Monthly Blog Feature: Black Blog
By: Christina Torrealba (she/her), Graduate Student in Community Health and Epidemiology
On the first Friday of every month, we will be giving a shout-out to a health-related blog, podcast or vlog that we think you should check-out! This month we wanted to give a shout-out to Black Blog, which “focus[ses] on Black Studies, Black Med Education, Black Health, Black life, Black research, and Black issues”. Black Blog is written by Dr. OmiSoore Dryden, the fourth James R. Johnston Chair in Black Canadian Studies at Dalhousie University. Here is an excerpt from the first Black Blog installment:
“Black Studies is a vast discipline which exists beyond humanities and social sciences. The JRJ Chair in the Faculty of Medicine is a reminder of this: Black studies is a necessary intervention into the field of medical education and public health in Canada and discussions of Black health equity. Medicine, medical practice, and health do not live outside of culture. The development of medical education, procedures and practices happened (and happens) within the social/cultural. Black studies in medical education and public health interrogates the parameters of what makes someone healthy and the system of health care in which we exist. The myth of racism-free field is deadly.”
-Dr. OmiSoore Dryden
Read Dr. Dryden’s most recent blogpost here: Black Lives Matter And Racism In Health Care.
African Heritage Month 2022
By: Christina Torrealba (she/her), Graduate Student in Community Health and Epidemiology
February 1st marks the beginning of African Heritage Month. To kick off this month we wanted to highlight some important resources and events happening at Dalhousie and in Nova Scotia.
The provincial theme of African Heritage Month this year is “Through Our Eyes: The Voices of African Nova Scotians”. This year’s theme explores the history, legacy, culture and achievements of African Nova Scotians, delving into topics including the effects of anti-black racism, African Nova Scotian trailblazers, and historic African Nova Scotian communities. Visit the official website to learn more and for the official calendar of events.
The Halifax Public Libraries are celebrating African Heritage Month with a number of exciting events, including: Learn to Make Fufu with Mary’s African Cuisine, Virtual Puppet Show: African Heritage Month, and Storytime: Animals of Africa. Visit the libraries website to learn more about the community members involved, see the gallery of videos, and explore their numerous reading lists.
Visit the Dalhousie Human Rights & Equity Services website to learn more about what is happening at Dalhousie during African History Month. From a Virtual Flag Launch, to panel discussions – be sure to view the full list of events.
Finally, don’t forget to follow PLANS (Promoting Leadership in health for African Nova Scotians) on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, to see their weekly “Faces in Black Health” social media highlights.
Reflection on Service Learning at MainLine Halifax
By Taylor Jordan (she/her), Dalhousie Medical Student (Class of 2023), Service Learning program participant
MainLine Needle Exchange is a North-End Halifax organization well known for their needle exchange service, but they also provide many additional services and supports that serve their goal of harm reduction. As participants in the Service Learning Program, my classmate Brianne Cruickshank and I designed 5 minute education/resource “huddles” on harm reduction in acute care delivery. These were to be delivered to acute care providers to increase awareness of community resources for hospitalized patients who inject drugs. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 restrictions in 2021, we could not deliver the final product. The plans for our project were passed along in hopes that future Service Learning students will be able to deliver this type of efficient, concise, and accessible education within the acute care setting. The importance of this type of project was highlighted when we were working to identify hospital units that would allow us to deliver our huddles to their staff; hospital administrators informed us that only specific floors would benefit from education on harm reduction for patients who are hospitalized and who inject drugs. This highlighted the pervasive bias within the formal health care system that members of the People who inject drugs (PWID) community only experience health problems related to their drug use behaviors.
Through the medical school curriculum and Service Learning program material, I have been introduced to the theory of intersectionality. Intersectionality has provided me with a framework to better understand the experiences of the community MainLine serves. People who inject drugs (PWID) may not only experience discrimination related to their health behaviors, but many individuals belong to more than one minority social group, including groups related to gender, sexuality, class, economic status, and mental health status. Additionally, PWID are unique amongst social groups that are treated inequitably because they experience criminalization of their lifestyle, an additional intersectional axis shaping their lives and experiences. In some circumstances, informal and formal groups that should represent social support networks for PWID may consciously or unconsciously perpetuate stigma and inequitable access to resources for PWID. Intersectionality attempts to illustrate that there can be layers of discrimination felt by one individual due to multiple aspects of their identify which overlap and intensify one another. This is important information for me to be aware of as I move forward into my career as a physician, interacting with the health care system and diverse community members daily. I believe the art of medicine requires recognizing the unique location of each person within various intersectional axes of identity which influence their life and experiences.
