Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine has created a 12-month Master’s Program in Infectious Disease and Global Health. The program is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to pursue careers in infectious disease as well as related areas of disease management, transmission, prevention, treatment and control. Students may also choose the program as a means to make them more competitive for doctoral level programs such as a DVM or Ph.D., according to the school. The creation of the program stems from a critical need, according to Saul Tzipori, DVM, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health. “The future will likely witness more frequent emergent diseases with increased virulence than in the past,” Dr. Tzipori said. “Many human, biological, environmental and climatic factors contribute to this phenomenon, including the exponential growth in human and domestic animal populations along with shrinking wildlife habitats. Infectious diseases will be, therefore, an increasing scientific and global public health concern with significant economic consequences.” The program’s coursework will examine the natural history of infectious agents and the diseases they cause, as well as aspects of detection, pathogenesis, transmission, prevention, control, treatment, ecology, immunology, vaccinology and animal models. Among infectious agents to be covered: Ebola, SARS, Avian Flu and Nipah virus. The curriculum will also touch on regulatory and management issues. Applications are currently being considered on a rolling basis. The next deadline is Feb. 1 and April 1. If openings exist after May 1, the school will consider applications on a rolling basis until the class is full. A maximum of 20 students will be admitted each year.
