Press Release
Geneva, 3 March 2003
In collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), the Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research (GFMER) organises each year the Postgraduate Course in Research Methodology and Reproductive Health/Chronic Disease. The 2003 Opening Ceremony was held on 3 March at the Executive Board Room at WHO.
Several distinguished speakers addressed the participants:
Dr Paul F.A.Van Look – Director, Department of Reproductive Health and Research, WHO; Prof. Aldo Campana – President, (GFMER); Prof. Pierre-François Unger – President, Department of Health of the Canton of Geneva; Prof. Peter Suter - Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University; Dr Blaise Bourrit – President, Geneva Medical Association; Dr José Villar – Department of Reproductive Health and Research, WHO; Prof. emeritus Egon Diczfalusy, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm; Dr Kathleen Strong – Noncommunicable Diseases and Mental Health Cluster, WHO.
The 31 participants in the 2003 Course come from around the world and represent young professionals in the fields of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Public Health. The aim of the Course is to:
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strengthen the participant’s research capabilities and through this the research capacity of his or her institution
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acquaint the participant with the most recent technological advances in reproductive health/chronic disease and conduct a critical appraisal of the strength of the supporting scientific evidence
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enable the participant to identify and address priority areas in reproductive health/chronic disease
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provide skills in research methodology and scientific writing to allow participants to initiate research and/or participate in research work appropriate to the health programmes in their home countries
Since the first Postgraduate Course in 1991, 250 students have received training in Geneva. The training leads to intensified collaboration with institutions and several partnerships have been formed with research institutions around the world. As a matter of fact, in 2003, the Postgraduate Course is expanding into a unique and cost-effective E-teaching programme. With a critical mass of Geneva-trained scientists in selected institutions, they will be acting as local teaching partners to GFMER, the first countries of intervention being Argentina, Cameroon, China and Romania.
The Geneva Foundation for Medical Education and Research "www.gfmer.ch" is a non-profit organisation, co-sponsored by the Department of Health of the Canton of Geneva, the Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University, and the Geneva Medical Association, and works in close collaboration with WHO. It aims at mobilising resources, both technical and financial, from the public and private sectors.
The 2003 Postgraduate Course is co-organised by WHO and sponsored by the International Association for Maternal and Neonatal Health (IAMANEH), the Swiss National Science Foundation, the United Nations Population Fund, the Geneva-Yaoundé Cooperation and Ernst Schering Research Foundation.
Edited by Aldo Campana,