ASPHER 60TH ANNIVERSARY & MILAN2026
ASPHER 1st European Congress on Education and Training in Public Health - Milan2026: Abstract Deadline Saturday 28 February
The Abstract submission deadline for Milan2026 is this Saturday 28 February - be sure to mobilise to submit your work and pass on the word! Plan to be in Milan this summer for the ASPHER 1st European Congress on Education and Training in Public Health, 15-18 July! Download Abstract Guidelines here. Submit your Abstract here. Register here.
If you are struggling to complete your submission and may need a few more days, please let us know as the ASPHER Executive Board will be considering whether to offer an extended deadline.
Plenary Programme coming soon
The Milan2026 Scientific Committee will meet in early March with plans to announce the Plenary Programme by mid-month. If you submitted an abstract that could be interesting to contribute to a plenary session, let us know at milan2026@aspher.org so we may flag it for consideration.
MEMBER NEWS
Let the ASPHER community know what is happening at your school! Send your news and events to lore.leighton@aspher.org.
LSHTM Director Liam Smeeth receives CBE at Windsor Castle
His Majesty King Charles III honoured Professor Liam Smeeth, the Director of the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) at an investiture ceremony on 18 February at Windsor Castle for his services to public health and education. Read more about Professor Smeeth’s achievements here.
Escaping the algorithm: How to make the health information environment work for public health with University of Malta Professor Neville Calleja
Professor Neville Calleja, Head of the Department of Public Health at the University of Malta will join other leading experts in the field of health information on 19 March, 13:00-14:20 CET for an ECDC Lighthouse Webinar. The webinar will focus on the social processes that influence how people find, understand, assess, and use health information in the digital age and explore strategies for creating healthier information environments. Learn more and register here.
Member publications for your reading list
From Felisi N, Vecchio R and Odone A: When peer review drags on: the harm to early career researchers. There is a global growing strain on the peer review system, characterized by prolonged review timelines and reviewer capacity shortages. In this Opinion piece, authors argue that peer review delays disproportionately harm early career researchers, affecting not only scientific progress but also confidence, career opportunities, and trust in the academic system. Read the article here.
From Feuillet-Liger B, Lefeuvre K and Rissel A: Autour du Covid: Les atteintes aux libertés au nom de la santé publique. Faced with the Covid-19 crisis, governments had to strike a balance between protecting public health and respecting civil liberties. Five years on, this multidisciplinary work analyses these choices, draws lessons from them and proposes ways to better prepare for future health crises. In French. Order your copy here.
NEW AND NOTEWORTHY
Geopolitics and public health: Europe under the shadow of the U.S. National Security Strategy
From Jon Cylus and Martin McKee, this Lancet Regional Health Viewpoint analyses the implications of the 2025 U.S. National Security Strategy for public health and health systems in Europe. A weakened WHO, reduced U.S. engagement, and more transactional transatlantic relations threaten global health security. Europe must safeguard health systems, equity, and the multilateral global order. Read it here.
Empowering the health workforce in the age of AI
European Health Forum Gastein hosted a panel discussion at the European Parliament on 25 February to discuss Empowering the health workforce in the age of AI. 2024 ASPHER Štampar Medalist Natasha Azzopardi-Muscat moderated the session. Learn more about the event here and read WHO’s report on how Artificial intelligence is reshaping health systems and the state of European Region readiness.
Lore Leighton
Brussels, Belgium