Reflection from the Infectious Disease Modelling (IDM) Conference 2024
Reflection from the Infectious Disease Modelling (IDM) Conference 2024: Early Career Path
ต้องการข้อมูลเพิ่มเติม ติดต่อฝ่ายสื่อสารองค์กร HITAP
I would like to express my gratitude for the opportunity and the support from the UNITE initiative under the Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation (PMU-B) to be part of the panel discussion at the “Early Career Path” session during the Infectious Disease Modelling (IDM) conference in Bangkok, Thailand. This session provided a unique platform dedicated to early-career infectious disease modellers, offering insights into various career paths across academia, funding agencies, and government sectors.
From the perspective of a public health professional working at Thailand’s Department of Disease Control (DDC), I shared my experiences, challenges, and insights involving infectious disease modelling work in the country. The session allowed me to discuss my journey within the government sector, reflecting on the importance of knowledge sharing and capacity building in this field. The interactive panel discussion was particularly insightful, bringing together diverse perspectives on navigating career paths in infectious disease modeling. I also learned from other panelists and participants who shared their own experiences, enriching my understanding. Engaging with attendees during the Q&A session and the networking coffee break further embraced the experience, as I connected with fellow modellers, exchanged resources, and discussed potential collaborations.
The IDM Conference provided critical insights into the latest advancements in infectious disease modelling, especially through plenary sessions and targeted oral presentations. I gained a deeper understanding of modelling applications across vaccine-preventable and vector-borne diseases, social contact patterns, and parameter estimation techniques—all essential for building accurate and applicable models. The discussions on translating modelling results into public health policies and the framework for modelling-informed policy were particularly impactful, highlighting the importance of collaboration between researchers and policymakers.
The insights gained from this session will directly benefit my work at the DDC. They have reinforced my commitment to overcoming resource limitations by fostering partnerships across sectors and advocating for an evidence-informed, data-driven approach within the government. Following the session, I plan to explore opportunities to collaborate with academic institutions to address personnel and infrastructure challenges and to develop a more robust modelling-informed policy pipeline.
In conclusion, the session was indeed an invaluable experience that provided a comprehensive look at the diverse career paths in infectious disease modelling, each with unique challenges and rewards. I look forward to applying the lessons learned and continuing to build regional capacity in infectious disease modelling, ensuring that Thailand and the broader region are well-prepared to address future public health challenges.
18 November 2024
