Full Title

51st Graduate Summer Session in Epidemiology

Sponsor(s)

University of Michigan

Location

Ann Arbor

Years in Place

51

Types & Dates of Offerings

• 1 week morning courses, N= 11, July 11-15, 18-22, and 25-29
• 1 week afternoon courses, N= 11, Dates same as above
• 3 week courses, N= 2, July 10-29
• 3 week distance learning courses, N=2, July 10-29, logged in live to Ann Arbor

Distinguished Lectures, N= 3

Number of Offerings

22  Faculty with reputations in their subject areas are recruited from numerous outside academic centers and other organizations

Language

English

Number of Faculty

22 + 3 invited speakers

Target audience

Not specified

Cost

Not for credit, One 3 week course, $950

Not for credit,  Two 3 week courses, $1375

Not for credit, One 1 week course, $525

For credit, per credit hour, $1570 (e.g., a 1 week course)

For credit, per credit hour, $4,344 (e.g., a 3 week course)

Deadline for registration

June 1 for application ($50)

June 15^th for tuition payment

Limit on participants

Only if courses are filled

Course Director

Hal Morgenstern

Contact Info

umichgss@umich.edu, URL www.summerepi.org,

Jody Gray , Program Administrator 734-764-5454

http://www.sph.umich.edu/gss/

Editor’s Comments

The summer program which started at the University of Minnesota in 1965 and  moved successfully to the University of Michigan in 1988 will hold its 51st year in 2016. In addition to being the longest running program, the Michigan program is the third largest in terms of the number of learning opportunities.

It takes place exclusively in July and in conjunction with the annual Ann Arbor Art Fair which draws many visitors. There is a national and international faculty that likes to return each year. According to Jody Gray, the program administrator, intellectual, social, and cultural opportunities combine each summer at Michigan to create an “electric atmosphere” which some participants call the “opportunity of a lifetime”.

The Michigan program offers a wide variety of learning opportunities. In 2016, new courses include those on Machine Learning for Epidemiologic Analysis in the Era of Big Data, and Measurement in Clinical Research. 

Among the always well-enrolled courses are those about clinical trials. The program offers 3 one-week courses which can be taken in series to cover the principles, conduct, design, and analysis of trials and trial data. Other courses on the “methods side of things” are popular, according to Gray.

Michigan has a certificate program in epidemiology which can only be completed through the summer program. It requires at least two summers to complete 12 credits.

As the longest-running program, Gray claims the Michigan program knows what it takes to make a summer program work and these lessons are used to design the program for the benefit of students and faculty. As with the other US programs, a large percentage of the attendees are from the local area. However, the Michigan program does attract a large fraction of international students (~25%.)

The Michigan program will offer lectures by Tyler VanderWeele delivering the David Schottenfeld Lecture, Sandro Cinti delivering the Alfred Evans Lecture, and Michelle Williams delivering the Leonard M. Schuman Lecture.

One participant reviewer from 2015 told the Michigan organizers,   “As an environmental health scientist I am very impressed by the level and efficiency of the GSS courses.  These action packed classes comprehensively cover months ofmaterials in a clear and substantial way.  In just a few weeks I have removed essential gaps from my knowledge and developed a set of valuable new skills.”  Hector Olvera, Ph.D., P.E., Associate Professor and Director of Research, UTEP School of Nursing