Department of Public Health
We study health systems (the organisation and operation of health services), epidemiology and disease control on population level.
The Department of Public Health consists of ten research units. It also hosts the Population Data Science Hub and an innovative research infrastructure using geospatial modelling to support Geospatial Health Research. Together with our national and international partners and within collaborative networks, we constitute a unique multi-disciplinary critical mass, centred around access to health, and striving toward universal health coverage.
We aim to improve the understanding of the interlinked biological, social, health system-related, political, policy, and ecological determinants of health; to develop, implement and evaluate policies, programmes and interventions that support and strengthen health; and to co-create knowledge and capacity to develop effective responses to local and global health challenges and threats. A wide range of methodologies are applied in an inter-disciplinary approach.
In the field of education, the ITM's Master of Sciences in Public Health has a world-leading reputation and attracts future global and national health leaders. Additionally, the Department organises a wide range of short courses in collaboration with partner institutions.
The Department is managed by a group comprising professor Raffaella Ravinetto, head of department; Jan Boeynaems, manager of the department, Caroline De Schacht, academic assistant to the head of department; and An Ielegems, research administrator. Moreover, Tom Smekens is the department statistician.
Research groups
Education coordination
