Maastricht is one of the most international universities in Europe, proudly describing themselves as the European University of the Netherlands. With most programs offered in English and with over 50% of students being international, Maastricht is truly a global educational institution. One of their main goals is indeed forming global citizens, and we believe the partnership with OMI helps this ambition come to reality!
From Maastricht, we welcomed Ms. Silvia Evers, professor of public health technology assessment as course director; Ms. Milena Pavlova, professor of health economics and equity; and Ms. Ghislaine van Mastrigt, assistant professor of health technology assessment and epidemiology. Along with our Maastricht faculty, we were joined by Ms. Lorena Dini, professor at the institute of general practice and family medicine at the Charité University of Medicine in Berlin, Germany; Ms. Bosiljka Djikanovic, associate of social medicine and public health at the University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine; Ms. Rositsa Koleva-Kolarova, senior researcher of the health economics research center at Oxford University, United Kingdom; Ms. Céu Mateus, professor of health economics at Lancaster University, United Kingdom; and Ms. Elena Petelos, lecturer in evidence-based medicine and evidence-informed policy at the University of Crete, Greece.
Just like our team of fellows, this week’s course was further enriched by the background diversity of the faculty coming from 5 countries and different institutions, allowing for a broader impact on discussions during lectures and dynamics. The course structure was in fact tailored to maximize the impact of this diversity: fellows were separated into 6 groups and performed 4 practical assignments throughout the week, having presented them together in 2 different sessions. Each group counted with the mentoring of one or two faculty members, and a peer assessment was made to improve learning outcomes.
Our esteemed course director this week describes the course structure:
“The Salzburg Maastricht University seminar in economic evaluation in healthcare, organized by the OMI, is a rigorous, week-long program aimed at deepening participants’ understanding of economic evaluation in healthcare. It covers critical topics such as cost measures, outcomes, uncertainties, pricing, and the integration of equity into economic evaluations, delivered through a blend of lectures, workshops, and hands-on practical assignments. Participants from around the globe were actively engaged in teamwork on real-world projects, equipping them to critically evaluate published studies and develop their own economic evaluations. The seminar also offered exceptional networking opportunities with an international faculty, culminating in a prestigious graduation ceremony.”
Ms. Evers further shares her inspiration this week by stating:
“As an academic educator, I am deeply passionate about capacity building, which is why I wholeheartedly support the Open Medical Institute and its vital mission of promoting brain gain and preventing brain drain in low- and middle-income countries. The opportunity to engage in knowledge transfer and experience exchange with the outstanding international faculty (students and staff) during the OMI seminar on economic evaluation in healthcare has been immensely rewarding. It’s truly inspiring to follow up with OMI alumni and assist them in applying their newfound expertise to make a meaningful impact in their home countries. Supporting such transformative efforts fills me with great pride and joy!”
We would like to extend an enormous thank you to all faculty and fellows present, allowing us to go one step forward in both Maastricht’s mission of creating global citizens, and OMI’s goal of fostering collaboration in healthcare.