Cultural Connections for Indigenous students
By: RJ Roggeveen, Program Assistant for the Indigenous Health in Medicine Program and Therapeutic Recreation student at Dalhousie
On December 5th, 2021 the Indigenous Health in Medicine (IHIM) Program hosted its first Indigenous Beading Workshop. This workshop was available to Indigenous students at Dalhousie and served as the cultural workshop for the Indigenous Health Mentorship students. As the IHIM program assistant and an Indigenous artist I, RJ Roggeveen, led the workshop with 12 students attending in-person and virtually. The students’ beadwork projects were amazing to see, many used the techniques being taught to create their own designs. It was inspiring to see the students get invested in their projects and engage in a traditional Indigenous art form. Several students expressed that they have wanted to learn how to do beadwork for a while but did not know where to start their learning process.
I was fortunate to learn how to bead while attending high school in BC where I grew up. I fell in love with the art form and found it was a great way to engage in my culture and meet others with the same interest. I have met many people over the years interested in learning how to bead and being able to teach them has taught me the value of passing on knowledge within our communities. I think it is also important to note that beadwork can be done in a variety of forms, the form I taught to the group was a traditional medallion type beading. I originally learned beading on a loom as it is easier to learn some general needle techniques and produce a final project often in less time. Learning loom beading is a great starting point for youth learning as it can help with developing techniques for threading a needle, picking up beads, and following a pattern. Once I got comfortable with loom beading, I wanted to make beadwork for my regalia, as I also used to be a fancy shawl powwow dancer. Many dance regalia’s have beadwork elements as a traditional style but also to further express themselves.
To make regalia beadwork which consists of earrings, medallions, moccasin covers, and leggings I needed to learn how to do a sewing style of beadwork which, for me, started with medallion type beading. This is the style I taught in the workshop, and its main components involve beading in a circle formation onto a piece of pellon (thick felt material). To keep the workshop covid friendly each participant got a bag of supplies that included some extras to be able to continue their work at home.
My favorite part of this workshop was seeing all the students take the techniques and make their designs their own. That is what this art form is intended to do, connect with your culture, and learn how to express yourself through it. I hope we get the opportunity to do this event again, in the future I would love to teach some other beading styles and if interested some advanced beadwork techniques. Going into the winter semester we are looking to hold another beading workshop virtually along with some other cultural workshops. If you are interested in learning how to do beadwork, our workshops, or want more information on Health programs at Dal as an Indigenous student, reach out to us at IHIM@dal.ca. Thank you to all the students who participated in the workshop, this was a great experience to lead.
Dal Med GHI: Creating space for student engagement in global health
By: Christina Torrealba (she/her), Graduate Student in Community Health and Epidemiology
In partnership with the Dalhousie Medical Students’ Society, the Canadian Federation of Medical Students, and the Global Health Office, the Dalhousie Medicine Global Health Initiative (GHI) organizes global health knowledge sharing events and promotes engagement in global health initiatives, both locally and abroad. The GHI team is comprised of junior and senior Dalhousie medical students who are local officers of the following areas: Global Health Liaison, Harm Reduction and Addiction Medicine, Environmental Health and Sustainability, Indigenous Health, Reproductive and Sexual Health, Newcomer Health, Global Health Advocate, Local Exchange Officer, Global Health Education, Health and Social Justice, and Global Health Outreach. Today’s installment of the GHO blog features Victoria Taylor (she/her) and Joanna Coulas (she/her) who are the Junior and Senior Local Officers of Indigenous Health at the GHI, respectively.
Originally from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Victoria Taylor completed her undergraduate degree at Acadia University, where she studied biology and environmental sciences. Following graduation she began an MSc in biology, but soon realized that despite her passion for biology and ocean life, she was more interested in pursuing medicine. She left her master’s research and began working as a research assistant at the QEII Hospital while applying to Dalhousie Medical School. She is passionate about Indigenous Health and ensuring that medical students understand the barriers that Indigenous peoples are faced with when accessing healthcare services.
As the Junior Local Officer of Indigenous Health, Victoria is organizing the Indigenous Health Panel for medical students which will take place in January 2022, along with Joanna and the Student Diversity and Inclusion Committee, which will be their first in-person event since the beginning of the COVID pandemic. With COVID-related gathering restrictions and busy schedules, Victoria thinks that “one challenge will be brainstorming ways to encourage a larger amount of people to attend the event. With so much on the go and many events occurring throughout the year, it can be difficult to target everyone”. She is glad that students are able to have some in-person experiences this year with the reduced COVID restrictions.
