This year's ASPHER Deans' & Directors' Retreat was hosted by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, from June 20 until June 23. The 2018 Retreat featured a strong programme focusing on topical issues such as migration, teaching and research capacity strengthening, new sources of data, innovations in teaching, and working with media.

Save the date for the next year's Retreat: 26-29 May. Following a successful bid by the Italian Society of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine and Public Health to co-organise the 2019 Retreat, it was agreed that the Ettore Majorana Foundation and Centre for Scientific Culture will be the host. We look forward to seeing you all in Erice/Sicily next year!

The Andrija Stampar medallist of 2018 has been chosen! Thank you very much to all ASPHER members for submitting your nominations. After a thorough discussion, the ASPHER Executive Board has decided to award this year's medal to Professor Dame Anne Johnson in recognition of the outstanding accomplishments during her career. Among the candidates were leading prominent figures from the political, policy and academic world, whose contribution to public health has also been of great value. The ASPHER Executive Board decided that professor Johnson is this year's most suitable candidate because of her global profile and because her work has an impact on multi-faceted issues in health such as training, leadership, and research, all of which are very relevant to ASPHER. As always, the award ceremony will take place in the context of the European Public Health (EPH) Conference. This year's EPH Conference, the 11th edition, will take us to Ljubljana from 28 November to 1 December. 

On Friday 9 March, ASPHER signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with its American counterpart, the Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health (ASPPH) in the context of ASPPH's annual meeting that took place from March 7 until March 9 in Arlington, VA. 

The MoU will facilitate further collaboration between European and American Schools of Public Health, in what is a major step to strengthen ASPHER's global partnerships. In the words of the ASPHER President, Professor Kasia Czabanowska: "this MoU represents alignment, commitment, and power for health and global good". 

During the meeting, specific areas of work for joint initiatives that will benefit both Associations were defined. In addition, the ASPHER and ASPPH secretariats had the opportunity to share best practices and Professor Czabanowska participated as a presenter at the “Building the Public Health Workforce for the Future: Looking Toward 2030”.

The 22 cases chosen for this collection represent a wide array of public health issues that go into the makeup of the New Public Health, which includes traditional public health, such as sanitation, hygiene and infectious disease control, but widens its perspective to include chronic diseases, nutrition, organization, financing and quality of international health systems and health in a much broader sense. Each case is presented in a systematic fashion to facilitate learning, with the topic background including the key pioneers, current relevance, economic and ethical issues, conclusions, recommendations, student review questions, and recommended references.

The book explores the history of public health through important scientific events and flashpoints, presents case studies in a clear direct style that is easy to follow, and uses a systematic approach to help learn lessons from the past and apply them to the present

For more information on the book, you can download the flyer here. 

ASPHER led on the development of this Joint Statement in collaboration with various organisations and members of the EU Health Policy Platform (EU HPP).

Aware of the different perspectives and initiatives with regard to strengthening the public health workforce, and taking into account the critical momentum in the relevant policy contexts, the signatory organisations call for a collaborative and consensus-building action on the continuing development and professionalisation of the public health workforce in Europe.

We are delighted to present to you the  Eurohealth special issue which addresses some key aspects of ASPHER work, illustrating them with practical examples. We hope that it will stimulate reflection on a variety of topics in which ASPHER plays a key role. Representing schools of public health in Europe, ASPHER is at the forefront of innovation in public health education, training, research and service. Akin to the lighthouse presented on this issue’s cover, we want to offer our guidance to the public health community so that, working together, we shape the future of public health.

ASPHER was founded over 50 years ago on the initiative of the World Health Organization. From a relatively small club of university departments and schools of public health the association has grown to become a vibrant and dynamic community as it is today. The Anniversary Book tells the history of ASPHER, as reported by many of those who were responsible for the active role of the association and its members, in the European as well as within national and local contexts. Also the perspectives for the future are presented, in the context of the ASPHER 2020 strategy.

FOR SCHOOLS OF PUBLIC HEALTH: This site will facilitate your becoming part of a vibrant, dynamic community of schools of public health. Share best practices and learn from one another.

FOR PROSPECTIVE AND CURRENT STUDENTS: Here you can learn about and compare different offers from schools of public health. Assess and map out your prospects for career development.

FOR ALUMNI AND ALL PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: Here you can obtain career guidance and learn about continuing professional development opportunities in the public health arena.

FOR PUBLIC HEALTH SYSTEM PLANNERS: Find resources on the public health workforce development. Review and compare school profiles, public health education and training schemes in Europe.