Conference attendance inspires young minds to keep exploring

February 11, 2019 Jennifer LeBlanc Leave a Comment

By: Fola Akpan, Dalhousie student, Faculty for Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology

Fola is a Dalhousie student studying Kinesiology in the Faculty of Health Sciences. Through the Johnson Scholarship Foundation funding Dalhousie’s Indigenous and African Nova Scotia bursary program is designed as an initiative for Indigenous students (First Nation, Inuit, and Métis) and African Nova Scotians at Dalhousie University. The goal of the program is to enable students to attend extracurricular programing such as conferences as part of their professional development. Fola recently attended a local conference with the support of the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, here is her experience, in her words.

Fola Akpan

In August of 2018, I attended the Canadian Society for Biomechanics Annual Conference held in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Earlier that summer I had been working in the Biomechanics, Lab at Dalhousie in a Summer Researcher Position. I had attended research days and listened to postgraduate students present on the research that they conducted, but I had little understanding of the research being conducted at other universities. While moving through the conference, I was able to interact with many individuals, varying from honors undergraduate students to seasoned veterans in the field of biomechanics. It was wonderful to listen to them speak about their research, watch the various stages of learning, and to hear about the things that people were passionate about. Going in with the mindset to simply observe helped me learn about academia through many lenses, from the scientific discoveries, to how to clearly present complex information.

Overall, my experience at CBS 2018 was educational in ways that transcended the simple translation of scientific information from one person to another. I watched skillful communicators take complex ideas and simplify them into pieces that were easy for me, a person with limited knowledge, to comprehend. I learned that scientific knowledge and new discoveries are built with tiny steps and contributions that may not seem significant at the initial stages. I was inspired to be a better researcher, not only for my sake, and the scientific community, but for the ones behind me who may see a path to pursue their passions.

The global health office has more information on our diversity programs.

Health Sciences camp for Indigenous students

January 28, 2019 Jennifer LeBlanc Leave a Comment

By: Brandon Parsons, Grade 12 student at J.L. Ilsley High School and Tish Sock-Sacetti, Indigenous Student Support Worker

Brandon Parsons

Brandon Parsons on Dalhousie University Halifax campus

My name is Brandon Parsons and I am a student at JL Ilsley high school. I am currently a grade 12 student. I found out about the camp through my school’s aboriginal director. At first giving up my march break didn’t seem very fun, but she convinced me to go and I do not regret it for a second. I attended the Kitpu “Eagle” Wise march break camp, it is a day camp for Indigenous youth wanting to explore and learn more about medical fields.

Personally, I find it hard to get up early, essentially if I don’t have school. To me the first day was nerve wreaking, I was so nervous. After the first day was over, I was so excited to go back, and I was actually happy to get up early. I tended to show up early to hang out with the other students before our day started. I made a lot of friends at the camp and we still text and hang out regularly. My friends and I were always excited to learn about the medical fields. Often, we had lunch and learns and people who work the regular day to day medical jobs came in and talked to us. I really liked that it was more of conversation rather than just a presentation. We also talked to students and teachers of the medical programs at Dalhousie University. It was really cool hearing the perspective of the students considering that’s where we wanted to end up.

My favourite part of the camp was shadowing the dental students while they had actual patients in and getting work done. I enjoyed seeing the work from the class room put into actual use in the real world. The camp isn’t just presentations and watching, there is a lot of hands on activities to do which my friends absolutely loved.

Brandon and Tom McCutcheon, Options & Opportunities Program Coordinator of JL Ilsley High School.

The Indigenous Health program manager for the Faculty of Medicine is Joe MacEachern and he is the Kitpu Wise camp leader. In the camp we learned about a lot of different Health Science programs but not what Joe did as a job. This was something that really interested me. Joe MacEachern stayed in touch with me offering me advice and support as I was planning my future studies, and when the opportunity came up through the co-op program in my school, I reached out to him about doing my co-op with him at his office. He was very receptive to the idea and I am currently exploring what he does on a day to day basis. One of our main goals while working with him is the planning of the camps and making them even more amazing then they are already. It has been interesting to see how the feedback we supplied in our reviews of the camp are now creating new opportunities for the next group of students that will attend in 2019.

To wrap this up, I loved everything about the camp from the opportunity to learn and the friends I made. I am really excited to go back next year.

