| Title: |
Global Oncology: Clinical, social and political challenges |
| Keywords: |
Non-communicable diseases
Health systems
Drugs and vaccines
Cancer
Burden of diseases
|
| Country: |
Germany
|
| Institution: |
Germany - Institute of International Health, Berlin
|
| Course coordinator: |
Dr. med. Oliver Henke
|
| Date start: |
2025-06-16 |
| Date end: |
2025-06-20 |
| About duration and dates: |
Duration: One week (face-to-face) plus three days (self-study) for a post-course written assignment. Final due date for post-course assignment: 2 weeks after the last scheduled course day (if not otherwise agreed on). Application deadline: 4 weeks prior to first course day. No preparation/prereading |
| Classification: |
advanced optional
|
| Mode of delivery: |
Face to face
|
Course location:
Institute of International Health,
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Campus Virchow-Klinikum
Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany |
|
| ECTS credit points: |
2 ECTS credits
|
SIT:
60 hours SIT
Contact: 30 hours (lectures/ workshops/ guided group work), Self-study: 30 hours (12 hours private reading and preparation of presentations during face-to-face week + 18 hours for written assignment after the face-to-face week) |
|
| Language: |
English
|
Description:
At the end of the module students are able to
● Propose a strategy for a country or region of choice to improve the response to the growing burden of cancer diseases
● Debate health policy strategies to meet the challenges of the growing cancer burden at a global level and for selected countries
● Describe necessary prerequisites for the establishment of cancer care in low resource settings
● Describe the basic concept of oncology treatments, prevention and palliative care as well as the approach to cancer patients, considering differences in clinical oncology in so-called low-, middle- and high-income countries
● Analyse epidemiological data of cancer diseases in low resource settings and discuss the broader health, societal and economic impact of Cancer diseases globally and in different countries and regions. |
|
Assessment Procedures:
An essay (2000-3000 words, accounting 100% to the overall mark).
The essay assesses the capability of the student to analyse a real-world situation and to translate the content of the module into public health approaches.
For the essay students are asked to select a LMIC country or region within a LMIC country and to:
1. Analyse the epidemiology of Cancer diseases in the particular state/region
2. Describe the Health and Societal Impact of Cancer in the particular state/region
3. Analyse current responses to Cancer at medical and (governmental and non-governmental) political/societal level
4. Propose ways to improve the countries response to Cancer and
5. Identify potential barriers for implementation of the proposed interventions
Each student will receive an individual feedback on the essay and a grade using a rubric matrix. Students pass the essay if they gain 60% or more of the achievable points. If a student fails the essay, s/he is allowed to revise and resubmit the assignment considering the comments provided by the marker. The results of the essay will be communicated to the students within four weeks after the due date of the assignment.
Students receive two grades based on their overall mark, one according to the German (absolute) 6-point decimal grading system: 1.0 [excellent/sehr gut] – 6.0 [not sufficient/ ungenügend], pass mark: ≥ 4.0 [sufficient/ ausreichend]) and one according to the (relative) ECTS grading system (A top 10%, B next 25%, C next 30%, D next 25%, E lowest 10%) |
|
Content:
The course will cover the following topics:
Day 1 morning
Lecture: “Introduction to the course and topic of Global Oncology” (2h) and
“Basic Introduction to Oncology – entities, diagnostics, staging, treatment modalities” (1h)
Lecturer: OH
Day 1 afternoon
Group work/workshop: “Barriers to access cancer care in LMICs” (2h) and lecture (1h)
Lecturer: OH
Day 1 evening
Self-study (3 h)
Day 2 morning
Lecture: “Differences between tropical and non-tropical malignancies” (1h) (OH)
Lecture: “Infections and cancer” (2h) (TK)
Day 2 afternoon
Lecture: “Palliative Care in Low Resource Settings” (1h) (OH)
Lecture and discussion: “Implementation Research in LMICs: examples, use of eHealth and ethical implications” (2h) (OH)
Day 2 evening
Self-study (3h)
Day 3 morning
Lecture: “Cancer and Universal Health Coverage” (1h) (OH)
Lecture and guided group work: “National Cancer Control Plans” (2 h) (OH)
Day 3 afternoon
Con´t: “National Cancer Control Plans” (2h) (OH)
Lecture: “Radiotherapy in Sub-Saharan African Countries: Challenges and Opportunities” (1h) (WN - online)
Day 3 evening
Self-study (3 h) and preparation of group work presentation
Day 4 morning
Group work presentation “National Cancer Control Plans” (2h) (OH)
Lecture: “Women´s Health” (1h) (JS)
Day 4 afternoon
Lecture: “Cervical Cancer” (1h) (SN)
Lecture: “Global Surgery” (1h) (MG - online)
Lecture: “Haematology in LMICs” (1h) (ElM - online)
Day 4 evening
Self-study (3h)
Day 5 morning
Lecture: “Cytostatic medications in LMICs” (1h) (OH)
Lecture and discussion: “Medication donation programmes – example of Max Foundation” (2h) (CS - online)
Day 5 afternoon
Preparation of assignments for the course (2 h) (OH) and
Session: Feedback and evaluation (1 h) (OH and TK) |
|
Methods:
The course uses participatory learning based on lectures with discussions (24 hrs) and guided group work with presentation (6 hrs) as well as self-directed learning (12 hrs), and a written assignment (18 h) |
|
Prerequisites:
Successful completion of the core course.
English TOEFL test 550 or 213 computer-based or 79/80 internet-based or IELTS band 6.0. |
|
Attendance:
Maximum number of students: 20 (unlimited to tropEd students). Minimum number of students for the course to take place: 5 students
In order to be permitted to write the exam and receive a grade report or an attendance certificate, students have to attend 85% of the contact time. |
|
Selection:
Participants are selected on a first come first served basis.
Deadline for application: 4 weeks before module start
Deadline for payment: 4 weeks after having received the invoice (if not otherwise agreed on)
We shall confirm the module 4 weeks before the module starts which is subject to a sufficient number of applications
Late applications will be considered as long as places are available.
Application forms can be found here:
https://internationalhealth.charite.de/en/application_admission/ |
|
Fees:
700 € tropEd MScIH students and alumni
875 € for others |
|
Scholarships:
None available |
|
Major changes since initial accreditation:
Based on student´s feedback, more voices from LMICs are included in the schedule (online)
Global surgery and women´s health were introduced into the topics, pharmaceutical aspects reduced |
|
Student evaluation:
The feedback from the students was only very positive: All lecturers received >4/5 in both, content and didactic. The participants highlighted the very good balance between clinical management and public health. |
|
Lessons learned:
The course has been received very well by the participants. The topic of “Global Oncology” was perceived as important. The mixed learning approach of group work and lectures with different perspectives has fostered a lot of class discussions.
The assignments showed to be an interesting and do-able task for all students |
|
tropEd accreditation:
Accredited in EC Conference in December 2019. Reaccreditated in Online GA, Jan. 2025. This accreditation is valid until Jan. 2030. |
|
Remarks:
Preparatory reading is not required. |
|
| Email Address: |
mscih-coordinator@charite.de |
| Date Of Record Creation: |
2019-12-06 09:22:17 (W3C-DTF) |
| Date Of Record Release: |
2019-12-06 14:29:33 (W3C-DTF) |
| Date Record Checked: |
2019-12-06 (W3C-DTF) |
| Date Last Modified: |
2025-02-25 10:37:40 (W3C-DTF) |
