Evolve our research-focused education
Implementation Progress
Evolve our research-focused education to better prepare our graduates for interdisciplinary, team-based scientific discovery and implementation.
VISION
By 2024, we will evolve our research-focused education to better prepare our graduates to be active participants in interdisciplinary, team-based research endeavors. To achieve this goal, we will innovate our curriculum, developing cross-departmental opportunities for learning and collaboration, and strengthening skills in problem-solving, critical thinking, and communication around science. We will expand professional development opportunities so our graduates are well prepared for careers within and outside academia. Our ultimate aim is to nurture a schoolwide community of PhD students engaged in interdisciplinary thinking who appreciate and apply the frameworks and methodologies employed across the field of public health.
Current Activities
- Evaluating student satisfaction with new “Cells to Society” and “Leadership Skills” courses
- Implementing and evaluating interdepartmental PhD seminar
- Departments are working to ensure that all doctoral students and faculty mentors complete an annual Individual Development Plan (IDP).
- Developing resources for faculty to improve mentoring skills
- Establishing LinkedIn groups to facilitate student engagement with alumni
- Expanding alumni mentoring programs
- Professional Development and Career Office (PDCO) is increasing programming for doctoral students to learn about and prepare for a range of careers.
Accomplishments
- Established council of PhD directors
- With assistance from more than 50 faculty members and key staff in the Center for Teaching and Learning, developed and launched 12 “Cells to Society” courses and 6 “Leadership Skills Series” Courses aligned with new Council on Education for Public Health (CEPH) criteria.
- Developed interdepartmental PhD seminar on establishing causality that will be offered for the first time in the fall of 2019
- Coursera and LinkedIn professional development courses have been made freely available to students.
- Implemented new course evaluation system to obtain feedback from students
- Promoted access to Johns Hopkins University professional development resources such as Handshake