Education and Training
It's not enough for our own faculty and affiliates to adopt a systems-oriented approach to fighting obesity. We need to ensure that professionals around the globe at all career stages are prepared to tackle obesity using a systems science approach.
By educating and training professionals at all levels, the Global Obesity Prevention Center (GOPC) hopes to increase the number of public health researchers applying systems science theories and methods to the obesity epidemic.
OUR STUDENTS AND TRAINEES
We provide trainees from around the world with a range of opportunities designed to motivate them as systems thinkers and researchers, and to give them opportunities to apply their skills at preventing and finding solutions for obesity.
Our trainees receive a combination of formal, course-based learning along with hands-on training in a range of methods and theories—including modeling and simulation techniques—pertinent to systems science and obesity. Students and trainees can also learn about applying systems science to obesity research through a range of activities, including our:
CURRENT OFFERED COURSES
Instructor: Bruce Y. Lee, MD, MBA
Description: Introduces students to mathematical and computational modeling and simulation methods to better understand, evaluate, and improve health systems. Addresses the basic concepts of mathematical and computational modeling and simulation and how they may apply to health systems.
- Evaluate and critique a health system model
- Develop a basic mathematical/computational model of a health system
- Utilize a model to address a health system decision
Instructor: Bruce Y. Lee, MD, MBA
Description: Introduces students to mathematical and computational modeling and simulation methods that can help public health decision makers better understand and improve various systems in public health. Covers probability theory, decision analysis, Markov models, compartment models, and systems dynamics models, as well as basics of economic and operational modeling.
- Evaluate and critique a mathematical or computational model and its results
- Develop a basic mathematical/computational model and apply it to public health issue/questions
- Translate modeling results to public health decision-making
PRE-DOCTORAL AND POST-DOCTORAL FELLOWS
We recruit post-doctoral and pre-doctoral fellows with support from collaborating faculty, both at the Johns Hopkins University and from outside institutions. Fellows pursue professional development opportunities at the Bloomberg School for a one-year period. A dual mentorship team is assigned based on research interests. Fellows work with these mentors to identify specific research and academic interests and cultivate desired skill sets. We seek applicants who can work with one or more of the ongoing projects in the Center and who bring additional systems science skills and modeling experience. Trainees also have full access to course offerings both at the Bloomberg School and the Johns Hopkins Whiting School of Engineering.
Each year, the Global Obesity Prevention Center welcomes a select number of visiting scholars to spend a month at Johns Hopkins University, where they can train and participate in relevant research projects. The experience offers hands-on experience and first-hand knowledge of how systems science research is integrated to public health and obesity. We offer financial assistance to cover travel and living costs. Visiting scholars may seek additional support from their home institutions and their University sponsoring mentors if they wish to extend their stay.