Victoria says that the Dal Med Global Health Initiative has allowed her to “learn about many relevant global health issues, meet incredible people, and work on [her] leadership skills”. She is eager to attend the events organized by other GHI officers, and looks forward to the upcoming Indigenous Health Panel.
Joanna Coulas, the Senior Local Officer of Indigenous Health, has always had an interest in global health. While pursuing her undergraduate degree in psychology, Joanna was part of a research team that studied the national response – or lack thereof – to higher rates of antimicrobial resistance in Northern Indigenous communities. “When I got to Dalhousie Medicine and heard about the Global Health Initiative, particularly that there was a position focused on Indigenous health, I was excited to apply,” she says. Last year, Joanna co-organized a three-day lecture series with three speakers and a Period Product Drive for the Mi’kmaw Family Healing Centre, which provides a number of services and a safe place to stay for Indigenous women and children leaving unsafe environments.
Joanna says that aside from not being able to meet with other members of the GHI face-to-face, COVID hasn’t impacted her role very much overall. She was still able to plan great virtual events with good turnouts, but is looking forward to the upcoming in-person events that she has planned. Joanna hopes to continue her involvement in global health throughout her education and career and wants to encourage incoming medical students to consider joining the GHI. “Being involved with the Global Health Initiative has been such a positive experience. I have been able to develop my skills as a leader, learn how to plan & run events, and meet great people”, she says. To stay up to sate with the GHI, be sure to like them on Facebook.
Celebrating International Student Success at Dalhousie Medical School
By: Christina Torrealba (she/her), Graduate Student in Community Health and Epidemiology
For this installment of the GHO blog, I chatted with Chris Yeats (he/him), the coordinator for international students pursuing medical education at Dalhousie through the Office of Community Partnerships and Global Health.
When taking on his current role, Chris says he was “more than happy to join a team dedicated to improving social accountability, fostering diversity, and engaging in anti-oppressive practices.” Chris’ educational journey has transformed his life. His experiences have led him to seek out “roles that support and empower learners to reach their own educational goals as well as to foster an environment that allows learners to examine the social world through a diverse ethical lens and to be able to contribute to the well-being of the global community.”
This commitment is reflected in Chris’ work with the Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) curriculum at Dalhousie. Chris is working with the Curriculum Refresh Committee to ensure medical students receive the most effective, equitable, and relevant medical education, specifically through evaluating the case studies used in UGME curriculum. Chris is working on creating a database of case studies which will allow the Curriculum Refresh Committee to identify what is missing – ensuring that UGME case studies are equitable, diverse and inclusive.
On top of his work with the Curriculum Refresh Committee, Chris is also involved with opportunities for international medical students. Dalhousie University has been partnering with the International Medical University (IMU) in Malaysia since 1996, welcoming up to six IMU students. IMU students start their journey at Dalhousie with the IMU Link program, where they complete eight weeks of classes and four weeks of clinical skills before starting year three of medical school. The purpose of the Link program is to enhance their training so they can start their third year at Dalhousie with the necessary tools. The Link program is also a great mentorship opportunity for incoming IMU students and senior IMU students, to learn about the program and to adjust to life in Halifax.
How remarkable the IMU Link Program is, not only for Dalhousie, but also for Nova Scotia as a whole
Of course, COVID has added new challenges to the Link Program, but Chris says that they were able to successfully navigate the lockdown and public health requirements through “extensive collaboration and consultation with the NSHA, and weekly modification of the Link deliverables”. Thanks to the Centre for Collaborative Clinical Learning and Research (C3LR), they were still able to deliver integral clinical and simulated educational components during the spring of 2021. Despite the COVID-related challenges , Chris says that the global pandemic has shown how flexible and innovative we can be in our work. “Whether it is virtual meetings or supporting a student in crisis, we have adapted and found ways to be successful despite the meaningful ways COVID has impacted our lives”, Chris says.
One thing that Chris wants readers to take away is “just how remarkable the IMU Link program is, not only for Dalhousie, but also for Nova Scotia as a whole.” The IMU learners that join Dalhousie bring so much to UGME and the Faculty of Medicine at Dalhousie. “Our partnership with the IMU have strengthened and diversified the educational experiences with the FoM; the learners contribute academically, conduct research, and serve the health needs of Nova Scotians,” says Chris. Check out these links to learn more about the IMU students, and the UGME Curriculum Refresh.
