Lugano Summer School in Public Health

At the SSPH+ Summer School in Public Health Policy, Economics, and Management in Lugano, practitioners, researchers, and graduate students come together from all over the world for a unique learning experience focused on public health impact.

We hope you will join us for our 32nd year of mutual learning for change.

our courses Learn More

Summer School Programme

The focus on public health policy, economics, and management combined with the diversity of participants and facilitators has provided for a rich learning environment for over three decades so far.

Who is it for?

Professionals and managers of health administrations, hospitals, NGOs, and other health services and facilities, policy-makers, healthcare providers, and students.

What is it about?

We aim to reduce the gap between public health theory and practice. Based in Switzerland, facilitators, and participants from all over the world come together each year to exchange knowledge, experience, research and know-how, build networks and improve public health capacity and impact globally.

Where is it held?

This year our programme takes place both online and on-site in Lugano and a few hub locations around the world. See the course and plenary programme to learn more about options for participation in Lugano or online.

When does it take place?

For its 32nd edition, the summer school runs from 21 to 26 August 2023. This year we also offer one pre-course in mid-august focused on social media and public health practice. Go to the enroll button and register to join us.

Course and plenary sessions facilitated by experts from around the world

Meet the Faculty and the Steering Committee of the SSPH+ Lugano Summer School in Public Health Policy, Economics, and Management.

facilitators steering committee

Chair of the Steering Board

“Focused on mutual learning for change, we bring people together from across the globe.”

Prof. L. Suzanne Suggs

Vice President of SSPH+ and Professor of Social Marketing at USI

We've come a long way

We are proud of what we have been able to accomplish since our first programme launched back in 1991.

Explore Courses

600

Courses and lectures since inception

Countries last year

2K+

Former and current participants worldwide

Courses offered in the 32nd Edition

Courses are offered online and/or on-site, and take place 21-26 August 2023. We also have 1 pre-course on August 16 & 17 2023.
Courses are accredited by FMH.

17/8/2023

Social media in global health: potentialities, risks, and new developments

In this course you will learn the underlying principles that make social media powerful and dangerous at the same time, with a focus on their use in global health.

Christoph Pimmer

Neira Budiono

23/8/2023

NCD control in a global health perspective: Public health and health systems strengthening approaches

Which are the “best buy” interventions to prevent NCDs? In this course you will learn public health strategies to curb NCDs, and changes needed in the health care system, with a focus on middle-and low-income countries.

Kaspar Wyss

Pascal Bovet

23/8/2023

Community-based participatory methods in public health

In this course participants will learn how to engage individuals, hospitals, health service providers, social organisations, and government officials to develop partnerships and co-create positive change.

Nadina Luca

Amalia Pesantes

23/8/2023

Strategic public health policy and planning in times of uncertainty: using systems modelling for evidence-based decision making

How do we estimate the potential impact of evidence-based interventions in real-world settings? In this course you will learn methods of systems modelling and simulation to capture the complexity of quantifying uncertainty to better inform policy and planning decisions.

Responding to disasters: the importance of Humanitarian Logistics

Humanitarian logistics has a decisive impact on the effectiveness and efficiency of humanitarian actions, especially when humanitarian crises arise and supply chains are crucial to ensure aid reaches the most vulnerable. This course places specific attention on the logistics management of medical supplies.

Paulo Gonçalves

23/8/2023

Identifying and navigating ethical issues in public health

Public health policy, practice, and research entail numerous ethical challenges. How should one decide what the right thing to do is? This course will equip participants with the tools, skills, and know-how that are necessary to assess and deal with ethical challenges.

Marta Fadda

Caroline Brall

23/8/2023

Tackling Air Pollution using science for policies to protect health

Learn how and why air pollution impacts our health and how to use research and data to inform policy making to improve air quality and public health.

Wealth Inequalities, Social Mobility, and Health

This course aims to understand the complex dynamics that occur in countries with large disparities in wealth, the promising avenues in increasing social mobility and the deep connections between inequality and health.

Nathalie Jean-Baptiste

23/8/2023

An introduction to health economics: how should we finance and organize our health care systems

How should we pay for health care? How much capacity do we need? Which is the inter-relationship between income and health? In this course you will learn how the tools of health economics can be used to understand the health and welfare implications of how our health care systems are funded and organized.

Andrew Street

26/8/2023

Strategic Project Management

This course introduces participants to the basic principles, methods, and tools for project management in a realistic context, allowing them to improve their ability to manage complex projects.

Paulo Gonçalves

Mariya Andreeva

26/8/2023

Promoting healthy behaviors through multi-level approaches

In this course you will learn why promoting lifestyle behaviors through evidence-based, multi-level approaches is as important as ever and what it takes to design for success.

Yana Manyuk

Mirjam Rodella Sapia

26/8/2023

Moving forward in public health planning by learning (or not) from the past

This course will use a variety of historical and current examples to discuss where past experience has been incorporated into future planning, where it has not, focusing on important lessons lost or used to benefit public health planning and actions.

Kaspar Staub

Joël Floris

26/8/2023

Measuring health spending and results to improve health sector performance and meet strategic objectives and inform policy reforms

How much do we spend on health and what are we achieving? This course focuses on the challenges and opportunities of tracking expenditures and assessing efficiencies to meet strategic objectives and inform policy and health system reforms.

Laura Di Giorgio

Stefania Ilinca

Explore All Courses

Plenary lectures

Gain unique perspectives and insights on pressing public health challenges and potential solutions from experts working in practice, policy and academia in high-, middle- and low-income settings.

Hot topics discussed with experts

Learn about pressing subjects in today's public health ecosystem, gaining insights for practice, policy and research.

Live mutual exchange

All plenary sessions take place live, online and on-site and include an interactive Q&A session.

Open to the public

Everyone interested in participating is welcome to attend.

Check out our plenary lectures

Lugano Summer School in Public Health

Summer School Programme

Who is it for?

What is it about?

Where is it held?

When does it take place?

Course and plenary sessions facilitated by experts from around the world

“Focused on mutual learning for change, we bring people together from across the globe.”

We've come a long way

Courses offered in the 32nd Edition

Social media in global health: potentialities, risks, and new developments

NCD control in a global health perspective: Public health and health systems strengthening approaches

Community-based participatory methods in public health

Strategic public health policy and planning in times of uncertainty: using systems modelling for evidence-based decision making

Responding to disasters: the importance of Humanitarian Logistics

Identifying and navigating ethical issues in public health

Tackling Air Pollution using science for policies to protect health

Wealth Inequalities, Social Mobility, and Health

An introduction to health economics: how should we finance and organize our health care systems

Strategic Project Management

Promoting healthy behaviors through multi-level approaches

Moving forward in public health planning by learning (or not) from the past

Measuring health spending and results to improve health sector performance and meet strategic objectives and inform policy reforms

Plenary lectures

Hot topics discussed with experts

Live mutual exchange

Open to the public

Check out all current updates on the SSPH+ Lugano Summer School 2023 Programme