Malawian Mentor Mothers – Their Inspiring Role in the Fight to Empower Women and End Pediatric AIDS
During one of the first Still Harbor sessions at Global Health Corps’ Training Institute in June of 2014, we were asked to think about our heroes. My mind immediately went to the easy, obvious choices – the type of person who is idolized by many and has had a tremendous impact on society – like […]
The Five Pillars of a Strong Global Health Brand
If there is one lesson I’ve learned from working at the Global Health Delivery (GHD) Project at Harvard University these last few months, it is that the global health field is full of extremely intelligent individuals that are required to maintain expertise in a variety of interdisciplinary skills. GHD’s mission is to build a network […]
Can Novels Save Lives? When Health, Development and Stories Collide
Coney Island freak shows, Belle Époque Egypt and Maori tattoo parlors in Victorian Sydney were all featured in my thesis project at Pratt Institute for my undergraduate writing degree. As a writer living in Brooklyn, I thought I’d write the Great German-American novel before I graduated. But writing a terrible novel at age 21 didn’t […]
Coming to America – Things I Wouldn’t Want You to Know
I was filled with joy, excitement and hesitation because I did not really know what to do, how to behave, and what to expect. I will tell you about some of the funny and awkward moments of my trip. You can laugh or feel sorry for me but this experience was one of the happiest […]
From Without to Within: Local Solutions for Ending AIDS by 2030
There is bad aid and there is good aid. The bad aid is that one which creates dependencies, but good aid is that which is targeted to create capacities in people so that they are able to live on their own activities – Paul Kagame It has been a short three months. GHC-wise, I have […]
The Fight Against NCDs Could Benefit from an Integrated Approach
A patient walks into a general hospital on Monday for his/her hypertension review, spends close to an hour in the waiting area, has his file retrieved, is seen by a triage nurse and then proceeds to see a doctor after waiting for about an hour in the queue. After the consultation by a clinician/physician, proceeds […]
What does it take: From a village to a leader
“I’ll spread my wings and I’ll learn how to fly, I’ll do what it takes, until I touch the sky, I’ll make a wish, take a chance, make a change, and breakaway” To some people this song by Kelly Clarkson is just a song, maybe because of its nice melody and the voice of the […]
Who is your Why?
During our two weeks of GHC training at Yale, one of the sessions which was particularly compelling for me was called ‘Considering Collective Action’ during which we watched a TED talk by Simon Sinek about “How great leaders inspire action.” You can watch it here. There are many great points to take home, however the […]
Place Matters: The Role of Community in Health Outcomes
What runs through your mind as you sit in your doctor’s office, waiting to be called? You’re likely wondering about the long wait or hoping to get to the bottom of the aches and pains you’ve been having all week. Or maybe you’re worried about your last visit’s test results. Either way, your zip code […]
The “Unveiled” Social Determinants of Health for Mothers
Mama Aisha (not her real name), the first wife in a polygamous marriage, goes to the garden every morning from 6:00am until 11:00am, when she comes home to prepare lunch. In the afternoon she goes to a tailoring class and mid-week she finds time to go to the village bank. In the evenings Mama Aisha […]