My Experience as a Unite For Sight Global Health World Fellow
By Tara Bryant, BA Harvard University
Fellow, July 2009 - July 2010
As a Global Health World Fellow for 2009-2010, I work at the Unite for Sight headquarters in New Haven, Connecticut. This full-time position has not only allowed me to further my passion for global health, public health, and medicine, it has given me the opportunity to contribute to an organization that is creating real and lasting change in our world. The substance of my work as a fellow has revolved around three core areas of Unite for Sight: Global Health University, Global Impact Lab, and the Global Health & Innovation Conference.
Global Health University
Global Health University is an initiative designed to develop the next generation of global health leaders through comprehensive training workshops and webinars, a Global Health Certificate Program, fellowship and internship opportunities, and online global health resources. As coordinator of these activities I have been able to interact with a diverse and impressive group of future global health leaders, both students and professionals. My main role has been to expand the depth and breadth of Global Health University through the creation of new educational resources such as online courses, articles, certificate programs, and workshops. Below are a few of the resources that I have worked to develop:
- The Importance of Avoiding Pitfalls in Global Health & Development: This article outlines the pitfalls that can occur in global health and development work, international partnerships, NGOs, volunteer organizations, and microfinance schemes.
- Global Health History Course: This course seeks to provide a macro-level understanding of global health history.
- Complexities and Realities of Global Health: This article outlines the various issues that may arise in global health work and suggests best practices to overcome them.
- The Science of Global Health Delivery: The article explains the current “implementation and delivery bottleneck” in global health and delineates strategies to address this problem.
- Issues in Medication Management Article: This article outlines the issues that occur when patients do not adhere to medication regimens or follow correct dosage information.
- Global Health Metrics: This article defines and explores the role of indicators and metrics as an integral part of results-based accountability in global health.
- Health Spending at the Base of the Pyramid: This article explains the issues at the base of the economic pyramid. It outlines issues of supply and demand as well as the debate surrounding user fees.
- Diffusion of Innovation: This article explores the reasons why best practices are slow to diffuse in global health work.
- Urban Versus Rural Health: This article examines the determinants of health in urban versus rural contexts and outlines several emerging problems caused by rapid urbanization.
- Ideologies of Global Health: This article examines six ideologies founded upon differing principles and assumptions that have shaped the state of global health today: colonialism, international health, development, charity, social entrepreneurship, and social justice.
- Comparative Eye Care Policy: This series of articles seeks to explore eye care policies within England, the United States, and Canada. Together, these articles form a comparative health policy course that focuses on the provision and finance of eye care services.
- Global Health Certificate Program, Global Health & Program Delivery Certificate Program, Community Eye Health Certificate Program: These certificate programs are designed to provide students, educators, doctors, public health professionals, and others with a comprehensive understanding about the complexities and realities of global health. Those enrolled in the Global Health Certificate Program complete course material and are issued an official certificate.
Global Impact Lab
Many of Unite for Sight’s Global Impact Fellows pursue research in the Global Impact Lab, which is an optional program for those interested in global health research. Pursuing research enables students to contribute important knowledge to the global health and global eye care communities, and many of our Fellows publish in peer-reviewed journals and give presentations at conferences.
My work involves mentoring students interested in research. I help students find a topic, develop their research methodology and obtain approval from their university's Institutional Review Board. In this role, I interact with Global Impact Fellows from all over the world in collaboration with their faculty research mentors and the local doctors at our eye clinic partners abroad. This truly global effort is rewarding as I follow the research process from start to finish and witness the beneficial implications that research can have on populations in resource-poor settings.
In addition, as a tool for volunteers interested in research, I compiled a database of research articles regarding eye health in developing countries. The Community Eye Health Research Journal Article Database includes most community eye health research articles published during the past 30 years. Global Impact Fellows utilize this database to develop new study ideas and to conduct literature reviews to inform their study designs.
Global Health & Innovation Conference
The Unite for Sight Global Health & Innovation Conference is "a famous global crossroads" where thousands come together to discuss innovative solutions to improving health and development. The annual conference hosts over 200 speakers representing all disciplines of global health, social entrepreneurship, international development, and innovation. In my work for the conference, I apply logistical and organizational skills to coordinate presentation details with these speakers.
Reflection
My fellowship at Unite for Sight can best be characterized as a year of learning—learning through research and through interacting with others. This year, my knowledge of issues in global health and development has grown exponentially and I have gained valuable research skills through my work in the Global Health University. In addition, I have developed crucial communication and collaboration skills by working closely with the staff at Unite for Sight and by connecting with individuals interested in global health throughout the world.
As I plan to enter medical school, this fellowship has expanded my conception of health and its relation to culture and society. It has given me a framework to understand the linkage between poverty and poor health as well as how innovative thinking and social enterprises can address the root of this problem. Thus, this fellowship has the potential to provide meaningful experiences not only to those who are interested in medicine and public health, but also to those are passionate about non-profit work and making a sustainable impact where it matters most.