Fellow 5 (project 1.4)

Healthcare inequalities create barriers to essential medical services, disproportionately affecting people in remote and isolated areas. Innovative care models, including telemedicine, social innovation, and community-driven healthcare, offer promising solutions to improve access and quality of care for diverse populations, such as elderly individuals, chronic patients, adolescents, and people with disabilities. 
This project aims to explore, evaluate, and advance these approaches to create equitable and sustainable healthcare solutions. The research will focus on models that empower local communities by integrating technology with human-centered care strategies, ensuring long-term impact and feasibility. 

The fellow will investigate the impact of innovative proximity care models on improving equity in healthcare access for geographically isolated and remote communities. The research will include an analysis of existing data to assess the current state of healthcare access in these communities, identifying inequalities and the population groups most affected. The fellow will evaluate the effectiveness of interventions such as telemedicine, proximity service provision, and community empowerment in enhancing access equity and the quality of care. 
A key element of this research is co-creation, ensuring that solutions are developed in collaboration with local communities, healthcare providers, and policymakers. The fellow will actively engage with these stakeholders to refine and validate proximity care models, making them more adaptable to real-world needs. Special attention will be given to inclusive development, incorporating insights from successful models, such as Greenland’s approach, where trained laypersons within communities support telemedicine services. By integrating community perspectives, the research will ensure that solutions are practical, sustainable, and culturally appropriate. 
To understand the impact of proximity care, the fellow will also measure satisfaction levels and well-being through citizen-generated data collected via an ongoing population survey. The findings will directly benefit the studied communities and inform key stakeholders, including Regional Health Departments, Local Health Authorities, Third Sector Entities, Municipalities, and National Health Quality Authorities. 
The research includes secondments for a substantial portion of the recruitment period to leading organizations in Denmark, Italy, and Germany, where the fellow will gain expertise in proximity healthcare models, digital health solutions, and community-based innovations. Additionally, a work visit to Denmark will provide first-hand exposure to layperson-supported telemedicine models, further enriching the fellow’s understanding of inclusive and practical healthcare solutions. 

The fellow will join the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Health Science at Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, a leading institution dedicated to research on health equity, quality of care, and sustainability. The center brings together experts from various fields, including medicine, bioengineering, computer science, economics, social sciences, and law, fostering a highly collaborative and interdisciplinary research environment. 
The research team has extensive experience in developing innovative healthcare models and has been actively involved in national and international projects aimed at improving access to high-quality care. This includes leading initiatives such as the Proximity Care Project in Tuscany and the EU-funded Tuscany Health Ecosystem (THE), which focus on technological and managerial innovations for underserved populations. Additionally, members of the team were involved in HealthIntelAct’s predecessor, the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Training Network for Health System Performance Professionals (HealthPros), further strengthening their expertise in health system performance assessment and policy-driven research. 
Collaboration with policymakers, healthcare providers, and local communities is at the core of the team’s approach, ensuring that research outcomes are not only scientifically rigorous but also relevant and actionable. By joining this team, the fellow will have the opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge health services research, working with a diverse network of experts and stakeholders committed to improving healthcare accessibility and equity. 
For more information about the Interdisciplinary Research Center for Health Science at Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies, visit: 
Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies – Health Science 

• Master’s degree in management, public health, health policy, health economics, social sciences, or a related field. 
• Interest in health service research, health inequalities, health innovation, population health, population well-being or rural health studies. 
• Experience with data analysis methods. 
• Strong interpersonal, analytical and critical thinking skills 
• Excellent higher education track record and strong scientific curiosity.  
• Fluent spoken and written English skills 

In addition, the following experience would be helpful, but not essential: 

• Experience in community-based research or participatory methods. 
• Experience in interdisciplinary research settings. 
• Experience in studying European healthcare systems, particularly in the context of health system performance assessment 
• Ability to speak Italian or willingness to learn. 

We seek a highly motivated aspiring researcher with a strong interest in conducting research, who thrives in an interdisciplinary environment and project, and can work both independently and as part of a team. 

This 3-year PhD position is funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions of the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement No 101168576.  You will be appointed as fulltime PhD for 3 years with Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) programme offers an attractive salary and working conditions. The Marie Skłodowska-Curie (MSCA) programme offers an attractive salary and working conditions. The successful candidates will receive a salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for early-stage researchers. Exact salary will be confirmed upon appointment [Living Allowance = €3.400 * (country specific correction factor for IT) 0.974 = €3.311,6 + Monthly mobility allowance = €600. An additional monthly allowance of €660 is applicable depending on family situation.  In addition to their individual scientific projects, all fellows will benefit from further continuing education, which includes internships and secondments, a variety of training modules as well as transferable skills courses and active participation in workshops and conferences.

Be aware the contracts include social security coverage providing at least sickness and parental benefits, invalidity and accidents at work and occupational diseases, covering the fellows in every place of implementation of HealthIntelAct activities. As these will be paid by the employer and depend on country-specific regulations, the final net salary that each fellow will receive may differ. 

See recruitment procedure. You can apply using the online application form. For more information about the position you can contact Prof. Sabina Nuti (email: sabina.nuti@santannapisa.it).  

Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies (SSSA) is a public university institute – with special autonomy – working in the field of applied sciences: Economics and Management, Law, Political Sciences, Agricultural Sciences and Plant Biotechnology, Medicine, and Industrial and Information Engineering, Data Science.  
SSSA is an internationally recognized institution dedicated to excellence in research and education. Its interdisciplinary research spans health systems, sustainability, and policy innovation, fostering impactful contributions to global challenges.  
All doctoral degrees for fellows based at the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies will be awarded by the same institution.