Celebrating 10 years of the MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology

On Saturday 17 May 2025, over 100 alumni and staff celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology (GHSE). Many of us were reconnecting for the first time in years and conversations flowed between former classmates and colleagues.

A highlight of the day was a series of talks from alumni who graduated over the past ten years, which illustrated the diverse professional paths taken by those who have undertaken the course. Many have gone on to DPhils/PhDs and now work in a range of fields spanning research, academia, policy, clinical roles, or emerging fields like health tech. These talks highlighted the true extent of the course’s reach and relevance across disciplines and geographies.

Dr Stephen McCall spoke about his work as an assistant professor at the American University of Beirut, focusing on polycrisis and health in vulnerable populations. Dr Otto-Emil Jutila shared how his doctoral research in environmental epidemiology has involved collaborations across institutions and countries across the globe.

From clinical practice, Dr Eoin Kelleher discussed his work at the interesting intersection of anaesthesia and global health, while Dr Louisa Chenciner shared insights from her training as a public health physician with a focus on climate and health. Hannah Amies offered a different and unique perspective, having moved into health product management and launched a data-driven start-up. 

Dr Eoin Kelleher discusses his career, including the MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology

While studying the course in 2020, I wrote ‘I truly believe this MSc to be a perfect case study for the importance and strength of international collaboration in epidemiology and global health research’. That sentiment felt even stronger during the 10-year alumni event. To be reminded of the range of backgrounds, ages, career paths, and lived experiences across all the MSc cohorts, not just my own, really highlighted the incredible potential of collaboration in global health.

During the event that was fantastically organised by the Graduate Studies Office team, Associate Professor Hubert Lam and Professor Sarah Lewington shared the MSc’s interesting evolution and possible future direction, as well as a fun interlude in the form of ‘Epingo’ (epidemiology bingo) led by Dr Jennifer Carter, who brought along her familiar energy and wit from her fantastic consolidation sessions!

Dr Jennifer Carter hosted a special alumni edition of consolidation ‘Epingo’ (epidemiology bingo)

Professor Prabhat Jha, incoming Head of Oxford Population Health, discussed some of the key challenges facing global public health in a pre-recorded message. These challenges included institutional distrust, vaccine hesitancy, and reduced funding. Many attendees echoed similar feelings, such as concerns about funding, stability, and maintaining impact in a globally shifting political landscape. For me, the underlying message was one of motivation and the importance of resilience; that despite these challenges, high-quality work and long-term commitment to global health from the MSc’s alumni are more important than ever. 

The event concluded with a lecture by the gentleman who needs no introduction – Professor Sir Richard Peto. During this, he reflected on the remarkable progress made in global health since the mid-20th century. Drawing on his decades of experience, he highlighted the dramatic reductions in both childhood and adult mortality, whilst also acknowledging the targets that still lie ahead. It served as a powerful reminder to all of us of what sustained, high-quality global health efforts can achieve, and was a perfect close to the afternoon of talks. It also highlighted a mantra of Peto’s from Professor Sir Richard Doll which I will never, ever, forget: ‘Death in old age is inevitable, but death before old age is not.’

With a thoughtfully-curated anniversary booklet filled with cohort photographs in my hand, I left the event with a palpable sense of shared commitment to improving health outcomes around the world. Many of us, myself included, left it with a renewed sense of motivation and inspiration. Thank you, Oxford Population Health!

Dr Lilian Hartman completed her medical training in Oxford after the MSc, and is currently working clinically as a foundation doctor in Wessex, alongside being a Wessex Community Public Health Fellow. She is hoping to begin public health specialty training in the near future, and is aiming to set up a new project on blood transfusion safety in Zambia in 2026.

A new MSc in Global Health Science (now the MSc in Global Health Science and Epidemiology) was launched in 2013, when the department was established. The first cohort studied from 2014─2015. The last cohort of a previous MSc in Global Health Science studied in the department from 2013─2014.