Public Health Epidemiology, Statistics and Economics

The program aims to train high-level professionals, through a multidisciplinary approach, who can contribute to the development of methodological and applied research in the field of public health governance and management. It provides solid foundations for the development, critical assessment, and management of public health evidence in its various forms.

Epidemiology: Naturalistic/observational studies, the use of large clinical and administrative databases, and real-world approaches characterize this research area, with a focus on risk factors and pathological conditions.

Biostatistics: The statistical methods applied to the planning, design, management, analysis, statistical interpretation, and evaluation of clinical research studies and health surveillance.

Economic Evaluations of Health Programs: Comparative evaluation of the costs and effectiveness of health programs using decision analysis techniques and modeling (e.g., Markov models, microsimulation), as well as outcomes research methods.

Health Technology Assessment (HTA): A multi-dimensional, multi-disciplinary, and multi-professional approach designed to support decision-makers, with a focus on methodologies for extracting information from the scientific literature and tools for planning, organizing, and managing health services.

Statistical Methods for the Evaluation of Health Services and Systems: Development and application of statistical analysis models to large databases, with the goal of developing precise approaches to managing health systems and evaluating healthcare service delivery.

Health Economics and Econometrics: Examining the financing of health systems from both public and private perspectives, comparing health policy choices, assessing resource allocation, and evaluating the impact of health policies.

Throughout the PhD program, students acquire both specialized scientific skills and a systemic perspective on the management of public health services, enabling them to access a wide range of career opportunities across various institutions involved in key aspects of public health, such as:

• Universities and Academic Institutions
• Public and Private Research Organizations
• National and International Public Health and Protection Organizations (WHO, OECD, ISS, CNR, AgeNAS, AIFA, EMA)
• Regional and National Health Service Structures (ASL/ATS/AO, ASST, etc.)
• Scientific Directorates and Epidemiology, Medical Statistics, and HTA Services at IRCCS and Teaching Hospitals
• Companies in the Biomedical Supply Chain: Pharmaceuticals, Vaccines, and Medical Devices, at global, continental, and national  headquarters
• Insurance Companies

The PhD courses are grounded in the fundamentals of Public Health Services sciences and focus on methodological and scientific areas aligned with the program: epidemiology, biostatistics, health economics, outcomes research, health technology assessment, healthcare system evaluation
statistics, and health econometrics.
Courses will be held in Monza and Milan, at the DMC, DISMEQ, and DEMS sites, as well as online.
In the first year, the PhD candidate will design the research project for their thesis, and under supervision, begin conducting doctoral research. In the second and third years, advanced courses will be taken, chosen in collaboration with tutors and supervisors based on the research project, as well as seminars, summer schools, and inter-doctoral courses. These inter-doctoral courses can be taken from the start of the program.
A minimum of 3 months and a maximum of 12 months abroad is required. The target period abroad is 6 months, which may overlap partially or entirely with stays at international and national institutions (supranational bodies, Ministry of Health, Regions, National Institute of Health, Health Authorities, IRCCS, etc.), depending on the research project.

 All the educational activities offered are available on e-learning platform: https://elearning.unimib.it/course/index.php?categoryid=10706&lang=en