LSHTM Alumni eNews

LSHTM News: New species of human malaria recognised

Scientists investigating ovale malaria, a form of the disease thought to be caused by a single species of parasite, have confirmed that the parasite is actually two similar but distinct species which do not reproduce with each other, according to recent research published in The Journal of Infectious Diseases. Researchers from LSHTM, the Hospital for Tropical Diseases and Mahidol University, Bangkok collaborated last year in order to share their research after noticing that the single parasite Plasmodium ovale, though visible through a microscope, was not detected by forensic DNA tests designed to identify the species. Read More Listen

Last chance to book your place at the Alumni Reception in Geneva on 17 May

Booking is now open for the LSHTM Alumni Reception in Geneva on 17 May. Professor Sir Andrew Haines will be hosting this event, which is being held in conjunction with the Global Health Council. US Secretary for Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius is a special guest speaker. To book your place please complete and return a booking form by 12 May. Places are limited and are filling up fast so please return your form to the Alumni Office as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. You can download booking forms from the Alumni Events web-page.

Congratulations to the 2009 MSc Graduates

The MSc Diploma Presentation Ceremony took place on Saturday 12 March. Visit our website to view photographs of Diploma Day, the Distance Learning Reception and the University of London External System Graduation Ceremony, and to read reports about the conferment of the Ronald Ross Medal.

Calling all graduates from the last three years

We need graduates from the last three years to complete a new non-academic student experiences survey. The survey consists of four simple questions and should only take a couple of minutes to fill out. Your participation would be greatly appreciated!

Alumni Reception in Toronto on 14 June

Book your place at the Alumni Reception in Toronto on 14 June. This event is open to all former and current students and staff of LSHTM. The reception is being held at the Sheraton Toronto Centre and will take place during the Canadian Public Health Association Annual Meeting. For further information or to download a booking form please visit the Alumni Events web-page.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2009 Alumni Survey

The Alumni Office would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part in the 2009 Alumni Survey. We really value and appreciate your feedback. One of the revelations of the survey was that many alumni want to help the environment by only receiving the annual alumni magazine electronically. If you indicated this was your preference we have made a note of this in our database. If you have not updated us with your preferences for receiving the magazine (either by post and electronically, or just electronically) you can do so by completing the Change of Details Form. You can also use this form to let us know whether or not you would like to be contacted about LSHTM's fundraising activities by our Development Office.

Alumni Chapters in Spain and Malawi

We are delighted to announce that new Alumni Chapters are being established in Madrid, Spain and Lilongwe, Malawi. You can contact the Lilongwe Chapter by email at lshtmlilongwe@gmail.com and the Madrid Chapter at madridlshtm@googlemail.com.We have alumni chapters in Canada, Germany and the USA. To contact these chapters, or for information about setting up your own alumni chapter, please visit the Alumni Chapters.

Short Courses at LSHTM

Places are available for the following short courses; Adolescent Health in Low and Middle income countries (starts 7 June), Cancer Survival: Principles, Methods and Analysis (starts 21 June), Intensive Epidemiology& Medical Statistics (starts 21 June), Laboratory Diagnosis of Parasites (starts 21 June), Laboratory Diagnosis of Malaria (starts 28 June), Modelling and its applications (starts 5 July) and Planning for Vision 2020 (starts 12 July). Further information about short courses or Masters/Research degrees is available online.

LSHTM News: Fish oil supplements provide no benefit to brainpower

The largest ever trial of fish oil supplements has found no evidence that they offer benefits for cognitive function in older people. The OPAL LSHTM-led study investigated the effects of taking omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid supplements over a two year period on the cognitive function of participants aged 70-80 years. Read More

LSHTM News: Millennium Development Goals being 'missed' due to narrow disease focus

Problems controlling common diseases like HIV, heart disease and diabetes in poor countries could be hindering efforts to meet the world's key child health and tuberculosis goals, a new study published in PLoS Medicine has warned. Researchers at Oxford University, LSHTM and the University of California San Francisco have found that those countries with the highest rates of HIV and non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, are the furthest behind in reducing child mortality and the spread of tuberculosis. Read More

LSHTM Alumni Association on facebook

Alumni who use the social networking site facebook can become fans of the LSHTM Alumni Association. Alumni can also follow us on Twitter at http://twitter.com/LSHTM_Alumni or join us on Linkedin.

LIDC News: Using new media to report development: The Guardian's experiences in Katine, Uganda

Journalists from The Guardian described their use of new media and showed a video about the dangers of childbirth at a popular event at the London International Development Centre (LIDC ). They described how blog posts, short films and tweets about life in rural Uganda are helping to generate a lively online debate, raise funds, and bridge the divide between the developed and developing worlds. The challenges being faced were also highlighted, including vitriolic criticism, and the different expectations of partners involved in the project. Read More

£90,000 to Share digital resources online

The latest thinking on international development from leading academics will be shared online via podcasts and videos as part of a new project involving LSHTM and the other five Bloomsbury Colleges that make up the LIDC. Read More

Society for Social Medicine at LSHTM

In 2012 the Society for Social Medicine's Annual Scientific Meeting will be held in central London for the first time in over 35 years. The meeting will be hosted by LSHTM in association with University College London. Nick Mays chairs the organising committee - he is Professor of Health Policy at LSHTM and a recent Chair of the SSM. Make a note in your diaries, the date is 12-14 September 2012.

Careers News: Launch of a National Public Health Career Planning Website in the UK

A new online career planning and management system for the UK was officially launched in April 2010 called 'The Public Health Online Resource for Careers, Skills and Training' or PHORCaST, (www.phorcast.org.uk) It is a freely accessible resource both for current public health workers and for those entering the field for the first time. The site is very easy to navigate and contains a wealth of useful information. LSHTM targeted vacancies are available at http://jobonline.thecareersgroup.co.uk/sics/student/Vacancies.aspx. Jobs at LSHTM are advertised at https://jobs.lshtm.ac.uk//.

Careers News: Be a part of the Alumni Career Network

Users of PHORCaST soon realise how useful other people's employment histories can be for those choosing and managing a career. The Careers and Alumni office are currently collecting the career stories of LSHTM Alumni, to create an on-line information resource that will focus on global health. If you are interested in helping us with this, please visit our Alumni Career Network web-page and complete our 'Career Questionnaire.'