This course develops the careers of doctors whose interest is the practice of medicine in tropical and low- and middle-income countries. The course offers a wide choice of modules and provides training in clinical tropical medicine at the Hospital for Tropical Diseases.
The Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene (DTM&H):
All students going on the MSc will take the Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene. Students with a prior DTM&H, or holding 60 Masters level credits from the East African Diploma in Tropical Medicine & Hygiene may apply for exemption from Term 1 via accreditation of prior learning.
Careers
Graduates from this course have taken a wide variety of career paths including further research in epidemiology, parasite immunology; field research programmes or international organisations concerned with health care delivery in conflict settings or humanitarian crises; or returned to academic or medical positions in low- and middle-income countries.
Awards
The Frederick Murgatroyd Award is awarded each year for the best student of the year. Donated by Mrs Murgatroyd in memory of her husband, who held the Wellcome Chair of Clinical Tropical Medicine in 1950 and 1951.
- Full programme specification (pdf) (
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/edu/qualityassurance/tmih_progspec.pdf)
Visit the website
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/mstmih.html Objectives
By the end of this course students should be able to:
- understand and describe the causation, pathogenesis, clinical features, diagnosis, management, and control of the major parasitic, bacterial, and viral diseases of developing countries
- demonstrate knowledge and skills in diagnostic parasitology and other simple laboratory methods
- understand and apply basic epidemiological principles, including selecting appropriate study designs
- apply and interpret basic statistical tests for the analysis of quantitative data
- critically evaluate published literature in order to make appropriate clinical decisions
- communicate relevant medical knowledge to patients, health care professionals, colleagues and other groups
- understand the basic sciences underlying clinical and public health practice
Structure
Term 1:
All students follow the course for the DTM&H. Term 1 consists entirely of the DTM&H lectures, seminars, laboratory practical and clinical sessions, and is examined through the DTM&H examination and resulting in the award of the Diploma and 60 Master's level credits at the end of Term 1.
Terms 2 and 3:
Students take a total of five study modules, one from each timetable slot (Slot 1, Slot 2 etc.). Recognising that students have diverse backgrounds and experience, the course director considers requests to take any module within the School's portfolio, provided that this is appropriate for the student.
*Recommended modules
- Slot 1:
Clinical Infectious Diseases 1: Bacterial & Viral Diseases & Community Health in Developing Countries*
Clinical Virology*
Epidemiology & Control of Malaria*
Advanced Immunology 1
Childhood Eye Disease and Ocular Infection
Designing Disease Control Programmes in Developing Countries
Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco
Economic Evaluation
Generalised Liner Models
Health Care Evaluation
Health Promotion Approaches and Methods
Maternal & Child Nutrition
Molecular Biology & Recombinant DNA Techniques
Research Design & Analysis
Sociological Approaches to Health
Study Design: Writing a Proposal
- Slot 2:
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2: Parasitic Diseases & Clinical Medicine*
Conflict and Health*
Design & Analysis of Epidemiological Studies*
Advanced Diagnostic Parasitology
Advanced Immunology 2
Clinical Bacteriology 1
Family Planning Programmes
Health Systems; History & Health
Molecular Virology; Non Communicable Eye Disease
Population, Poverty and Environment
Qualitative Methodologies
Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
- Slot 3:
Clinical Infectious Diseases 3: Bacterial & Viral Diseases & Community Health in Developing Countries*
Control of Sexually Transmitted Infections*
Advanced Training in Molecular Biology
Applied Communicable Disease Control
Clinical Immunology
Current Issues in Safe Motherhood & Perinatal Health
Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Diseases
Implementing Eye Care: Skills and Resources
Medical Anthropology and Public Health
Modelling & the Dynamics of Infectious Diseases
Nutrition in Emergencies
Organisational Management
Social Epidemiology
Spatial Epidemiology in Public Health
Tropical Environmental Health
Vector Sampling, Identification & Incrimination
- Slot 4:
Clinical Infectious Diseases 4: Parasitic Diseases & Clinical Medicine*
Epidemiology & Control of Communicable Diseases*
Ethics, Public Health & Human Rights*
Global Disability and Health*
Immunology of Parasitic Infection: Principles*
Analytical Models for Decision Making
Clinical Bacteriology 2
Design & Evaluation of Mental Health Programmes
Environmental Epidemiology
Evaluation of Public Health Interventions
Genetic Epidemiology
Globalisation & Health
Molecular Biology Research Progress & Applications
Nutrition Related Chronic Diseases
Population Dynamics & Projections
Reviewing the Literature
Sexual Health
Survival Analysis and Bayesian Statistics
Vector Biology & Vector Parasite Interactions
- Slot 5:
AIDS*
Antimicrobial Chemotherapy*
Mycology*
Advanced Statistical Methods in Epidemiology
Analysing Survey & Population Data
Applying Public Health Principles in Developing Countries
Environmental Health Policy
Integrated Vector Management
Integrating Module: Health Promotion
Molecular Cell Biology & Infection
Nutrition Programme Planning
Pathogen Genomics
Principles and Practice of Public Health
Further details for the course modules -
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/currentstudents/studentinformation/msc_module_handbook/section2_coursedescriptions/ttmi.html Project Report:
During the summer months (July - August), students complete a research project in a subject of their choice, for submission by early September. Projects may involve writing up and analysing work carried out before coming to the School, a literature review, or a research study proposal. Some students gather data overseas or in the UK for analysis within the project. Such projects require early planning.
Students undertaking projects overseas will require additional funding of up to £1,500 to cover costs involved. The majority of students who undertake projects abroad receive financial support for flights from the School's trust funds set up for this purpose.
Find out how to apply here -
http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study/masters/mstmih.html#sixth
Students must have a degree in medicine and be registered medical practitioners. Preference will be given to candidates who have at least two years of experience working in clinical medicine (in any country) with recent professional experience in a relevant discipline.
My interest in tropical medicine and public health began during my undergraduate study, at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, when we were exposed to the concepts of community health and primary health care. Coming to study at LSHTM has been very inspirational. Coming from Uganda I thought I knew all there was to know about Malaria until I met Prof Curtis, Prof Chris Witty and my classmates! In addition to the MSc, I was also able to gain the Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene and only had to pay for the exam which was a pure bonus! Given the opportunity I would like to do my PHD at the school.
The School is renowned as one of the best in the world for research and public health. It offered the unique MSc Tropical Medicine & International Health, which I was interested in, so applying to the school was quite an easy decision to make. An opportunity to study in iconic London was a bonus.
My experience at the School was mind blowing and the course was the wisest choice I made as a clinician with interest in research. It is well crafted and robust to encompass all aspects of tropical medicine with research skills fit for a medic both in developing and developed countries.
Studying at the School has been the fulfilment of a long-standing ambition for me. What appeals to me most about the Tropical Medicine and International Health course is that it is highly flexible, allowing me to personalise it so that I can explore my own interests in diverse subjects such as refugee medicine, history of medicine and tropical parasitology. I am looking forward to travelling to remote parts of the world to conduct my research project and to improve my Spanish language skills.