Tish Sock-Sacetti

Joe MacEachern, Tish Sock-Sacetti, The Honourable Lena Metlege Diab

As an Indigenous Student Support Worker for the Halifax Regional Centre for Education I have helped several students attend the Dalhousie Health Sciences Camp programs. My students have really loved their experience at the camps. The students who had the privilege to participate in camps, especially the March Break camp Kitpu Wise, couldn’t stop talking about how wonderful it was. The students were exposed to many medical careers and it opened their eyes to possibilities for a future some never considered could be theirs. My students enjoyed meeting the various health professionals and taking part in all the exercises. The participants really enjoyed the hands-on activities and job shadowing. Many felt the cultural component to the camp was extremely important and one of their favourite parts. Everyone who took part in last year’s camp cannot wait to return and they are always encouraging other students to apply.

I truly believe that the value of this camp is immeasurable. The support provided by Joe MacEachern, the program manager, to help increase accessibility for my students was amazing. There were several barriers identified, such as transportation and food, that would have prevented many students from ever experiencing an opportunity like this but the program manager was there to help address these issues a manner that was amazing. All week I kept receiving extremely positive updates from my students about camp. Their calls and texts were full of, ” Tish, guess what we did!” “Tish, do you know what I can do!” ” Tish, what courses will I need to take to become…” ” Tish, do you know what I found out..”……… The confidence of my students was bolstered, and the camp helped to reinforce that they can have the future they want instead of one chosen for them by circumstance. The students still speak extremely highly of Joe and the continued support from Joe has been sincerely appreciated. Everyone is looking forward to camp this March Break.

To learn more about programs for Indigenous youth please visit the Global Health Office website.

PLANS Professional Profile: Ruth Boachie

January 14, 2019 Jennifer LeBlanc Leave a Comment

Promoting Leadership in health for African Nova Scotians (PLANS) Presents a new section of our social medial plan, bringing to you the faces of Black health professions! This post highlights the profession of Nutrition and Dietetics!

Ruth Boachie

We had the opportunity of connecting with Ruth Boachie whose background is in nutrition and food science having studied at the University of Ghana (BSc. Nutrition and Food Science), and then later obtaining her Masters of Applied Human Nutrition from Mount Saint Vincent University.

So Ruth, what you do you currently do in your work?

I am currently a Quality and Research and Development coordinator at Nova Scotia Organics. We make whole food based dietary supplements that are certified organic.

Can you describe your role in nutrition?

As per my job, I ensure that whatever finished products we send out to the consumer meets Quality standards and [that] it is safe for consumption. I also work to develop new products that have beneficial effects on health.

Can you explain your experiences of and the ability to access healthy food choices, and other food services?

This might be easier for me considering that I studied nutrition in school. I studied how food and its components affect the body when it’s eaten, and the role it plays on the overall health outcome of an individual.

So, I am able to make my meals with affordable food items that I know will provide health benefits. I find that it requires much intentional efforts to look out for these products since it is easier to access food with low nutrient content.

However, the challenge I see with respect to this is that, most people think healthy food is ‘expensive’. This might be true to some extent but not always.

This will go a long to improve our food choices and overall health.

How have you found or are you finding community in your profession?

I have had much connection with the general community, and other professionals in different Health sectors. I have had several nutrition education activities with different groups and I found that interesting because I got to share very practical ways of making healthy food choices.

There is always room for improvement, so the Black Health professionals can be a driving force in reducing risk factors for chronic diseases in the Black population. Considering that Blacks have high risk in developing diet related chronic diseases, it is only expedient that we come together to share knowledge.

For more information on this and other African Nova Scotian initiatives please visit the PLANS section of our website.

New Year brings New Collaborations for Global Health

January 8, 2019 Jennifer LeBlanc Leave a Comment

By: Shawna O’Hearn, Director, Global Health Office

After four months of education leave, I am celebrating my return to the Global Health Office with a renewed focus and commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals. In September 2018, I began a new journey to compliment my work and deepen my impact through a PhD in Health Geography.

Emily Shantz (dal alumni), Andrea Rishworth, Carise Thompson, Shawna O’Hearn

I am honoured to work with Dr. Susan Elliott as part of her research lab: Geographies of Health in Place (GoHelP) at the University of Waterloo (https://uwaterloo.ca/geographies-of-health-in-place/). The University of Waterloo is part of the U15 and is the Canadian site for the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The SDSN works closely with United Nations agencies, multilateral financing institutions, the private sector, and civil society to share knowledge, engage research and help solve the interconnected economic, social, and environmental challenges confronting the world.

You might be asking, why geography? Health geography emerged in the 1990s through a debate about the expansion of ‘medical geography’ to reflect the changes in research, practice and health care settings. This change expanded the work beyond the “concerns with disease and the interests of the medical world” to focus on “well-being and broader social models of health and health care” (Kearns and Moon, 2002).

