Global Health
Tackling the pressing challenges in global and population health with cultural humility, a determination to collaborate, and a commitment to fairness
Queen's researchers, clinicians, educators, and trainees are engaged in partnerships in Canada and across the globe, contributing towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #3 (UN SDG3) of Good Health and Well-Being and the affiliated goals of SDG4 Quality Education, SDG5 Gender Equality, and SDG17 Partnerships for the Goals. We do this through research, education, service, and collaborative projects that foster shared benefits and multi-directional learning.
At Queen’s University, we understand the need to decolonize global health. As an institution, we seek to be reflective, to listen and learn, and to participate in meaningful conversation and positive change.
Queen’s University is an institutional member of:
The Consortium of Universities for Global Health (CUGH)
CUGH is a rapidly growing Washington, DC based organization of over 170 academic institutions and other organizations from around the world engaged in addressing global health challenges.
The Canadian Association for Global Health (CAGH)
CAGH brings together a vibrant global health community working to create a healthier and more equitable world.
Global Health Stories
Global health stories from our university community and our partners.
Dr. Aldersey, Canada Research Chair in Disability-Inclusive Development
Dr. Heather Aldersey Appointed Interim Director, Institute for Global and Population Health
Dr. Jane Philpott, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences at Queen’s University, has appointed Dr. Heather Aldersey as Interim Director, Queen’s Institute for Global and Population Health (IGPH). Dr. Aldersey’s appointment is effective October 1, 2021. While in this role, Dr. Aldersey will continue as Scientific Director, International Centre for the Advancement of Community Based Rehabilitation (ICACBR). A formal search process for an appointment to the Director, Queen’s IGPH role will be undertaken in the coming year.
The Queen’s IGPH will bring together learners, academics and partners from a variety of backgrounds to work collaboratively in moving forward on issues related to global and population health in research and education. The establishment of the institute is one of the early actions that the Faculty of Health Sciences is undertaking as part of its new strategic vision for 2021-2026, Radical Collaboration. Bringing a wealth of experience in global health and partnership administration, Dr. Aldersey will take a leadership role in the formation of this institute.
Dr. Aldersey earned her BA in International Studies and French at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Canadian Morehead-Cain Scholar. She earned her MSc in Education in 2010, and PhD in Education in 2013, at the University of Kansas. She completed post-doctoral research at the Douglas Mental Health University Institute at McGill University in 2014.
Dr. Aldersey was appointed as Assistant Professor and Queen’s National Scholar in the School of Rehabilitation Therapy in 2014. She has served as Director of ICACBR from 2017-2019, and has served as Scientific Director since 2019. In 2018, Dr. Aldersey was awarded the Tier II Canada Research Chair in Disability-Inclusive Development, and was recognized with the Queen’s University Faculty of Health Sciences Award for Teaching Excellence.
Dr. Aldersey's research program focuses on promoting the full inclusion of people with disabilities globally. The ultimate goal of Dr. Aldersey's scholarship is to draw upon local strengths and capabilities to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities and their families.
Dr. Aldersey has a strong background in leading collaborative partnerships and has championed a multitude of successful projects. Among them is a collaboration with the University of Gondar, as part of The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. With an investment of $24.2M USD, the program funds multiple research projects and scholarships that will create a new generation of researchers and leaders in Ethiopia.
Please join Dean Philpott in congratulating Dr. Aldersey on her appointment as Interim Director, Queen’s Institute of Global and Population Health.
Horizons Magazines
The Department of Family Medicine (DFM) Global Health Program issues a regular magazine to highlight DFM initiatives that focus on health equity. Recent publications include:
- Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
- Misogyny
- Opioids
- BIPOC
- COVID-19
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- Poverty and Health
- LGBTQ+ Health
- Climate Change and Health
Queen’s University Stories
- Cancer groundshot: Access to proven treatments must parallel development of new therapies
- App levels playing field for cervical cancer screening
- Narrowing the gap in health care access
- Making sense of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in Russia
- Building forensic psychiatry in Pakistan
- Impacts of COVID-19 on newcomers to Canada
- School of Nursing - World Health Day 2021
- Advancing international research collaborations
- Do randomized cancer trials truly reflect the global burden of cancer?