Indigenous Health in Medicine: The best is yet to come
By: Christina Torrealba (she/her), Graduate Student in Community Health and Epidemiology
Featuring: Hannah Asprey, Mercedes Stemm and RJ Roggeveen
The Indigenous Health in Medicine (IHIM) program at Dalhousie supports Indigenous students across Wabanaki and beyond, who are interested in pursuing a career in medicine, through recruitment, community collaboration and partnerships. With programs and supports for youth in elementary, junior high and high school, mentorships for undergraduate students, sharing circles for medical students, and resource sharing for residents, IHIM strives to support Indigenous students every step of the way. For my first blogpost with the Global Health Office, I checked in with Hannah Asprey (she/her), Mercedes Stemm (she/her), and RJ Roggeveen (he/they) to learn about their roles and what’s happening at IHIM.
Hannah Asprey began her role as Program Manager of the IHIM program in August 2021. Upon graduating from Saint Mary’s University in 2017 with a Bachelor in Commerce, she worked in various leadership roles at CIBC, and then as the Director of Education for Millbrook First Nation. Now, as the Program Manager for IHIM, Hannah is continuing to work with and advocate for Indigenous students as they further their education, while fostering relationships with Indigenous communities across the Maritimes. Of course, starting a new job in an online format during a global pandemic comes with a unique set of challenges, but Hannah says that the virtual connections she has been able to make with people across the country have added to the strength of this program.
Hannah says that her biggest success in this role so far has been in reaching out to students across Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. With the input and perspectives of students and external stakeholders, she has been able to shape the program to better support and meet the needs of Indigenous students.
“The best is yet to come”
The biggest challenge that the IHIM program is facing right now is the small number of Indigenous physicians who can take on mentorship roles in the program. “The best is yet to come”, says Hannah, as the group of Indigenous residents and medical students involved with IHIM grows, with over 20 Indigenous students who self-identify as Mi’kmaq, Métis, Inuit and other First Nation students involved across all four years of undergraduate medical education. One thing that Hannah wants readers to know is that this program supports everyone! “From the time you may be interested in medicine, to when you are a practicing physician, we want to ensure we can support our Indigenous communities all along the way”, she says.
Working closely with Hannah is Mercedes Stemm, the Program Coordinator at IHIM. Mercedes started working with IHIM as a student assistant in October 2019, while she was working on her Bachelor of Science degree at Dalhousie. She graduated this year with a major in neuroscience and a minor in Indigenous studies, and then began her new role as the Program Coordinator.
Mercedes says that one of her biggest successes while working with IHIM has been creating a Johnson Scholarship Foundation (JSF) Pre-Medicine Mentorship Program for Indigenous students. Working in collaboration with PLANS, this program provides supports and mentor/mentee opportunities for Indigenous and African Nova Scotian students interested in medicine. “The main purpose of this program is to reduce and eliminate barriers to underrepresented students exploring their full potential as learners”, says Mercedes.
Community outreach during COVID has been challenging of course, but the team has been doing their best to promote the program virtually to support Indigenous students. Mercedes says that despite the challenges, remote work has given her the opportunity to make connections with people across Canada and internationally whom she otherwise would not have been able to work with.
The new Program Assistant at IHIM is RJ Roggeveen, a Therapeutic Recreation student at Dalhousie in their final year of undergraduate studies. RJ says that they wish they had found this program sooner: “as an Indigenous student I have been looking for ways to incorporate my culture into my future professions and current studies.” RJ is thrilled to be working with the IHIM team. He is excited to be able to promote the program to fellow students who also need the support but may not know that IHIM exists.
Since taking on this role, RJ says that their biggest success has been meeting and developing relationships with the team at the Global Health Office and members of the community. “I did not know many Indigenous community members at Dal and since being in my role, I have met many amazing students who I can relate to,” they say. Having joined the team with many COVID restrictions still in place and during Dalhousie’s reopening, RJ has found working both online and in-person to be challenging but they are adjusting to working in a hybrid setting.
RJ is currently working to organize an MCAT study group for Indigenous students who are interested in medicine. He wants to make sure that all Indigenous students applying to medicine know that this group exists and that “they are welcome to join at any point”.
“We’re here to help you throughout your journey into medicine”
Hannah, Mercedes and RJ encourage Indigenous students interested in medicine to reach out to them at IHIM@dal.ca. As Mercedes says, “we’re here to help you throughout your journey into medicine. We help students from elementary school all the way to medical school and beyond.” Be sure to follow IHIM on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram, and keep an eye on the IHIM webpage to stay up to date with this program!
2021 Global Health Awards Recipients
By: The Global Health Office
It is with great pleasure and respect that we announce the 2021 Global Health Awards recipients. These awards were established to recognize the outstanding contribution made to the global health community by our Medical faculty and residents as well as students in Medicine, Health and Dentistry. These annual awards are presented to individuals who advance 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 (Residents and Faculty only)
- Promotion, development and enhancement of global health at Dalhousie (Residents and Faculty only)
We are grateful for the many nominations we receive each year and for the global health community that continues to grow; at Dalhousie and beyond. We hope you will consider submitting a nomination for the 2022 Global Health Awards.
