Interdisciplinary PhD Programme in Public and Population Health

This innovative PhD programme brings together students from a range of disciplines who are engaged in public health and population-related doctoral research. It provides a more structured programme than was previously the case in order to: 'benchmark' basic competencies; standardize students' educational experience; ensure a broad foundation in addition to the in-depth area of study; provide knowledge, skills and experience for future professional engagement; and monitor student progress and quality through a series of milestones with provision of additional support where necessary.

The programme comprises three components: doctoral research and thesis, academic programme, and professional development. These are monitored and evaluated through formal assessments and participation milestones.

Thesis can be presented either as a traditional monograph or as a thesis with publications ? the latter is encouraged. Monitoring involves assessment at three milestones: presentation of research protocol to doctoral group followed by submission to Faculty Postgraduate Committee (during first year), interim seminar and review by assessors (mid-way), and thesis examination with final presentation and policy brief (final stage).

Academic programme comprises a seminar programme and tailored coursework. Minimum compulsory requirements are stipulated; demonstration of equivalence is accepted for students based outside Johannesburg.

The seminar programme consists of:

• Monthly seminars: includes core interdisciplinary, ethics and leadership seminars
• PhD student sessions: includes student protocol presentations; research skills seminars.
• Interim seminar and reviews and 'final presentations'.
• Annual doctoral retreat: 3 day program on research and writing skills.

Tailored Coursework requirements involve coursework tailored to student needs. In addition to the range of courses offered in affiliated schools and departments, the programme offers a number of additional methods courses. In 2009 these included:

• 3-month advanced epidemiology (offered by Right-to-Care with School of Public Health)
• Biostatistics seminar series (School of Public Health)
• Qualitative courses (Humanities Graduate Centre, Postgraduate Project Office)

Professional development - Seven core components of professional development have been identified. For each, the minimum level of student participation and performance has been defined (see table below).

Scale of PhD programme

There are currently 40 students participating in the interdisciplinary PhD programme: 33 are registered in the School of Public Health; the others are registered in Paediatrics, Computational and Applied Mathematics, Demography and Population Studies. Of the 33 public health-registered students, five are based permanently outside Johannesburg and three have final theses submitted and under examination. Enquiries and applications continue year-round with 18 new applications at the end of 2009.

PhD Retreats

An important part of the Interdisciplinary PhD Programme in Public and Population Health is an annual three-day residential retreat. This focuses on generic skills to support students? research including critical reading, developing an argument, developing a conceptual framework and writing. The retreat is problem-oriented and is structured to provide expert inputs, individual and group tasks, opportunity for formal and informal group-work, consultations with Wits writing consultants, and individual writing sessions. Being away from the complex demands of work and families in Johannesburg, gives students time to share personal experiences and constitute support groups.

The 2008 PhD Spring School was held at Valverde Conference Centre and was facilitated by Professor Lenore Manderson, the 2008 Hillel Friedland Fellow from Monash University, Australia. The workshop was attended by 19 students. The 2009 PhD retreat, coordinated by Professor Kathy Kahn, was held at the Alpha Conference Centre in Broederstroom and had 20 participating students. A Sessions on developing, drawing and writing up a conceptual framework, run by Dr Jane Goudge and Dr Liz Thomas of the Centre for Health Policy, set the tone of the retreat with students enthusiastically working on and discussing their conceptual frameworks throughout the remainder of the retreat. The Wits Writing Centre under Pam Nichols made a considerable contribution, leaving students keen to sustain the energy, support and utility of ongoing writing groups.

Students felt that the retreats had contributed to their individual progress and advancement.

Comments included:

• The retreat enriched and revised my approach to writing. [helping] me organize a logical flow
• Useful and interesting .. I learned valuable lessons about challenges as well as solutions to problems from other PhD colleagues
• Retreat helped me structure my thoughts and put my argument and conceptual framework together.

Email us on #Sch-research-publichealth@wits.ac.za