From The Field Week: A Unique Learning Experience

We’re thrilled to share highlights from this year’s “From the Field” teaching unit, a distinctive and dynamic component of the Graduate School One Health Emerging Infectious Diseases (1H-EID) program, expertly organized by Solen Kernéis, Loïc Epelboin, and Nathan Peiffer-Smadja.

This exciting week brought together an exceptional group of professionals, researchers, physicians, anthropologists, educators, journalists, and industry experts, from mainland France, French Guiana, Guinea, and England. Together with our EID master’s and doctoral students, they explored the essential “field” work that takes place outside the research laboratory, diving deep into real-world challenges and solutions.

The program delved into the dynamic, real-world practices of physicians, epidemiologists, clinical microbiologists, and decision-makers engaged in the clinical management, prevention, investigation, and research of emerging infectious diseases. Key topics included:

• Clinical presentations of EIDs.
• Evaluation of innovative prevention strategies (vaccines and non-pharmaceutical interventions).
• Protection of healthcare workers.
• Methods of outbreak investigation and control measures.
• Clinical research in epidemic contexts.
• Communication strategies for public engagement.
• Vibrant case studies.
• Immersive 3D hospital simulation scenarios.
• Assessment based on transdisciplinary collaborative work and real-life case analysis.

Beyond the formal sessions, the week’s distinctive character was elevated by the “From the Field Cocktail”, an engaging networking event that provided students with a relaxed, convivial setting to connect, exchange ideas, share experiences, and build lasting relationships with speakers and fellow participants.

This enriching experience exemplifies our commitment to bridging academic knowledge with practical field expertise in the ongoing fight against emerging infectious diseases.

This enriching experience exemplifies our commitment to bridging academic knowledge with practical field expertise in the ongoing fight against emerging infectious diseases.