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Global Health Matters

Global Health Matters

Tool Objectives:

  1. To increase awareness of global health issues.
  2. To develop a greater understanding of how health policy and policy advocacy impact health outcomes.
  3. To practice writing compelling and persuasive issue briefs and policy briefs.

Tool Description:

When students in the U.S. hear the term “global health,” most think of health problems specific to developing countries. But global health matters to everyone, not just to those living in developing countries. This assignment has been designed to expand student awareness of global health issues and how health policy and policy advocacy impact health outcomes. (With some editing, the structure of this assignment could be adapted for issues other than global health.)

Tool Procedures:

  1. Why does global health matter? Facilitate a discussion on why global health matters. Ask students to consider what role the U.S. has in ensuring a healthier, more productive and stable world. For example, what role should the U.S. have in fighting HIV/AIDS in developing countries? It may be useful to have students review the Global Health Council website prior to this class meeting. Discuss one or two examples of specific health issues which are affecting the country or region where the class will be traveling.
  2. Assignment. Discuss how health policy and advocacy impact global health outcomes. Explain the three-part assignment. (Optional: Consider having students work in pairs or small groups.)
    • Issue Brief. Have students research a specific health issue or problem that is directly affecting the country or region where the class will be traveling. Students should write a 3-4 page issue brief to convince a policy-maker, agency or institution of the seriousness of the issue. If appropriate, limit the range of issues to course-related content.
    • Field Journal. While abroad, have students gather primary data on the specific health issue or problem each has identified. Offer suggestions on what type of primary data would be acceptable. Require that students have at least three entries in their field journals. Have students submit their field journals shortly after returning from abroad.
    • Policy Brief. Upon return, each student should write a 3-4 page policy brief on the urgency of the problem that was presented in his/her issue brief. The policy brief should extend a rationale for adopting a recommended course of action.
  3. Class Presentations. If class time allows, assign students a 10-minute time slot to present their issue and policy recommendations to the class. Students should prepare as if they are truly delivering the policy brief to the policy-maker, agency or institution.
  4. Why does global health matter? Return to the initial class discussion of why global health matters. Ask students how they can make an impact on global health issues. Introduce GlobeMed (www.globemed.org/) as an example of one way to get immediately involved.

Tool Evaluation:

This assignment can be worth up to 40% of the course grade: 15% for the issue brief, 10% for the field journal, and 15% for the policy brief/presentation. The assignment should be assessed on a student’s insight of the global health issue as it relates to the host country/region and the ability to offer/defend realistic policy recommendations that are grounded in the local context.

Tool Time Requirement:

Two class sessions (pre-departure & post-study abroad)

Tool Author(s):

A. Ogden & S. Knell, 2009.

Tool Handouts [.doc or .docx]:
Global Health Matters Handout

Mark Beirn

AFFILIATE

An experienced global researcher and administrator, Mark Beirn brings a critical approach to risk management, factoring structural racism and identity-based violence into his rubric for supporting equitable global mobility.

Specialization Areas:

– Global Risk Management
– Education Abroad
– Diversity, Equity, Inclusion in International Education
– Health and Safety
– Curriculum Development

 

Stephen Appiah-Padi​

AFFILIATE

Stephen Appiah-Padi is an international educator with several years of teaching and administrative experience in both 4 and 2-year HEIs. An experienced global education practitioner-scholar, with a demonstrated history of success in the field.

Dr. Appiah-Padi has a Ph.D. from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada in Educational Policy & Administration with a specialization in International/Intercultural Education.

At Northwestern College, he provided oversight in the administration of education abroad and international student services. In Lansing, Michigan, he first oversaw diversity and intercultural education at Lansing Community College, and later created the Center for International and Intercultural Education (CIIE) which merged intercultural engagement and international education programs of the institution, and he became its first director. Additionally, Dr. Appiah-Padi taught a course, “Diversity in the American Workplace”, to undergraduate management students of the College. In his current position, he provides leadership and vision in advancing strategic internationalization initiatives, including international partnerships and study abroad programs at Bucknell University.

Dr Appiah-Padi has created and facilitated several workshops for faculty and staff development in higher education and in business organizations. He has presented at several national and international conferences. In NAFSA, among several volunteer leadership positions, he has served as Dean of the Fundamentals of Intercultural Communication Workshop, the Leadership Development Committee member, Chair of the Africa Special Interest Group, and a Fellow of the Global Fellowship Program for mentoring emerging leaders of internationalization in African HEIs. He currently serves as a member of the NAFSA Board of Directors.

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Rosa Almoguera

AFFILIATE

Dr. Rosa Almoguera has worked as an international educator for over twenty years. She was trained as a Hispanic Philologist at the Universidad Complutense, in Madrid, and did her M.A. at the University of Pennsylvania. Her Ph.D., from Universidad Complutense included a field study and edition of written balladry “Romancero”. During many years Rosa combined teaching and her role as a senior administrator at the Fundación Ortega-Marañón in Toledo, Spain. At the Foundation, Rosa directed and, in many cases created, programs for the University of Minnesota, Notre Dame, Princeton, Ohio State, Arcadia, and the University of Chicago. She has also been a visiting professor at the University of Minnesota, University of Portland, and Interamericana de Puerto Rico.

Beginning in 2016, Rosa works as an international education consultant for both public and private European and US higher education institutions. Rosa has been successful in developing new partnerships and programs, as well as helping improve already existing ones.

Rosa is a member of Forum and NAFSA and has presented with higher education professionals on innovative academic and research programming, STEM in study abroad and Nationalism in Europe. Rosa is currently completing the final Professional Certification from the Forum on Education Abroad.