Dr. John Savage Memorial Award for Faculty Leadership in Global Health
2021 Recipient: Dr. Douglas McMillan
Pediatrician, IWK
This award was established in 2003 in memory of Dr. John Savage, a friend and colleague of the Dalhousie Medical School and a tireless champion of the need to promote healthy communities worldwide. The Dr. Savage Memorial Award for Faculty leadership in Global Health recognizes an outstanding humanitarian contribution to global health by a Dalhousie Medical School faculty member.
Dr. McMillan has dedicated his career to improving the health of women and children locally and globally. He has acted as a mentor to numerous faculty, staff, and students, and exhibits true dedication to the ongoing development and integration of newborn care programs in the developing world. He has fostered longstanding collaborative multidisciplinary partnerships to deliver training programs in numerous countries. His contributions and commitment to the Helping Babies Survive (HBS) Program has contributed to its global success. Dr. McMillan has also been an advocate for capacity building initiatives that have trained the trainer to allow these initiatives to thrive. Giving freely of his time to ensure that sustainable solutions exist for women and children has been the cornerstone of his work. Dr. McMillan believes strongly that working in partnerships to advance global health requires an open mind and flexibility to understand, appreciate and learn from cultural and contextual differences and that together, partnerships can use creativity and resourcefulness to find strategies to overcome the challenges to improving health outcomes globally.
Dr. Jock Murray Award for Resident Leadership in Global Health
2021 Recipient: Dr. Henry Annan
- PGY2, Pediatrics
- Past President, CFMS
This award was established in 2010 to recognize excellence within residents at Dalhousie Medical School who demonstrate commitment to global health as they advocate for marginalized populations and explore new ways to engage in clinical service, education and research in underserviced populations in Canada and abroad.
Dr. Annan brings his passion for leadership in health policy and health delivery for marginalized populations to every aspect of his practice. Among his focus is the health of women and children, the African Nova Scotian community as well as Francophone health programs. He has been involved at a national level as a health advocate and works to highlight the health equities in our communities; working collaboratively to find solutions.
Dr. Ron Stewart Award for Student Leadership in Global Health
2021 Recipient: Justine Dol
- PhD in Health
- QES Scholar in Tanzania (with the Global Health Office)
This award was established in 2006 and is given to a student of Dalhousie Medical School or in the faculties of Health or Dentistry, who has demonstrated leadership in global health and a commitment to improving the health of marginalized communities during their time at Dalhousie. This award honours Dr. Stewart’s personal, professional and educational support and dedication to global health, and the advancement of social capital worldwide.
Dr. Dol has prioritized academic and research excellence during her education and she has achieved both. She has been involved in many research projects locally and globally, that have focused on improving the health of women and children. She has worked on interdisciplinary teams to learn from the communities and provide solutions that respect cultural and clinical outcomes. Justine has both lead and assisted in program delivery adding to her skills as a health advocate.
Global Health Awards @ Dalhousie
2021 Global Health Photo Contest
By: The Global Health Office
We are excited to share the winning image and story for the 2021 Global Health Photo contest. This annual contest was created to recognize the beautiful images and inspiring stories that the Dalhousie community has generously shared with us year after year. The World Health Organization (WHO) defines global health as “the area of study, research and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving equity in health for all people worldwide”. Health is impacted by many factors and we are grateful for the creativity this inspires in our annual submissions.
The theme of the Global Health Photo Contest is The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which allows for an interdisciplinary approach to health. Health is all around us, there are many opportunities for inspiring images in our own backyard. Be creative! Think of everything that impacts the health of individuals and communities.
2021 Global Health Photo Contest Winner
1st Place: Giraffes at Sunset by Dr. Daniel van Zanten
From Dr. van Zanten:
While in Kenya as part of a clinical elective placement, I was fortunate to go on a safari. This picture was taken on my last day in the Maasai Mara, just before the park closed. To the observer, it provides an opportunity to not only marvel at the beauty of animals and the scenery but also for ourselves to reflect on what has transpired in the day as it draws to a close. We can think about what objectives we achieved, the ones we are still hoping to attain, and the ones we are planning for the future. Of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this photo also represents Items #3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) and #15 (Life on Land), serving as an effective reminder to do what we can to help the long-term viability of our planet.
Congratulations and thank you so much for sharing your image and story.