Seed planted in spring when our program visited our colleagues in Stockholm and Uppsala in order to increase interaction between the universities with similar programs started to grow and flourish very quickly. Already during the summer months the idea of network using different social media platforms became established and communication not only between educational councils but also students and alumni started.
Thanks to two outstanding individuals – Daniel Yen (Karolinska Institut) and Simone Mohrs (Uppsala University), everyone used their gifts and knowledge to create innovative channels to make public health collaboration and opportunities more visible in Sweden. The design of Swedish Network for Master’s in International and Public Health (SNMIPH) has been since the beginning to connect students and alumni from the various public health and related programmes across Sweden, share project ideas, employment opportunities, and events.
In November 21.-22. I had privilege to lead organising team of the first national gathering for Master students and alumni from International Health Sciences in Sweden hosted by Lund University and Medicinska Föreningen MPH-UR section. The "Beyond MDGs" wasn't only an important get-together, but also it consisted of interactive sessions and discussions elaborated by guest lecturers from Novo Nordisk, Health Navigators, WHO, Global Health Minders, University of Copenhagen, Medicon Village and Lund University Social Innovation Centre. Tens of students and alumni became inspired and excited of possibilities how our network can contribute to improve professional life within global health field. Our board was happy of huge positive feedback and new ideas will be taken forward as our network continues to expand on a daily basis.
