GlobeMed at Northwestern’s
GlobeMed Quarterly Volume 6, Issue 3 | Spring 2012 www.globemed.org/northwestern
What GlobeMed Means to Me a roundtable discussion with current and former exec board members By: Kerianne Fullin
After five short years, GlobeMed has achieved a noticeable presence on 46 campuses across the nation, and has made a significant impact in partnerships located in 18 countries around the globe. But what does this organization mean to its members? To find out, I sat down with former co-presidents Heather Polonsky and Deepa Ramadurai, current co-president Emily Bauersfeld, current campaigns director Alex Baum, and current communications director Jerry Luo. For many, GlobeMed offers the opportunity to engage with other students passionate about global health in discussion of complex issues. Bauersfeld reflects, “It’s nice to be able to have a big community for discussion. You get different perspectives that you wouldn’t get from a small group of like-minded people.” Indeed, GlobeMed at Northwestern has grown up together with the university’s recently created global health minor, inspiring a multitude of voices to become active in the burgeoning global health field. Luo describes how other similar organizations such as Global Engagement Summit and Northwestern’s Community Development Corps have worked together to increase awareness of health disparities both abroad and domestically. Together, explains Luo, GlobeMed and these other student groups “foster discussion and help people.” Critically, this collective interest provides avenue for action, a notion captured by Baum: “It is comforting to me that a lot smart kids on campus have really similar passions as we do. GlobeMed is so powerful here and it has spread to 45 other universities – it makes me feel
that we can really do something.” No doubt it is this sense of strength through collaboration that has rendered GlobeMed’s partnership model so successful. Additionally, GlobeMed serves as the inspiration for students to pursue future careers in public health, and it is clear that the opportunities provided by the organization contribute to the training of a new generation of dynamic leaders. Polonsky muses, “I’ve learned how to work with other people to implement what we are learning. Working with a nonprofit halfway across the world has taught me how to collaborate with people to make things happen.” Ramadurai supports that notion, adding that the skills she gained as co-president, including the ability to communicate with people from all walks of life, are vital for any career choice. Furthermore, she feels that events such as the Great Debate gave her the skills necessary to generate change: “Older members really pushed younger ones to take an active role and have a voice in the discussion. It was a great opportunity for me to step up and have the support of GlobeMed. Older members of GlobeMed really do that across the board – there’s definitely an atmosphere of cultivating leadership.” Truly GlobeMed has empowered students and communities by bringing them together to work towards greater health equity. As GlobeMed approaches its five year anniversary, we can celebrate not only the lasting impact created by partnerships around the world, but also the movement it has inspired among students across the nation.
“ Deepa Ramadurai
Heather Polonsky
Alex Baum
Jerry Luo
2011-2012 Newsletter Staff: Editor: Nicholas Wang Editors Emeritus: William Chang Kerianne Fullin
Staff: William Chang Kerianne Fullin Bryana Schoen Chichi Uichanco Alissa Zhu
Additional Contributors: Emily Bauersfeld Laura Ruch Matt Zhou
Working with a nonprofit halfway across the world has taught me how to collaborate with people to make things happen.” -Heather Polonsky
Emily Bauersfeld
Sponsored by Northwestern University International Program Development and the Global Health Studies Department
Reflections on the 2012 Fifth Annual GlobeMed Summit a freshman’s experience By: Nicholas Wang
If I were to bluntly describe my experiences spending a weekend at the annual GlobeMed summit this past April it would be this: I was absolutely enthralled. I was enthralled from the moment it began with Executive Director Maya Cohen giving warm welcoming remarks to the excited delegates and alumni until the moment it ended with Director of Development Bianca Nguyen reflecting on her experiences with the organization as she tearfully announced it was time for her to move on. I was enthralled with the theme of the summit: Walking Together, Walking Far: Partnership as a Framework for Meaningful Action. The theme is the perfect reflection of the current goal of the National Office and in my mind the right direction for this organization: a long-term focus on strengthening the interconnected relationships between chapters, partners, and the national office. I was enthralled by the amazing visionaries that came and spoke at the summit. The keynote address featured Pamela Barnes and Pamela Angwech, whose revolutionary work in women’s health as the president/CEO of EngenderHealth and the founder of Gulu Women’s