Shawna O’Hearn, Director, Global Health Office

Each year the Global Health Office at Dalhousie recognizes a member of Dalhousie’s Faculty of Medicine who demonstrate an ongoing commitment and leadership in global health.

This award acknowledges an outstanding contribution to the global health community at Dalhousie through:

• demonstrated leadership in global health
• work experience with marginalized communities
• engagement in global health research
• mentorship in global health
• promotion, development and enhancement of global health at Dalhousie

This year the 2017 Dr. John Savage Memorial Faculty Award for Leadership in Global Health has been presented to Dr. Heather Scott, Obstetrics and Gynaecology:

Dr. Scott is an innovator, leader and mentor in global health in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. She has spearheaded multiple initiatives at the local and international level and has brought Dalhousie University to the forefront of global maternal health research and education.

Dr. Scott was invited by the World Health Organization to lead the South African Confidential Enquiry into Maternal Deaths during her sabbatical. With a calm demeanor, organized approach and attention to detail, she described some of the challenges in maternity care in under resourced settings.  She built on her previous experience working with the World Health Organization in Geneva to convey a deep understanding of the process, barriers and solutions to maternal mortality reviews.

Dr. Scott has a strong desire to improve the plight of women in less privileged countries. She is part of a number of educational and research projects across Africa, in Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda and Ghana, and she contributes to each and every one in a leadership capacity.

Within her department she spearheaded the Global Health Unit, which brings together a multidisciplinary community of staff, residents, nurses and other individuals with interest in this topic. In this role, Dr. Scott has created the Global Health Advisory Committee, she has increased the presence of global health in the academic curriculum of the department and has initiated elective grants for residents who wish to pursue global health projects.  The Global Health Unit had an instrumental role in organizing the world-renowned Bethune Roundtable in Global Health Surgery, which took place in Halifax, in June 2016.

She is a compassionate leader, determined advocate, relevant researcher, open-minded educator and caring mentor.

Congratulations Dr. Scott!

To learn more about these awards please visit our Global Health Awards webpage.