Franziska Keller1, Suzanne Dhaini1, Matthias Briel2, Sina Henrichs3, Christoph Höchsmann4, Daniel Kalbermatten5, Nino Künzli6, Annette Mollet7, Christian Puelacher8, Arno Schmidt-Trucksäss4, Belinda von Niederhäusern9, Sabina De Geest1,10. 1. Institute of Nursing Science, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 2. Basel Institute for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics and Department of Clinical Research, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 3. Vice President's Office for Research, Graduate Center, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 4. Department of Sport, Exercise and Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 5. Division of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery and Hand Surgery, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 6. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 7. Institute of Pharmaceutical Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 8. Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Institute Basel, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 9. Clinical Trial Unit, Department of Clinical Research, University Hospital Basel and University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. 10. Department of Public Health, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Over the past decade, several excellent guidelines have been published on how to enhance the quality of PhD education in Europe. Aimed primarily at preparing students for innovative roles in their fields, they include variously structured approaches to curricular offerings, as well as other program components applicable across specialties (eg: supervisor support, scientific conduct, transferable skills). Since 2012, the interdisciplinary PhD Program in Health Sciences (PPHS) at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Basel in Switzerland has focused on translating these guidelines into a 21st-century health sciences PhD program. RESULTS: The PPHS started in 2012 based on the European Union (EU) guidelines for PhD education. This article describes the resulting interdisciplinary PhD program's conceptual underpinnings, rationale, structures, and 10 building blocks, like student portfolios, thematic training, interdisciplinary research seminars, student-initiated interdisciplinary activities, financial support of course participation, top-up and extension stipends, PhD supervision, research integrity, alumni follow-up network, and promotional tools including a dedicated website. Students enter from Clinical Research, Medicine Development, Nursing Science, Epidemiology and Public Health including Insurance Medicine, Sport Science (all from the Faculty of Medicine), and Epidemiology (Faculty of Science). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The Basel PPHS exemplifies state-of-the-art PhD education in Health Sciences based on European guidelines and offers guidance to other groups from conceptualization to rollout of an interdisciplinary health sciences PhD program.
OBJECTIVES: Over the past decade, several excellent guidelines have been published on how to enhance the quality of PhD education in Europe. Aimed primarily at preparing students for innovative roles in their fields, they include variously structured approaches to curricular offerings, as well as other program components applicable across specialties (eg: supervisor support, scientific conduct, transferable skills). Since 2012, the interdisciplinary PhD Program in Health Sciences (PPHS) at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Basel in Switzerland has focused on translating these guidelines into a 21st-century health sciences PhD program. RESULTS: The PPHS started in 2012 based on the European Union (EU) guidelines for PhD education. This article describes the resulting interdisciplinary PhD program's conceptual underpinnings, rationale, structures, and 10 building blocks, like student portfolios, thematic training, interdisciplinary research seminars, student-initiated interdisciplinary activities, financial support of course participation, top-up and extension stipends, PhD supervision, research integrity, alumni follow-up network, and promotional tools including a dedicated website. Students enter from Clinical Research, Medicine Development, Nursing Science, Epidemiology and Public Health including Insurance Medicine, Sport Science (all from the Faculty of Medicine), and Epidemiology (Faculty of Science). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The Basel PPHS exemplifies state-of-the-art PhD education in Health Sciences based on European guidelines and offers guidance to other groups from conceptualization to rollout of an interdisciplinary health sciences PhD program.
Entities:
Keywords:
Health sciences; PhD education; implementation; interdisciplinary
Authors: Cecilia M Plaza; Jolaine Reierson Draugalis; Marion K Slack; Grant H Skrepnek; Karen Ann Sauer Journal: Am J Pharm Educ Date: 2007-04-15 Impact factor: 2.047