Léo PERSOZ
Léo PERSOZ
country: Switzerland
diplomas
- Msc in Global Health Msc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Sport Sciences
biography
Léo is a researcher from Switzerland currently pursuing a PhD in Global Health at the University of Geneva. In this context, he is employed by the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi) as a research associate working on a project aiming to better understand decision patterns and attitudes related to medically indicated contraceptive use to improve accessibility to contraceptives for women when required alongside NTDs treatments. Three different studies are part of this project, conducted in different locations where leishmaniasis and/or Chagas disease is endemic: Kenya, Brazil and Colombia. Each of these studies follow a similar mixed method design, embedded within a participatory framework.
WHY IS THIS PHD IMPORTANT FOR ME (FOR My CAREER , ORGANIZATION OR COUNTRY)?
I have engaged myself in this project because of my conviction in the importance of approaching medicine, and the development of NTDs treatment particularly, through bottom-up approaches that place patients’ interests, perspectives and needs as centre piece. This project is, I believe, deeply driven by this perspective due to its aim, the implementation of a participatory framework that engage populations affected by NTDs in each step of the research process, and the collaborations that were established between DNDi and local NGOs/institutions to conduct this project.
WHY DID I CHOOSE THIS PHD PROGRAM?
I have applied to this PhD program because, on the one hand, I felt it was a natural continuation of my academic career. Indeed, with a background at the intersection of PPE and global health, I found this program particularly well designed to integrate transdisciplinary topics such as the one of my PhD. On the second hand, it is the requirement of being employed outside university that made me want to pursue research in that framework. Through this dual composition, global health professionals are able to engage in research while remaining actively involved beyond academia, which was particularly important for me.