Child Health Disease surveillance and epidemic response 5

6 Non-communicable diseases and injury Other area (Please describe): 2.0 PERSONAL STATEMENT Please prepare a personal statement not exceeding 1 page outlining past/current programmatic involvement in health programming, your primary areas of interest in field epidemiology, and career goals/objectives to be achieved on undertaking the Fellowship. Your personal statement should be written with the following questions in mind: 1. Describe why you are applying for this Fellowship and why you think you qualify for this Fellowship 2. Describe how you will be able to use the knowledge and skills gained during the Fellowship program to shape your career aspirations. 3. Provide two specific examples that demonstrate your (1) epidemiology and (2) leadership skills either in your current position or past experience. [Please write/print your personal statement in the space provided below] 6

7 3.0 REFEREE FORM (To be filled by 2 independent referees. Please print out this page and send it to your referee to fill and return to you in a sealed envelope. All reference forms must be dated and signed. Please attach a letter of recommendation from each referee in addition to this form) TO THE REFEREE: The Public Health Fellowship Program, tenable at Makerere University School of Public Health, aims at building individual capacity for leadership in public health practice. For the 2014/2015 intake, the program will admit up to ten fellows in field epidemiology. The program duration is two years. Each applicant is required to submit 2 copies of this reference form from persons who know them in their professional capacity. Please provide a candid assessment of the Fellow s ability to undertake this Fellowship by completing this form. Referee Contact Information: Name: Position: Institution: Address: Telephone: Date: / / Signature: Please rank the applicant on the following attributes considered critical to leadership in public health practice Attributes Scientific skills Program Management Interpersonal skills Written communication Oral communication Below Average Average (Top 50%) Good (Top 25%) Excellent (Top 15%) Outstanding (Top 5%) 7

8 Creativity Ability to function effectively in interdisciplinary groups Leadership skills and potential Commitment to program goals Integrity 4.0 RECOMMENDATION LETTER (please submit 2 letters of recommendation from each referee in a sealed envelope as part of your application package. The statement below should guide your referees in preparing their letters of recommendation) Please provide your overall assessment of the applicant including his/her qualifications, with specific focus on the applicant s potential for becoming a practicing epidemiologist and future leader in public health. 5.0 LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT FOR IN-SERVICE APPLICANTS: (Please submit a letter of endorsement, one of which should be from your employer, in a sealed envelope together with other application materials. The following questions should guide your supervisor/employer in preparing the letter of endorsement. Maximum length: 2 pages) 1. Please provide your overall assessment of the applicant including his/her qualifications, with specific focus on the applicant s potential to undertake the Public Health Fellowship Program 2. Please confirm your willingness to release the applicant to undertake the Public Health Fellowship Program SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION MATERIALS Please submit hard-copies of your application materials (please cross-check with the submission checklist above and ensure that you have submitted all the necessary documents) to the undersigned not later than Friday, June 13, The Dean, Makerere University College of Health Sciences School of Public Health, P.O. Box 7072, Kampala. Hand delivery: Room 215, 2 nd Floor, MakSPH Building, New Mulago Hospital Complex Mark on envelope with: Public Health Fellowship Program Application 8