- Supporting Rapid Response Research - Dr. Elijah Bisung
- Mentorship opportunity builds international partnership
- Recognizing research and scholarship at Queen's - Dr. Gabor Fichtinger
- Why cancer care isn’t ‘one-size-fits-all’ from one country to another
- Mobilizing international academics
- Scholarship promotes maternal and child health equity research
- African Studies conference focuses on transformation
- A focus on global health and rehabilitation
- Researchers reach out globally
- Building global health
- New funding for Queen's researcher Karen Yeates helping women in Tanzania
THE Impact Rankings and Global Sustainability
Research and Collaborative Projects
Global health research and collaborative projects involve Queen’s faculty from across the university, working in respectful partnerships with communities and host country organizations.
Research Centres, Institutes, and Collaboratives
Research centres, institutes, and collaboratives play a significant role in specialized global health partnerships and projects at Queen’s University.
International Centre for the Advancement for Community Based Rehabilitation (ICACBR)
ICACBR conducts international work in community-based rehabilitation and is focused on people and partnerships. Queen’s faculty members participating in ICACBR programs are based in the: School of Rehabilitation Therapy, School of Nursing, School of Medicine, Faculty of Law, and Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Current projects include:
- University of Gondar (Ethiopia)/Queen’s University Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
- QEII Scholarships focused on community-driven solutions for people with disabilities
- QES Community-based participatory research in health equity and inclusive education systems
ARCH Research Collaborative
ARCH stands for “A Research Collaborative for Global Health Equity”. Their work is guided by the principles of global health research put forward by the Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research. Projects include topics such as: parenting in adversity, sexual violence, social and emotional impacts of COVID19, and equity in maternal and child health. The founding researchers are from the School of Rehabilitation Therapy, Department of Emergency Medicine, Department of Public Health Sciences, Department of Global Development Studies, and Department of Family Medicine.
Centre for Studies in Primary Care (CSPC)
The CPSC conducts research relevant to the practice of primary healthcare. This includes population health as well as research that responds to local community needs in Kingston and Southeastern Ontario. The CSPC project portfolio includes Global Health and Community Based initiatives.
Canadian Institute for Military and Veteran Health Research (CIMVHR)
CIMVHR’s mission is to enhance the lives of Canadian military personnel, Veterans and their families by harnessing the national capacity for research. They are committed to improving the lives of those who serve and have served, tackling challenges such as post-traumatic stress disorder and transition to civilian life.
Ongoing international initiatives include:
School of Medicine
Queen’s School of Medicine advances global health research and is actively involved in collaborative projects through a number of departments.
Department of Oncology
The dynamic team of internationally recognized researchers and educators that make up the Queen's University Global Oncology Program are committed to improving equity in cancer care and control through global engagement.
Highlights of their work include:
- Participation in the WHO Cancer Medicines Working Group for the Essential Medicines List
- Implementing a training program for primary care doctors in Nepal to improve access to rural cancer training for patients
- Improving faculty development for African oncologists
Department of Diagnostic Radiology
The Queen’s University Department of Diagnostic Radiology is partnered with University of Nairobi Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiation Medicine. The purpose of this partnership is to establish a permanent international linkage to improve medical education and practice in Radiology programs and build capacity in specialty medical education and professional development. The Department has received The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) Fellowship for this collaboration.
Any inquiries related to the Department of Diagnostic Radiology Global Health programs can be directed to:
Pam Moore, MIR, Administrative Assistant, Pam.Moore@kingstonhsc.ca
Dr. Denise Castro, Global Health Director, Department of Diagnostic Radiology, denise.castro@kingstonhsc.ca
Department of Emergency Medicine
The Queen’s Department of Emergency Medicine is growing its global health research and initiatives:
- Collaboration in the Queen’s University-Haramaya University-Royal College International Partnership
- Research in global emergency medicine and global health education, under the supervision of Dr. Susan Bartels, Canada Research Chair in Humanitarian Health Equity
Any inquiries related to the Department of Emergency Medicine and Global Health can be directed to: Dr. Amanda Collier, ac219@queensu.ca
Department of Family Medicine
The mission of the Department of Family Medicine (DFM) Global Health Program:
The DFM Global Health Program strives to reduce health disparities within the communities it serves through clinical care, program development, policy influence, research, education, and advocacy.