This change in understanding health care and making connections with geography were highlighted through the work of Dr. Trevor Dummer and his research published in the CMAJ. He explains that “geography and health are intrinsically linked. Where we are born, live, study and work directly influences our health experiences: the air we breathe, the food we eat, the viruses we are exposed to and the health services we can access. The social, built and natural environments affect our health and well-being in ways that are directly relevant to health policy.”

There are three main themes in the geography of health: disease ecology, health care delivery, and environment and health. Disease ecology involves the study of infectious diseases (e.g., malaria, HIV/AIDS, infant diarrhea). The study of health care delivery includes spatial patterns of health care provision and issues like inequalities in health. Environment and health make the connections between environmental hazards research with health geography. Health geography contributes to how local geographies shape disease diffusion, health risk perceptions, social determinants of health and health inequalities (Rosenberg, 2017).

Where we live matters, but not just for the reasons we might think. While we might associate the weather or terrain with a particular region or location, it’s also important to consider the social forces that help explain how where we live shapes our health and even our life expectancy.

Geographers play an important role in collaborating with epidemiologists, public health professionals and researchers, professionals in sectors such as transportation, or with those who focus on water and food security. Geographers add spatial understanding to public health challenges. Context and environment are fundamentally important, particularly how they impact health.

Stay tuned for more updates on my research and the importance of geography on our local and global health issues.

Happy New Year!

Shawna

Meet the Global Health Office – Part 2

November 26, 2018 Madeline Kubiseski Leave a Comment

Written by Madeline Kubiseski, Master of Health Administration Student

With a new school year now well underway, the Global Health Office has been busy with its various programs and events. Many new faces have joined our team over the past few months, and it is time to introduce the office staff and the programs they manage. One of our recent posts highlighted our International Education, International Recruitment and Outreach. Today we introduce you to staff managing Promoting Leadership in Health for African Nova Scotians, Indigenous Health in Medicine, and Service Learning.

Promoting Leadership in Health for African Nova Scotians (PLANS)

Stephanie Bizzeth

Nnamdi Chiekwe

Stephanie Bizzeth is the acting program manager of the PLANS program. PLANS seeks to increase representation of African Nova Scotians in the health professions through recruitment and retention, community collaborations and partnerships to improve health outcomes within the African Nova Scotian community. PLANS offers programming, resources, and attends community and school events to provide health career support and preparation.

Nnamdi Chiekwe is the program assistant for PLANS. Nnamdi is in his third year of Therapeutic Recreation.

Indigenous Health in Medicine

Joe MacEachern

Joe MacEachern is the program manager of the Indigenous Health in Medicine (IHIM) program.
The Indigenous program seeks to increase representation of Indigenous students in medicine through recruitment, community collaboration and partnerships. It also advises the dean of medicine, to fulfill the social accountability mandate to the maritime Indigenous community. IHIM is preparing for the upcoming Kiptu Wise Health Science Camp where Indigenous youth spend their March Break learning about professions in the Faculties of Health, Dentistry and Medicine. To learn more about last years Kiptu Wise Health Science camp, click here.

Service Learning

Sarah Peddle

Sarah Peddle is the program manager of the Service Learning Program. The Service Learning program is available to pre-clerkship Undergraduate Medical students in both Halifax and DMNB campuses. The Service Learning Program includes preparation, orientation, community-based service learning experiences, student assessment and program evaluation. To read about student experiences in the Service Learning Program you can read more here. To learn more about the programs partnership with 211 Nova Scotia, a recent blog post by Mike Myette, 211 director, can be found here.

Our Time in Dar: Key Learnings, Reflections, and Takeaways

October 1, 2018 Madeline Kubiseski Leave a Comment

Written by: Rachel Ollivier, QES Scholar and first year PhD Student in the School of Nursing

Our time in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania was short, yet welcomed with it another place to call home. After 3 months in country, working in both academic and clinical environments, our reflections are personal, spiritual, relational, and practical. Whether it was being immersed in the vibrant culture of Tanzania, the bustle of the big city, or witnessing the sanctity of a sunrise over the Ngorongoro crater, our experiences centered us in a way that may have been very much needed. As we begin our busy semesters, the idea that Dar is no longer where I live, work, and play still has a temporality to it. As such, it seems fitting that we share our key learnings and reflections about health, nursing, equity, and the human experience:

Making justice the central principle of healthcare is imperative. In particular, justice for communities or populations who are confronted with barriers that limit access to equitable healthcare services. As a health care system, who are we doing best by?
The human experience is subjective, relative, and individualized, but also universal. Loss, sadness, anger, joy, and celebration can be ways of relating to someone, despite preconceived notions or ideas about what one’s experiences or definition of ‘hardship’. Find common ground. Empathy is essential; you are an ally but must be humble in the little you know.
Language can be impactful, both in research and in clinical practice. The meaning and use of language varies depending on context but also provides insight into sociocultural norms and perceptions. For example, the meaning of ‘danger signs’ in health can encompass different meanings. Think about language in your own context or environment and critique it. What does this say about what we, as a society and as individuals, really think or feel about something? How do we define ‘good health’?