Economic Development and Globalization, respectively, inspired all of us listening that evening. But I was enthralled most of all with my incredible fellow delegates, who shared my passion for global health and my enthusiasm and optimism in tackling even the toughest issues we face today. And I think this last key aspect of the summit is my biggest take away from the weekend. As a freshman, I still have a wealth of opportunities to explore and pursue my interests, and right now all I am trying to do is soak up as much information and participate in as many experiences as possible. The summit gave me the opportunity to really think about partnership in a new light, to hear stories from visionaries around the world about their incredible successes, and to network with students who had experiences very different than my own and who imagined ideas I would have never considered. I realized I do not need to go out there and make a big difference right away; I learned a lot from the summit, but I still have so much more to experience first, which in my opinion is half the fun. And so as I continue my education here at Northwestern and continue my involvement with GlobeMed, I am looking forward to more opportunities to interact with others and soak up as much knowledge as possible. I am still only a freshman, and I am excited to get out there and try and make as big of a difference as I can. But I have time to make my impact on the world, so for now I am content to wait until the summit next year to see what else I can pack into my brain and to see how enthralled I will be then.
a senior’s experience By: Laura Ruch
Recently, I had the great privilege to accompany over 300 of my peers at the fifth annual GlobeMed Summit. As a fourth-time Summit delegate, I found myself consistently surprised throughout the weekend by how much I still have to learn from my peers as well as from new and old leaders in the field of global health. As a biology major, I might see a health problem from a certain perspective, whereas an engineer or an economist might see that same problem in a completely different light. Furthermore, people from different cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds view global health issues through different lenses. Each might have their own ideas for creating solutions, and it is only through integrating these diverse backgrounds and bringing the assets of various persons and organizations to the table that the really complex issues can be effectively addressed. Not surprisingly, this central idea echoes the theme of this year’s summit: “Walking Together, Walking Far: Partnership as a Framework for Meaningful Action.” Maya Cohen, GlobeMed’s executive director, delivered opening remarks on Thursday evening of the Summit. She shared this proverb from Burkina Faso: “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. If you want to walk far, walk together.” GlobeMed is an organization founded on partnership: each of the 46 chapters partners with a grassroots health organization in the developing world. Even so, the focus on strengthening partnership made this year’s Summit unique from previous years. Thinking back to spring of my freshman year, at my first Summit (the second ever put on by GlobeMed), I realized how far we have come as an organization. At that time, GlobeMed’s current model was only a vague idea, far fewer chapters and partners existed, and I felt much less confident that I could do much of anything, as a college student, to address issues I care so deeply about. I remember sitting in small groups at that first Summit, feeling naïve as I tried to formulate my thoughts about why people still die “stupid deaths” from diseases such as malaria, or what might be the most sustainable way to provide healthcare as a non-governmental organization. Since then, I have learned so much – through GlobeMed, through my peers, through classes, and through self-education – yet I know I still have a long way to go. Nevertheless, rather than feeling the need to learn everything myself (something I used to think was possible!), I now know that through partnerships I can expand my knowledge base infinitely, ultimately formulating and executing much more effective solutions than I ever could have alone. The Summit has increased in size, organization, and thoughtfulness since its first year in 2007, and while the quality of the speakers has been outstanding every year, things run more smoothly now, with a new emphasis on small groups and hugs. My favorite part about GlobeMed – the fact that we address tough issues while still finding room for silliness – has not changed. As my time as an undergraduate in GlobeMed comes to a close, I will carry the knowledge I’ve gained through the Summits with me as I craft a career for myself. Luckily, GlobeMed is not going anywhere for a good while, and I am so excited to see how it will fit into the next chapter of my life. The keynote address, moderated by Executive Director Maya Cohen, right, featured Pamela Angwech, founder of Gulu Women’s Economic Development and Globalization.
