Scientific Vitality of Doctoral Training at The National School of Public Health of Cuba

Abstract

Introduction: The National School of Public Health has contributed for seventeen years to train doctors in Health Sciences specialty. This task has been rigorously conducted and with high standards of quality.

Objective: To prove the scientific vitality of the National School of Public Health in training doctors in Health Sciences specialty.

Methods: A descriptive study was carried out based on the information available in the database of the Doctorate Office of the school, from 2005 to 2019. A phenomenological-type qualitative methodology was applied, supported by the individual experience of the participants. A non-probabilistic sampling was used in order to weigh the quality of the information.

Results: One hundred twenty-five doctors were trained; eight doctors graduated per year, both Cuban and foreign professionals, in all periods. The territorial analysis reflected concentration in Havana, there were provinces that had not trained doctors in this specialty. The interviewees expressed favorable criteria about the scientific vitality of the National School of Public Health.

Conclusions: The scientific vitality in training of doctors in Health Sciences specialty has been possible with the implementation of the doctor training strategy, carried out by the faculty of the National School of Public Health, through a doctoral program that is based on in the policy of attracting Cuban and foreign doctoral students and in the development of training processes that have led to doctoral theses with important contributions to the discipline. However, being proactive is necessary in the search and preparation of doctoral students in some provinces of the country.