QES Scholars, Rachel Ollivier and Kalkidan Gebre, enjoying their time in Tanzania this summer.

For more information about the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Scholarships, please click here.

Student voice shaping the future of sonography in Canada

July 16, 2018 Jennifer LeBlanc Leave a Comment

By: Adrianna Broussard, Diagnostic Ultrasound Student

Adrianna has just completed her first year of the Diagnostic Medical Ultrasound program and is the new student advisor to Sonography Canada’s board of directors. During the PLANS African Nova Scotian Health Science Summer Camp (July 8-13, 2018), Adrianna was one of 18 current postsecondary and recent graduates that participated in a facilitated mentor session with the campers. Adrianna shared her experiences and helped Malyana Gero (from Amherst, NS) develop goals for her own journey.

In May 2018 Adrianna attended the Sonography Canada Conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland; here are her thoughts.

I had not envisioned the vast amount of experience I would gain when I set out to attend the Sonography Canada Conference in St. John’s, Newfoundland. This conference is the 36^th annual conference held by Sonography Canada, the credentialing organization for sonographers. For those of you that don’t know, a Sonographer is a health professional specialized in the use of ultrasound technology to perform diagnostic exams. The conference is a major event in the Canadian sonography community for professional development and networking. At the Conference I met with potential employers, learnt about scanning techniques, met ultrasound technology companies, networked with sonographers and attended informative lectures on pathologies.

At the event, I received the amazing news that I am the new student advisor for the Sonography Canada’s board of directors. At the conference I was able to meet all the board members as well as the previous student advisor. The previous student advisor was amazing at informing me of my new role on the board of directors. I was able to network and gain knowledge to prepare for my major role as the representative of all student sonographers across Canada. As student advisor I look forward to bringing diversity to the board and profession.

Not only was this conference a major asset to advance my career, but I was able to enjoy the wonderful city of St. John’s. The Johnson Scholarship Foundation Bursary made it possible for me to attend this amazing conference.

Adrianna Broussard with Malyana Gero

PLANS African Nova Scotian Health Science Summer Camp Mentor Session (July 8-13, 2018)

PEGASUS conference inspires student with discussions on peace and sustainability

July 10, 2018 Jennifer LeBlanc Leave a Comment

By: Keisha Jefferies, PhD candidate, Dalhousie School of Nursing

Keisha Jefferies is currently completing her PhD at Dalhousie. She is an advocate for health equity with a particular focus on the African Nova Scotian experience. Keisha is a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholar having spent time doing research in Tanzania as well as the 2016 recipient of the Dr. Ron Stewart Award for Student Leadership in Global Health. She will also be presenting at Global Health Day on Sept. 26 as part of the poster displays in the Tupper Medical Building Link. Read more about Keisha’s recent experience at the PEGASUS Conference here.

On April 27-29^{th, 2018} I had the opportunity to attend the PEGASUS Peace, Global Health and Sustainability Conference at the University of Toronto. The theme of the conference this year was “From Evidence to Action” and it was attended by clinicians, academics, graduate students and key stakeholders from across Canada as well as internationally. The PEGASUS Conference was on my radar for a few years after first discovering it in 2015 while attending the Canadian Conference for Global Health in Montreal. I was unable to attend in 2016 however, I am thankful that I was able to not only receive a conference bursary through the Johnson Scholarship Foundation in order to attend the conference but also that the abstract for my thesis proposal was accepted for a poster presentation. It was a very exciting and beneficial experience to present my intended work on the Leadership Experiences of African Nova Scotian Nurses to a new audience. My poster was well received and I was able to establish several great connections with attendees.