The opening dinner of the summit; the number of delegates, alumni, and speakers who attended this year was the largest to date.
Running For HOPE
the new 5K and fun run spring fundraiser a success By: Alissa Zhu
The only people to be found out on Northwestern’s lakefill on a blustery Saturday morning in April were a group of students and alumni all sporting spandex and running shorts. Junior Sasha Jones, co-director of Community Building for GlobeMed at Northwestern, stood tall on top of a concrete bench, thanked everyone for coming, and yelled out “3 … 2 … 1 … GO!!” Just like that, the runners were off, and the first ever GlobeMed 5K and fun run had begun. More than 30 students and alumni participated in the 5K, which sent runners looping around campus, and the fun run, where pairs completed a series of obstacles ranging from leap-frogging to flying paper airplanes to blowing a bubble with bubble gum. Over $500 was raised by the event. “I loved the sheer fact of going for a run to do some good,” said sophomore Patrick Metcalf, who heard about the event from a friend of his in GlobeMed. “The GlobeMed people were so happy and encouraging that I would have made it a 10K if I were in better shape!” In the past, GlobeMed’s spring fundraisers have had trouble appealing to a wide range of people. Last year, the spring fundraiser was a Frisbee tournament, which only attracted a certain demographic of ultimate Frisbee enthusiasts despite financial success. “We really wanted this event to reach out to the entire campus and to appeal to all the people to get a sort of a community going for GlobeMed,” explained sophomore Samantha Reznik, the co-chair of the 5K/fun run along with Jones. “We decided on the fun run because we thought it would really appeal to people to spend a day on the lakefill doing fun obstacle course type things. It was just really simple to add a 5K to it. We’re trying to reach out to as many people as possible.” The fastest 5K time of the day was clocked at an impressive 15:48, and winners of both the 5K and the fun run received trophies and gift cards to local Evanston restaurants. Additionally, all participants received free bagels and cream cheese. The event was heralded as a great success, not only from a financial perspective but also as an effective event to raising awareness about GlobeMed and the HOPE Center by reaching out to the broader Northwestern community.
A young child waits patiently to receive important care through the Nutrition Program at the HOPE Center in Ho, Ghana.
Introducing the New Exec Board! Presidents: Emily Bauersfeld Kalindi Shah
Campaigns: Alex Baum Sasha Jones
Community Building: Parul Kathuria Rachel Spann
Communications: Jerry Luo Bryana Schoen
Global Health U: Tade Mengesha Katie Singh
Individual Giving: Ragini Bhushan Teresa Caya
Finances: Shruti Zaveri GROW Trip: Matt Zhou Newsletter: Nicholas Wang
Wheelbarrow racing was just one of the obstacles that was part of GlobeMed’s first fun run. The winners of the fun run celebrate their victory; the event raised over $500 for the HOPE Center.
Gone to Ghana
annual GROW trip to include visual media project By: Matt Zhou
GlobeMed is a unique organization in that very few other network models have the potential for forging relationships and connections between people in very different cultures. GROW trips are an integral part of the GlobeMed model that allow our chapter to connect with the HOPE Center in Ho, Ghana with real, on-site work. On this summer’s GROW trip, our team’s primary goal is to collect data for the creation of future health programs as well as to immerse ourselves with the people at the HOPE Center to strengthen our partnership. Our research will include a breastfeeding survey targeted towards post-natal mothers and nutritional data collection on infants. In this way, we can continue to develop and expand the nutritional program that is currently being implemented at the HOPE Center. This summer’s GROW trip, however, will differ slightly from years past; it will hopefully be a more multi-faceted trip to Ghana with a diverse array of goals. In years past, GlobeMed at Northwestern has enjoyed a wonderful working relationship between the chapter and the HOPE Center. Nevertheless, the university chapter has had limited opportunities to connect with our partner organization. What we hope to do this summer is to bridge the gap between groups through audio-visual media to bring individuals on both sides closer together. So much of what the GlobeMed model consists of is the partnership that binds people of different cultures together, and we feel that by presenting a snapshot of the lives, personalities, and culture in the HOPE Center, the university chapter will feel a much more personal connection to their partners. What this media project will consist of is a series of interviews and video footage with the workers of the HOPE Center, visual tours through the surrounding areas, and direct footage of the Ghanaian people served by our partnership.
