The Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Eastern Finland (UEF) participated in the European Public Health Conference, held 11–14 in November Helsinki, Finland. This annual event gathered over 3,000 participants from over 80 countries, making Helsinki the hub of global public health dialogue.
UEF was part of the Finnish Pavilion, alongside other leading institutions on the field of public health, such as the University of Turku, the University of Helsinki, Tampere University, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL), and the Social Insurance Institution of Finland (Kela). The pavilion showcased Finland’s strong expertise in public health research, education and policy.
UEF researchers actively contributed to the conference programme:
Professor Jussi Kauhanen highlighted the importance of strengthening international collaboration in public health education and research:
“This is one of the most important conferences in our field, and it is inspiring to hear about new initiatives and research here in Helsinki. The programme covered a wide variety of topics, but two themes were strongly represented: public health and well-being economics, which seeks to integrate solutions into policy-making, and the role of climate change in public health and planetary health. These discussions highlight the importance of our newly launched Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Human and Planetary Health,” says Kauhanen.
The conference offered an excellent opportunity to connect and build collaborations with leading public health organisations and international networks. UEF’s public health education is part of the Association of Schools of Public Health in the European Region (ASPHER) network, which connects 150 public health education institutes across Europe, and discussions during the event opened doors for future joint initiatives and partnerships.
Professor Tiina Laatikainen gave a presentation on the untapped potential of registry-based data in public health research, emphasising benefits such as comprehensive coverage, rich and diverse information, and cost-effectiveness.
“Despite substantial global investment in health care, surprisingly little is known about the actual value that health systems generate in terms of improved health outcomes, equity, and quality of life. The effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of many health interventions remain insufficiently understood, particularly in real-world primary care contexts. In this regard, routinely collected health registry data represent an underutilized resource with considerable potential to generate evidence on the performance and impact of health services,” says professor Laatikainen.
At the Finland Pavilion, visitors had the opportunity to exchange ideas with UEF professors and public health researchers, including Jussi Kauhanen, Tiina Laatikainen, Marjorita Sormunen and Dr Suchetana De Storvik, a European Registered Toxicologist, who concentrates in her postdoctoral research on evidence-treatment gaps in diabetes care.
Professor of Nursing Science Marjorita Sormunen brought attention to the importance of promoting health literacy among children and adolescents as a foundation for public health.
“Early investment in these skills empowers young people to make informed decisions and supports healthier life trajectories. Digitalization was also a recurring theme in the conference, reflecting both the opportunities and especially the challenges of growing up in a highly connected world. As one speaker noted, “Young people don’t have an online world and an offline world – they have one world.” This reminds us that adults must understand this reality and take responsibility for guiding and supporting young people in navigating that single, interconnected world,” says Professor Sormunen.
UEF also introduced its English-taught degree programmes in health sciences, including the Bachelor’s Degree Programme in Human and Planetary Health and the four Master’s degree programmes taught in English, including Public Health, Toxicology, Biomedicine, and Medical Physics. The booth was visited by people interested in Master’s and PhD studies in health sciences. The event also provided a wonderful opportunity for reunions with UEF alumni, reinforcing the university’s global community and commitment to advancing public health.
