Informatics plays an essential role in improving public health worldwide. Over the years, I have worked on several projects that seek to train professionals from different fields to address global health challenges more effectively, using technology and data. Initiatives such as the QUIPU Center and the Kuskaya Program have been key in this process.
With the QUIPU Center, we conducted a pioneering assessment of health informatics training needs in Latin America. We identified key training areas such as mobile health, which is medical and public health practices supported by mobile devices, information security, and how to represent data in an understandable way. This assessment allowed us to create a curriculum tailored to the needs of the region and organize the first International Expert Workshop on Biomedical Informatics in March 2010, where experiences and knowledge were shared with professionals from across Latin America.
The Kuskaya Program, developed in partnership with the University of Washington from 2014 to 2018, had an innovative approach. We trained 33 fellows from Peru and the United States, many of whom came from disciplines outside of health, such as engineering, architecture, or computer science. The program taught researchers to work together to solve public health and global health problems collaboratively, using technological tools. This interdisciplinary approach has served as a model for other global health training programs.
As a result of these efforts, we were able to institutionalize the first master's and diploma program in biomedical informatics at the Cayetano Heredia University of Peru. This program has trained professionals from several countries in the region, preparing new leaders in global health and demonstrating the importance of continuing education in this field.
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