The Next Generation of Global Health

GlobeMed’s 5th Annual Benefit Dinner was a great opportunity for me to get more involved and learn all the details that go into planning a large event. I learned a lot about collaboration, the importance of goal-setting, and the ability to see the bigger picture even when it can seem a distant and daunting task. Funding from the Rockefeller Center was absolutely critical in allowing us to put on an event that both looked and felt like it was high quality. Without funding, it would have been difficult to secure enough food for everyone, and we would not have been able to decorate the space so that it felt like a legitimate and exciting event to students who walked by -- they were intrigued and interested in learning about our organization and global health because we made it such a welcoming space.

Beyond learning about leadership and teamwork, our speaker shed a lot of light on the state of global health education and how it must change as we continue. Dr. Adams discussed the importance of partnerships rather than simply donor-recipient relationships, which is a founding tenet of GlobeMed’s framework and organization. It can be rather difficult when creating partnerships and bringing in different groups of people to ensure harmony or understanding, but these traits are essential. When working in another country, the global health worker must take into account cultural sensitivities and other worldviews in order to effectively aid in their project and build lasting relationships. These points were very valuable and relevant, especially considering that many of the students in attendance are considering a career in global health, or more specifically, as a doctor or healthcare worker. Dr. Adams was a very engaging and interactive speaker; she frequently paused to pose a question to the group, and students discussed a prompt at their small group tables. On the flip side, the students did a great job of participating and interacting, which showed me that they were really interested in the subject matter and were contemplating the complex issues of global health in our time.

After the talk and discussion, we led a trivia game on Dartmouth, global health, maternal health, healthcare in the US, and Burma. We tried to mix up the topics to encourage students to think about local, international, and global settings while having a fun time competing for Dirt Cowboy gift cards. This activity at times highlighted how little we might know about other parts of the world, or even about our own country. For example, the US is one of the few countries that doesn’t give paid maternity leave.

This was a very valuable experience in that it brought many people together to think about the future, and how we, as the next generation to enter the field of global health, can impact the organizations and groups where we might work. Especially at such a time of political transformation, it is important to reflect on history and current changes that can affect everyone.

- Submitted by Sarah Gupta '19, Rockefeller Mini-Grant Recipient 

The Rockefeller Center's Mini-Grants program funds registration fees for students attending conferences, as well as the costs of bringing guest speakers to Dartmouth. The views and opinions expressed here are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views and opinions of the Rockefeller Center or constitute an endorsement by the Center.