The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the global need to build capacity in the public health workforce to leverage data for informed decision-making. The Informatics and Data Science for Health (IDASH) Fellowship was launched in 2022 as a training program for current and future public health leaders at the national level with over 10+ countries in Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and South America. IDASH aimed to strengthen national and regional capacity to use public health information systems and data to improve population-level health outcomes, effectively detect and respond to public health threats, and promote health equity.
IDASH took a unique multidisciplinary approach, involving professionals with backgrounds in epidemiology, information technology, and management in mixed teams. Together, they tackled curriculum on data governance, data science, interoperability, human-centered design, and project management. The IDASH was delivered in-person as a case-based curriculum, heavily leveraging real-world examples and activities in accordance with adult learning principles. In addition to in-person workshops and training, the IDASH program included individual and group assignments, country team projects, mentorship, and access to a network of advisors and subject matter experts. To develop the IDASH competency framework and curriculum, I-TECH collaborated with national ministries, local universities, and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Co-creation with partner countries and institutions was core to the program design from the onset to maximize ownership, return on investment, and sustainability.
We evaluated the efficacy and impact of IDASH through a variety of mixed methods, including pre/post knowledge tests, exit surveys on self-rated confidence related to the competencies and domains covered in the curriculum, follow-up surveys several months after graduation, and interviews with fellows as well as their workplace supervisors. We found significant improvements in knowledge and confidence, and interviews revealed ongoing application of their skills and positive impacts on their workplace processes. Our findings suggest that multidisciplinary, practice-oriented informatics training, such as the IDASH program, can strengthen both individual capacity and organizational readiness for data-informed decision-making.
- In partnership with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) Regional Office, World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe, Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), and the governments of Armenia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Paraguay, Peru, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan.
