Rector of KazNMU Marat Shoranov met with a delegation from the State University of New York (SUNY)
Today, the Rector of KazNMU Marat Shoranov met with a delegation from the State University of New York (SUNY) within the framework of the International Training and Research Program of the State of New York.
The event was attended by Jack A. DeHovitz, MD, MPH, MHCDS, FACP, Distinguished Professor of Medical Faculty, DMC, SUNY, Dr. Lisa Goldfarb, MD, graduate of MIT and Columbia University, addiction psychiatrist of New York University Medical Center, Center for Psychoanalytic Research of Columbia University, KazNMU management and professors of the Department of Epidemiology with HIV course.
Since 2016, New York State International Training and Research Program (NYS-ITRP) within the framework of grant from the Fogarty International Center of the National Institutes of Health (FIC NIH) has been collaborating with Asfendiyarov Kazakh National Medical University to carry out “HIV Research Training Program”.
The program is carried out on the American side by the Downstate Health Sciences University of the State University of New York (SUNY-DHSU) jointly with SPH, University at Albany. In 2021, another five-year grant was received from FIC and the National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH.
Learning objectives include: 1) training of KazNMU faculty and researchers to obtain a Master of Science degree in epidemiology; in Public Health, MPH, certificate programs in these specialties; 2) training in epidemiology and analytics for public health leaders from the Republican Scientific and Practical Center for Mental Health and the Kazakh Scientific Center for Dermatology and Infectious Diseases; and 3) work with KazNMU leadership and faculty to expand the School of Public Health curricula in epidemiology, biostatistics, research design, and substance use disorders.
Over the past five years, 10 people have studied under the NYS-ITRP program in the USA (six of them are currently working as faculty members at KazNMU). NYS-ITRP has helped KazNMU launch new teaching programs in epidemiology and biostatistics at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. KazNMU has initiated a bachelor’s program in public health with the opportunity for Kazakhstani students to complete their studies during the year in Albany and receive a double diploma.
The program is directed by Distinguished Service Professor Jack DeHovitz, MD, SUNY-DHSU and co-directed by Zhamilya Nugmanova, MD, Professor, Division of HIV Infection at KazNMU.
Marat Shoranov noted the particular importance of epidemiology and biosafety in the light of two years of the pandemic, as well as the need to develop new collaborative approaches to training epidemiologists.
«The pandemic has had an enormous impact on the world, and health systems now aim to restore pre-pandemic health. In addition, measures to improve clinical protocols for post-pandemic rehabilitation should be a major public health trend, and there is a need to consolidate scientific research with practical experience. A further important point is raising public awareness — people need quality information, which was made clear by the pandemic. In short, training specialists in epidemiology and public health, specialists integrated into our health system, is on the agenda. As for our new joint programmes, the main focus is to reduce the burden of HIV infection and assess the impact of drug use on the epidemic by building the capacity of KazNMU staff to conduct research on HIV. We will make every effort to improve our strategic partnership in every way,» said Marat Shoranov.
Professor Jack DeHowitz stressed the importance of working together to further strengthen training programmes. According to Jack DeHovitz, «research fellowships through joint projects have become an important factor for mutually beneficial exchange of experience and introduction of new teaching and research methodologies».
