We are pleased to announce this year’s winners of the 2013 Global Health Photo Contest.  This is an annual contest that is presented in partnership between the Global Health Office and the Medical Humanities-HEALS Program.

The first place winner is Joanna McNeil from the Faculty of Medicine.

I am fortunate that global health is part of my medical education here at Dalhousie and I am so grateful to have the support, events, and programs of the Global Health Office.  Already I know my future will entail struggle with regard to how and where to apply my skills… what is the proper balance between service to Canada – the country I love, grew up in, and that trained me – and to the severely under-served or emergency-stricken populations of our world?  The photos I take keep me humble in my comfortable, Canadian life and motivate me to learn lots so that the next time I visit, I have skills to offer and teach.  I enjoying looking at my photos because I am mentally transported back to that time and place.  It’s tempting to look at photos of the developing world with pity, since they do not have what we have – but when I put myself back into the experience of taking my own photos, I can remember the things that they have that we don’t.  My winning photo is from India, where huge portions of the population are known to suffer from extreme poverty. However in my experience, (if I may generalize about an enormous and enormously varied country) I found Indians to be “rich” in so many other important areas that contribute to healthy societies.

The second place winner is Amanda Carey from the School of Nursing.

No matter where in the world individuals live, transportation is a major factor in determining access to health care – a basic human right.  This photo is of people disembarking the Kilombero river ferry to Ifakara, perhaps on their way to the regional St. Francis Referral Hospital, maybe to visit family, or possibly with the intention of traveling further on to the bustling city of Dar es Salaam. The image represents global health as it illustrates that while some can just hop on a bus, jump in the car, or even call an ambulance to obtain health care services, for others things can be more complicated.

The Global Health Office and Humanities-HEALS Program are pleased to provide $50 (1st Prize) and a $25 (2nd Prize) Black’s Photo gift cards to the winners.

We also want to thank all our contest participants, as well as our judges (Dr. Tom Marrie, Dr. Lara Hazelton, Dr. Ian Epstein, Dr. John LeBlanc, Dr. Jeff Kirby and Nirupa Varatharasan) for their time, effort and expertise.

To see more of the submissions please visit the Global Health Office Facebook page

If you are interested in being involved in the 2014 Global Health Photo Contest please contact us at gho@dal.ca.