Emerging Approaches for Measuring Population Health
This second course in the Strengthening Population Health Data Systems series offered by the Center for Global Digital Health Innovation focuses on data collection methods for population health data. Learners will gain knowledge of the different methodologies that can be leveraged to obtain population health data from various sources. Traditional and emerging data collection techniques are covered, with an emphasis on digital methods. The overarching goal for this course is to empower learners with tools that accurately and efficiently gather the data needed for evidence-based, population health programming and policymaking.
Key Course Learnings:
- Understand the key concepts and considerations when designing and implementing population-based surveys
- Discover the newest survey techniques that use digital tools, such as mobile phone and web-based surveys, digital health information systems, and digital cancer registries
- Learn how to implement accurate and efficient data systems for tracking population health trends, planning interventions, and monitoring mortality risk factors, especially those related to non-communicable diseases
- Gain a foundation in collecting population-health data through a gender and equity lens, to ensure your work identifies and responds to population needs
Course Audience:
- Public health practitioners, decision makers and program managers whose work or career will benefit from a solid foundation in evidence-based methodologies for collecting population health data
- MPH-degree holders who need to refresh or expand their knowledge and skills with the latest digital survey techniques
Learning Methods:
- Asynchronous online course that can be taken at the learner’s own pace
- Four modules that can be completed in 8 hours or less
- Video lectures, presentation slides, readings, and online assessments
- Real-world, applied learning examples of data collection methods for population health:
- Community health information systems, digital cancer registries, and mobile phone surveys
- Case studies from Colombia, Philippines, Rwanda, and Sri Lanka
Overview of Instructors:
- Taught by 17 population health data experts from around the world
- Practicing in various public health fields, such as epidemiology, vital statistics, gender equity, cancer surveillance, health economics, maternal child health, digital health in humanitarian settings, and monitoring and evaluation of population studies
- Representing the WHO, CDC, United Nations, Rwanda Ministry of Health, University of Colombo, Bloomberg School of Public Health, and Vital Strategies
Instructor profiles
Saifuddin Ahmed, MBBS, PhD
Dr. Saifuddin Ahmed is a Professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His research includes reproductive epidemiology, maternal mortality estimation, program evaluation for family planning, and maternal and child health care.
Pamod Amarakoon, MBBS, MSc, MHA, MD
Dr. Pamod Amarkoon is a Lecturer at the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine, University of Colombo and the Team Lead of Health Information Systems Program (HISP), Sri Lanka.
Haoyi Chen, PhD
Dr. Haoyi Chen is the Coordinator of the Inter-Secretariat Working Group on Household Surveys and also works at the United Nations Statistics Division.
Hong Anh Chu, MSc
Hong Anh Chu is a Technical Officer at the World Health Organization.
Jessamyn Encarnacion, MPP
Jessamyn Encarnacion is the Inter-Regional Advisor on Gender Statistics of UN Women’s global gender data programme, Women Count. She manages global projects on disaggregated gender statistics.
Dustin Gibson, PhD
Dr. Dustin Gibson is an Assistant Scientist and Director of the Data for Health program at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. His research interests center around the application of mobile-health (mHealth) technologies to strengthen and improve health systems in lower-income countries.
Marc Hagenimana, MSc
Marc Hagenimana is the Director of the Rwanda Biomedical Center (RBC).
Tahilin Sanchez Karver, PhD, MPH
Dr. Tahilin Sanchez Karver is a faculty member in the Department of Health, Behavior, and Society at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and a collaborating member of the D4H Gender Equity Unit.
Veronica Lea, MPH
Veronica Lea is an epidemiologist and Surveillance and Information Systems Team Lead in the Office of Global Noncommunicable Diseases at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
William M. Weiss, DrPH, MA
Dr. William Weiss's teaching, research, and practice focus on strengthening health information systems in low- and middle-income countries with an emphasis on humanitarian settings, the inclusion of digital technologies, and strengthening the use of information for decision-making.
Ricardo J. Mateo Jr., MD
Dr. Ricardo J. Mateo Jr. is a consultant for Vital Strategies on the Bloomberg Data for Health Initiative Data for Impact program.
Les Mery, MSc
Les Mery is a Global Programme Manager with the International Agency for Research on Cancer, the cancer agency of the World Health Organization.
Dominick Shattuck, PhD
Dr. Shattuck is an Associate Scientist and faculty member within the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Director of Monitoring Evaluation and Learning for the Breakthrough ACTION project within the Center for Communication Programs.
Rea Jean Tabaco, MS
With a Master’s in Population Studies, Rea Jean Tabaco is a Statistics Specialist in Women Count, UN Women's global gender data programme.
Tuo-Yen Tseng , MA, PhD
Dr. Tuo-Yen Tseng is an Assistant Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
Andres Vecino-Ortiz, MD, MSc, PhD
Dr. Andres Vecino-Ortiz is an Assistant Scientist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and uses economics theory and methods to improve health systems in lower and middle-income countries with a focus on Latin America.