4P Training Program Structure

• Organizational Flowchart (PDF)
• Program Blueprint (PDF File French only)
• Program Components
• Program Requirements
• Skills to be Acquired
• Fields of Research

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Program Components

The program includes three (3) components. This curriculum is mandatory for all fellows.

1) Mentoring in a Public Health Setting
Mentors are experts or researchers who work in an organization of public health as a Public Health Department (DSP eg Montreal, Montérégie, Quebec), or university participating in the program. Their role is to supervise the 4P Training Program fellows in their research project as a thesis supervisor as well as in their training environment (see Training Settings). The mentoring formula varies depending on Mentors, Fellows and objectives of the host institution. List of 4P Mentors

2) Personalized Training Plan
Each Fellow must produce a Personalized Training Plan (French document only - English pending), which specifies learning objectives, training activities he/she wishes to follow in relation to his/her objectives and a plan to achieve these objectives. The Fellow must get this document approved by his 4P Mentor. The Fellow must then submit the Personalized Training Plan to the 4P Training Team, who will specify to the Fellow the expected deliverables and work schedule. A workshop is held annually in September to explain the procedure to be followed in developing the training plan.

3) Training activities
In addition to the work proposed by the 4P Mentor, monthly activities such as workshops, conferences and seminars are offered. They provide opportunities for exchange between Fellows and Mentors. Fellows are required to attend a seminar and three-month intensive sessions (training for a period of 3 or 4 days) per year. See Training Activities for more information.

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Program Requirements

• All 4P Training Program Fellows participate in activities under their training setting, including the drafting of research protocols, scientific papers or public health advisories/reports.
  
  
• Time spent in the program:
  • The doctoral students spend 60% of their study time in the 4P Program, for 3 days a week, including a half-day per week for preparation and participation in seminars.
  • The postdoctoral fellows invested 80% of their study time in the 4P Program, for 4 days per week, including a half-day per week for preparation and participation in seminars.
  
  
• The workload is determined by the requirements of universities' academic departments and the level of education (doctorate or post doctorate) of Fellows. Assigned responsibilities must not interfere with the progress of the thesis or research project.

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Skills to be Acquired

• The basic research in public health, policy and health services;
• Applied research and transdisciplinary interventions in public health;
• The value systems and ethical issues in research towards their application;
• The ability to share knowledge from research;
• The professional skills (eg research career management)
• Networking.

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Fields of Research

The Fellows' research projects focus on public health interventions, health services and policies, and must be consistent with public health priorities:

refer to these documents (French only):

1. National Public Health Program 2003-2012, 2008 Update
2. 2010-2015 Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Health and Social Services
3. Terms of Reference for the joint development (CSSS / DSP) system for assessing the perfomance of the Regional Action Plan (PAR) and the Local Action Plans (PAL) of Public Health in Montréal (2010)
4. Action for Prevention: 2003-2006 Action Plan for the Montreal Public Health
5. Regional Action Plan for Public Health of the National Capital 2009-2012
6. Regional Action Plan for the Montérégie Public Health 2009-2012

Public health interventions are defined as actions aimed at changing the distribution of health risks within the population by targeting multiple health determinants (personal, familial, social, economic, environmental, etc.). These actions can be grouped under three broad categories: promotion, prevention and public policy (4P).

Promoting health is defined by the processes that enable people to increase control over their health and then improve it. The analysis focuses on entire populations rather than individuals.

Prevention includes the fight against preventable diseases known as infections, injuries and poisonings. It works at the source of these risks and advocates individual measures applied by health professionals.

Public policy is a series of decisions or consistent activities (social programs, investment of resources) exerted by the government and aim to solve a community problem. Public policies conducive to health one of the research subject of the 4P Training Program, as the organization of health and social services and health related public policy.