Talking and writing is going to be my job for my fellowship year? No way!
When I received an offer letter from Global Health Corps (GHC) for the Communication and Documentation Fellow placement at Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF) Uganda my wife only heard me shout “No way” from her dressing room and came running to me in […]
What “family planning” actually means
Last year, I had the privilege of facilitating a focus group discussion, comprised of young women aged 18 to 25, on attitudes towards abortion. Many of their thoughts and perspectives were severely misinformed. Like for example, one young lady was completely against abortion for any reasons because she believed this would result in widespread outbreak […]
Ten things I have learned in my life
As part of my Global Health Corps adventure, I was required to write a blog. Now understand, as a scientist, my usually active mind came to a near panic on what to write. I don’t write, I do long statistical equations! And then just the other day as I was reflecting on how hopeless this […]
Does health system reform in the US also require reform outside of health care?
Nearly two years ago, I attended a forum about the United States’ health reform at the University of Tokyo. Among the participants were American public health officials, professors and medical students. We were discussing the reasons why the United States’ health system is much more expensive than in other countries. For instance, among all OECD […]
Lessons in “direct service”
I woke up the other day and realized that I am halfway through my fellowship, and I couldn’t help but be amazed. Time really does fly when you’re having fun! Yes, I said the “F” word – fun – so rarely associated with work! Even though I have had some experience in working as a […]
Snowy Times
Leading up to the middle of January it seemed like everyone, myself included, was talking about how mild the winter was. And for the most part, it had been. But that changed drastically with the onset of three consecutive massive snowstorms that dumped 80 inches of snow on Boston. There’s something about waking up and […]
Stopping the Measles Outbreak
In January 2015, when news about Ebola in West Africa had largely declined in the US popular press, reports of another infectious disease outbreak started making headlines. “Measles hits Disneyland: 9 Cases Linked to Theme Park ” read the popular online magazine, Live Science on January 7, 2015. Since then, the disease has spread to […]
My Global Health Corps Experience
When I came across the Global Health Corps website, I was excited that an organization that I shared similar values and passions with existed. Immediately I knew I wanted to be a part of this great community. And I embarked on the journey that I have been on for the past six months. My GHC […]
Constructing narratives: What brought you to the fight?
“Es chocante,” it’s shocking, said Dr. Acosta, a pediatrician working at San Benito Youth Clinic in Petén, Guatemala. In particular, Dr. Acosta is speaking of her work with teenage mothers. As she states, these young girls find themselves in circumstances in which they must assume the role of caregiver and wife. Detailed in a recent […]
The U.S. Global Health Policy Agenda: Where Are We Headed?
For more than a century, the United States has supported health initiatives oversees as an element of its foreign aid and international development assistance portfolio. It also remains the largest funder and implementer of global health programs worldwide.[1] America’s long track record of foreign aid provisions (PEPFAR, the Global Fund) highlights the country’s leadership in […]