Student Leaders Through the Years: 10 Alumni Share Lessons Learned in GlobeMed

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GlobeMed

Jun 22, 2021

GlobeMed’s 2020 Virtual Leadership Institute

Since 2006, GlobeMed has shared with young people the tools and resources to serve as global health advocates. Through training and programs centered on social justice, healthcare equity, and community leadership, GlobeMed works to shape the next generation of global health leaders. As we celebrate GlobeMed’s 15th anniversary, we look back on the insights our student leaders have gained through their involvement in their university chapters.

“I learned how public health and development theory translates into practice, how culture specific and population specific definitions of health impact practice, and how iterative development works.” Shaymolee Desai, Washington University in St. Louis ‘16

“GlobeMed has been one of the highlights of my college career. I initially got involved because the group’s goals matched up with my academic endeavors, but it grew into something much bigger for me. Because of GlobeMed I’ve developed as a student, as a leader, as a team member, and as a citizen of this country and the world. GlobeMed went from being just another extracurricular activity to becoming a community I enjoy and that enables me to realize goals and dreams I otherwise would not be able

“GlobeMed empowered me and provided me with the skills to act on my beliefs in health equity, and served as a space for me to grow significantly as a person, student and public health advocate.” Scott Hong, Boston College ‘16

“A lesson that I’ve learned from GlobeMed — that isn’t always applicable in development circles — is to really focus on social justice, to be critical about what that means, and to be sincere in both what you do and the way that you implement. The GlobeMed community to me has always been this place where there’s a lot of people who do care about those things, who do want to talk about those things, and who want to dig in really deeply, ask the really difficult questions, and leave a conversation

“GlobeMed introduced me to the notion of becoming a global citizen, taught me the importance of coloring outside the box, and most of all, built a purpose in my life bigger than myself and my dreams. I thrive off of creativity, and GlobeMed has taught me that it is possible to intertwine such an abstract quality with medicine and science. For that reformative experience, I am appreciative beyond words” Garima Bhandari, University of Colorado Boulder ‘16

GlobeMed represents a model of partnership that’s different from the norm, that got started because someone questioned how things were done. You need those organizations, those mentors, those people, who are helping our generation question things in a way that’s critical. Not pointing fingers, but investigating, interrogating, but digging deeper and doing our due diligence to research.” Jabari Allen, Truman State ‘14

“GlobeMed really provides a platform to think critically about the state of global health and the role of young people in social change. It rounds out our education from taking a theoretical framework that we’re given in a classroom and actually applying it.” Madison Little, Rutgers University ‘16

“What I love about GlobeMed is that we invest in young, motivated changemakers. Through being immersed in an equitable and sustainable partnership model, I am encouraged and inspired to become a leader in my own college context and in the advocacy world at large.” Miriam Pierce, Loyola University Chicago ‘18

“Being a part of this organization for my entire college career, I can say GlobeMed has changed my perspective, my aspirations, and my life. I have made lifelong friends within my chapter, the network, and our partner organization Ceejay Boyce, University of Cincinnati ‘16

“GlobeMed was the first organization that taught me how complex partnership can be. I learned about the interplay between humility and personal power, and how much lending a helping hand could help fix deeply-rooted health problems.” Ashley Hagaman, University of Michigan ‘08

As part of GlobeMed’s 15-year anniversary, we’re stepping back to celebrate how far we’ve come and the meaning of our work over the years. This is part of a series of 15 stories we’re sharing about GlobeMed’s impact on partners, students, and alumni.

Student Leaders Through the Years: 10 Alumni Share Lessons Learned in GlobeMed

Written by Molly Wilde