a preview of next year and beyond By: Emily Bauersfeld
GlobeMed is such a special community; year after year, our partnership with Ghana proves that we have a group of consistently driven, dedicated people working together for such an awesome cause. Our new executive board is already planning some awesome campaigns and community building activities for the upcoming year, and we can’t wait to see what great things are going to come out of this year’s GROW trip to Ghana. For the 2012-2013 year, we will be taking a slightly different approach to introducing new members to the GlobeMed community, and hope that with planning and dedication, we will have another really successful year to look forward to! Stay tuned for some awesome collaboration and leadership in the upcoming year.
$18,863! Thank you donors! a recap of our incredible year By: William Chang
GlobeMedders tie ribbons on trees around campus in celebration of World Social Justice Day
Everyone agrees the fall retreat was one of the highlights of the year, a chance to bond with other chapter members and get some tasty snacks!
GlobeMed at Northwestern is wrapping up another amazing year, and as things are winding down here, we reflect on the various events members have experienced throughout the year. Early in fall quarter, the chapter bonded during the fall retreat, where we spent an afternoon apple picking at Apple Holler in Wisconsin. Later that quarter, we sold clothes and jewelry during the annual marketplace fundraiser. At the end of the day, members had raised more than $450. In spring quarter, the chapter hosted a 5K/Fun Run and raised over $500. But the biggest campaign this year has been the Individual Giving Challenge, which took place over the winter break. Donors generously gave an unprecedented $12,800! In total, our chapter raised a grand total of $18,863 over the past academic year. While we are proud to have surpassed our fundraising goal, we take greater satisfaction in knowing that these funds will continue to support the HOPE Center and its various health improvement programs. Every year GlobeMed continues to attract chapter members who are passionate and dedicated to global health, while saying goodbye to graduating members who often pursue careers related to global health. Although every year brings in new faces, one thing remains the same: our mission statement to “strengthen the movement for global health equity by empowering students and communities to work together to improve the health of people living in poverty around the world.” This vision is shown in our partnership with the HOPE Center, which has allowed for sustained improvement of the health of the people in Ho, Ghana and the surrounding areas. The partnership between our chapter and our generous donors is one of the keys behind these improvements, and for that, we give thanks to our friends who continue to support us and our mission. GlobeMed at Northwestern is extremely grateful and encouraged by your donations, and we hope to continue to receive your support as we journey forward.
Building a generation of global health leaders Since our chapter’s founding, hundreds of students have become members of GlobeMed at Northwestern. These members, along with other students from universities all over the country, have participated in GlobeMed’s high-impact programming. In addition to providing students with the knowledge and skills to address issues of global health, these events have mobilized participants to join in the movement for global health equity.
How to donate With support from GlobeMed at Northwestern, the HOPE Center in Ho, Ghana is excited to embark on phase V of their nutrition project, which aims to reduce the amount of malnutrition among children in the surrounding areas, especially children under the age of five. However, we need your help! Our projects would not be possible without help from you, our family and friends! Donate Online Visit our global giving page online to make a donation: http://www.globalgiving.co.uk/pr/2100/proj2071a.html Donate By Mail Please make checks payable to “GlobeMed at Northwestern” and send to: GlobeMed National Office 620 Library Place Evanston, IL 60208 GlobeMed is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
Former co-president Tiffany Wong walks with children from Ho, Ghana across a soccer field to where future crops of soybeans will grow.