After weeks of careful planning and hard work finally the “AIUB MPH Career Seminar and Research Methodology Workshop” took place on the 8^th May 2015 at the AIUB Auditorium.

In a time of soaring healthcare costs, there is more of a focus in most countries on trying to prevent illness and disease before they gain a foothold in the population. In fact, most public health experts agree that many major advances in health in the next 30 years will not be from new medical findings, but from development of population-based prevention programs. Health services delivery systems are changing all over the world, with more stress put on health promotion and disease prevention. This change in focus on health care is creating many new opportunities for new public health professionals. Keeping all these in mind the Public Health Department organized the daylong event with helpful hands from Platform (Technical Partner), Radio Today (Radio Partner), Channel I (Television Partner), Dhaka Tribune (Media Partner) and Aquafina (Beverage Partner). About 220 participants from various Medical Colleges, Universities and other institutions confirmed their registration.

The Opening of the program was done by Prof. Dr. Charles Carillo Villanueva, Pro-Vice Chancellor, AIUB followed by address of the special guest Dr. Mohammad Sadiqur Rahman, (Director, Central Police Hospital, Dhaka). Prof. Dr. Charles then gave the address of Chief Guest. After the tea break “the research methodology workshop” started and was conducted by Professor Dr. Md. Nazrul Islam (Professor and Former Head of Department of Maternal and Child Health & Course Director, NIPSOM). In the workshop, Professor Dr. Nazrul Islam taught the importance of research and also the various steps that are required to conduct any research. The workshop ended with a lively question and answer session for the enthusiastic participants. This was followed by an interactive session on research methodology where the participants divided into 6 groups participated in research tasks with feedbacks at the end.

 After the lunch and prayer break, the program again started to gain its momentum with the seminar on “Importance of MPH in building up a Good Career”. The speaker for the seminar was Dr. A.K.M. Musha (Country Director, Concern Worldwide) and Mr. R. Tareque Moudud, Director, Office of Placement & Alumni (OPA), AIUB. The participants were then allowed a question-answer session once again where they asked the speakers about careers in the Public Health sector. The second seminar then followed on “Importance of MPH in building up a good career in Health related NGOs” conducted by Dr. Jahangir Hossain (Program Director, Health, and CARE Bangladesh).

After that a portfolio presentation by an MPH Alumni of AIUB Professor Dr. Abdul Mannan, Professor of Department of Neonatology, BSMMU followed. The participants then participated in a quiz contest based on research and Public health. 

The wonderful day long program ended on a high note with the prize distribution ceremony where prizes were given to the essay competition and quiz contest winners handed over by Prof. Dr. Tofazzal Hossain, Vice President, Academics, Prof. Dr. Tazul Islam (Dean, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences), Dr. K.C. Bhuiya, Dr. Sadiqur Rahman, Prof. Dr. Nazrul Islam, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Neaz and Ms. Shaila Ahmed.

The program was coordinated by Dr. Md. Aurangzeb, without his support, dedication and efficient management this program would not have taken such a wonderful shape. The participants seemed to have enjoyed the whole program.

Department of Public Health humbly acknowledges the generous support extended by the AIUB management and especially the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) to make this program a grand success.