Over the 3 days, I was able to enjoy and participate in very stimulating and timely workshops and presentations related to various aspects of local and international global health as well as peace and sustainability. I am really impressed with the caliber of work being done by clinicians, students and faculty across Canada as well as in Toronto. Many of the presenters shared powerful messages and stories related to vulnerable group in Canada such as immigrants and refugees and their struggles to attain and navigate the Canadian healthcare system. Another important message that was threaded through several of the keynote presentations and session presentations was the innate biases ingrained in policy and the need to examine, deconstruct and rebuild more inclusive, appropriate policies. I was able to capture a few great moments during the conference and these can be found on my Twitter page @KeishaJeff56.

I would like to acknowledge the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, the Dalhousie Global Health Office and School of Nursing as well as my PhD thesis supervisors (Dr. Megan Aston and Dr. Gail Tomblin Murphy) for providing funding to travel, offering guidance throughout my studies and enabling me to be actively involved in local and international global health initiatives.

To learn more about the Global Health Office’s Diversity programs.

Crossroads 2018: The value of mentoring programs for students of African descent

July 9, 2018 Jennifer LeBlanc Leave a Comment

By: Kalkidan Gabre, Dalhousie School of Nursing

The Annual Crossroads Interdisciplinary Health Research Conference is a national student-led health and wellness research conference that was held March 9^th and 10^th, 2018 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Crossroads is an adjudicated, peer-reviewed event for student researchers at all levels. It provides students from all disciplines with the opportunity to present their health-related research in a supportive and interdisciplinary environment. Student researchers are provided the platform to showcase their research, engage in dialogue and participate in interdisciplinary learning and collaboration with other students, faculty, and experts.

What my research was about?

At crossroads, I gave an oral presentation of a small integrative review that I conducted on the importance of mentoring for black students in nursing. Students of African descent in the university setting have different lived experiences than their European descent counterparts and encounter factors during their undergraduate that impede their success. These barriers include, inadequate academic preparation, financial problems, poor social adjustment and engagement, isolation, a lack of faculty and institutional support, and underrepresentation.

The preliminary findings from this integrative review concluded that mentoring programs are useful ways to support students as they enter postsecondary education. For black students specifically, the mentoring relationship can provide academic, social, and career guidance that is invaluable during the undergraduate years. Increasing recruitment and improving retention and graduation rates of black nursing students through mentorship programs, not only will it assist in diversifying undergraduate nursing programs and the workforce, it will lead to reduced health care disparities in underserved populations.

Kalkidan has just completed the third year of her nursing program. While her school work keeps her very busy she is always eager to explore new opportunities for learning outside the classroom. Kalkidan worked in the global health office as an outreach assistant in 2016 and she is currently a Queen Elizabeth Scholar with PASADA (Pastoral Activities and Services for People with AIDS Dar es Salaam Archdiocese), an HIV/AIDS service based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. until August. We look forward to future blog posts from her!

New Camp Reaches High School Indigenous Students

June 25, 2018 Jennifer LeBlanc Leave a Comment

Dalhousie University’s Indigenous Health Program works with school boards and organizations (including the Johnson Scholarship Foundation) to increase recruitment and retention of Indigenous students into medicine. As part of the program, the first Kitpu Wise camp was offered from March 12-16, 2018 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. The camp focused on learning about health careers and postsecondary life while meeting new friends and having fun. Students (aged 15-18) spent a week on campus receiving hands on exposure to clinical health education programs and cultural experiences.

The students also met the incoming Dalhousie University student union president who is the first Indigenous (Mi’kmaq) student to hold this position. In addition, the students presented handmade drums to the Deans of Medicine, Dentistry and Health.

Learning about Health by Kayla Steeves

In March 2018, I spent a week in Halifax attending the Kitpu Wise camp. It was one of the most influential and fun encounters that I have had the pleasure of experiencing as a high school student. I met a wonderful group of students and faculty, participated in intriguing activities, and learned amazing things.

Throughout the week, we did activities that taught us more about our Indigenous heritage, as well as aspects of the medical field. We made drums, shadowed a dentist during a real appointment with a patient, filled a cavity on false teeth in the dental simulation lab, as well as completed a certified first aid course.

My personal favourite activity was shadowing a last year dental student. I observed the interactions between a physician and patient, as well as viewed the techniques used to solve the issue. It was a different and fascinating view into what a job in the medical field would look like.

The information I have taken away from attending Kitpu Wise are resources and facts that I will forever hold onto. I cannot thank the brilliant people who put this program together for the knowledge and opportunities they have gifted me.

Kayla is a grade 12 student who participated in the Kitpu Wise camp in Halifax during her March break. She will be joining Dalhousie University in September 2018.

For more information on these programs please visit our Indigenous Health webpage.

Global Health Office

Challenging Minds. Changing Lives.

Category: Bursaries