Name:
Jaime Miranda
Contact Email Adress:
j.miranda@ucl.ac.uk
Photo:
Country of origin:
Peru
Current or previous level of clinical studies:
Medical Doctor
Course studied at the moment:
MSc Epidemiology
University / College / Training Scheme:
Wellcome Trust Research Training Fellowship at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Why did you choose to study this course?:
I want to contribute to my country with research of good quality and relevance. This will then influence local policies. Also, I think that medical research is a great space for long-term north-south collaborations.
What prior qualifications / experience did you need?:
Some interest in the field, some publications, the support of supervisors, but most importantly a relevant idea to develop.
Which topics are covered by the course?:
The core MSc involves research and statistical methods. There is also opportunity to take other broader topics in Public Health and learn new tools. For example, I am taking mental health and predicting disease in time and space (learning GPS and remote sensing and its application to health issues).
Is there any project / overseas work?:
You have to do a summer project in a two-month period and then write-up a project report. Yes, you can go abroad if your topic/area of interest in abroad. But usually time and feasibility of your study may be a barrier. Again, it depends of the project.
Which are the best aspects of your current training?:
Although I do not see myself analysing data for the rest of my life, I found these skills very useful to understand and digest the most appropriate and relevant information for my country. When, in the future, someone recommends something based on research, I would be able to analyse the data and see if its applicable to my country. That is the main advantage, to see the applicability of health research (and in the long run, health policy) combined with my work in a developing country.
What are your future career plans?:
Go back to Peru and work based there. In the medium term, the research I am doing will be used for a PhD degree. I like collaborating with foreign colleagues and also international health (the first time I use this word in this interview!), so I hope I can contribute to the debate from Peru.
Would you recommend this course to others?:
Definitely. It teaches us about the feasibility, practicality and relevance of health information.
