Research Group: Community Health and Health Care Systems

We are proud to celebrate Sophie who did a fantastic job presenting and defending her PhD! Her thesis, "Public Health Researchers' Roles in Tension during Public Health Emergencies. A Qualitative, Actor-Centered Approach", tackles the complex challenges researchers face when science meets policy—insightful, timely, and highly relevant.

Research results by Lars Lenze, a member of the research group on community health and health care systems, were recently featured in newspapers from the Tamedia group. His study examines how becoming a parent influences sports and exercise behaviour, highlighting the difference between becoming a mother and a father.

Health Promotion Switzerland mandated the research group to strengthen health equity in the development and implementation of new cantonal action programs for health promotion and prevention. The new factsheet outlines a multi-layered understanding of vulnerability and, for the Swiss context, summarizes interacting factors across levels, key prevalence figures, good-practice examples, and guidance on stakeholder participation, highlights changes throughout the life course, and the empowerment of resources, capabilities, and agency through participation.

Three PhD students from the group recently presented their research at the Graduate School for Health Sciences annual symposium at Studienzentrum Gerzensee, accompanied by their supervisor, Prof. Frahsa. The symposium was filled with engaging presentations, a lively poster session, nice food, and insightful exchanges with fellow PhD colleagues.

The Community Health and Healthcare Systems Research Group at ISPM welcomed a delegation from the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) Singapore for a learning exchange about a range of topics, including healthy aging, palliative care, and care integration. The session concluded not only with a rich exchange of ideas but also with mutual interest among partners to remain in contact and explore areas for further scientific engagement.

Gia Thu Ly has successfully finished her Master’s degree in Health Sciences at the University of Lucerne with magna cum laude. Her master thesis used data from the project “Divided pandemic society and Public Health. Polarization in the Covid-19 pandemic response in Switzerland” (MCID) to explore practices of solidarity during the pandemic.

Dr. Harvy Joy Liwanag, postdoctoral research fellow of the group, stayed for a six-week research visit at the Nossal Institute for Global Health in the University of Melbourne, Australia with support from a UniBE travel grant. This sparked the initiation of scientific collaborations in global health.