The DFM’s Global Health Program will target its future activities toward – and in collaboration with – individuals and communities where health disparities are particularly prominent.
The DFM’s Global Health Program recognizes that persons and communities experiencing significant health disparities face additional challenges such that increased resources, time, and energy are required for their care. We are committed to advocating for these increased services to improve health outcomes for all.
Department of Public Health Sciences
In the Department of Public Health Sciences, Global Health is an area of research strength. Diverse methodologies are used including quantitative, qualitative and participatory approaches.
Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine
The Queen’s University Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine is actively responding to the global crisis outlined in the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery. Through the Global Anesthesia program, faculty members try to reduce disparities through partnerships and education. One key partnership is the Queen's University-Haramaya University-Royal College International Partnership.
Queen’s University - Haramaya University – Royal College International Partnership
The partnership between Queen’s University, Haramaya University (HU), and Royal College International was formed in 2015 to develop post-graduate medical residency training programs in Harar, Ethiopia.
The three areas of focus identified by HU are: Emergency Medicine, Anesthesiology, and Oncology. Faculty members from each of these departments at Queen’s University collaborate with partners at HU to launch new training programs, and to provide ongoing teaching support.
Capacity in the local medical workforce is being built up both for patient care in the hospital setting, and training of the next generation of physicians. Already, individuals living in Harar, Ethiopia are receiving specialized care that had not been locally available.
Education
There are opportunities to study global health in a number of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs at Queen’s University.
Courses and Programs in the Faculty of Health Sciences
Undergraduate - Bachelor of Health Sciences
The courses are offered in the Bachelor of Health Sciences program, and may be available to students in other programs.
- Global and Population Health Learning Track
- GLPH 271 – Global and Population Health
- GLPH 471 – Advanced Global and Population Health
- GLPH 493 - Global Health Practice
- BMED 483 – Advanced Topics in Infectious Disease
Upper Year Bachelor of Health Sciences at Bader International Study Centre (BISC)
- Third-year fall term at Herstmonceux Castle in the UK
- Open to Non-Queen’s Students
- Apprly by: March 31, 2022
Graduate - Master of Public Health
This course is available to Master of Public Health students, and may be available to graduate students in other programs.
- EPID 829 – Foundations of Global Health
Undergraduate Medical Education
- Health Determinants, Population Health: UGME Curriculum
Postgraduate Medical Education
- Family Medicine Residency: Global Health Curriculum
- Family Medicine PGY3: Enhanced Skills - Global Health
- Global Emergency Medicine Fellowship: Program Information
Courses in the Faculty of Arts & Sciences
Department of Global Development Studies
Courses in the Department of Global Development Studies related to global health include:
- DEVS 100 - Canada and the “Third World”
- DEVS 280 - Global Engagement
- DEVS 355 - AIDS, Power, and Poverty
- DEVS 393 - Topics in Development Studies: COVID19 in the Global South
School of Kinesiology and Health Studies
Courses in the School of Kinesiology and Health Studies related to global health include:
- HLTH 101 - Social Determinants of Health
- HLTH 350 - Topics in Global Health
- HLTH 404 - Global Studies of Social Inclusion, Community Participation and Mental Wellness (focus on Interdisciplinary Studies in Global Health)
- HLTH 493 - Advanced Topics in Health Studies (Winter 2022 – Population Health & Health Equity: Local to Global Perspectives)
- HLTH 497 - Special Topics in Health Studies (Winter 2022 – Environment and Health)
Summer Program: Interdisciplinary Studies in Global Health and Disability at Bader International Study Centre (BISC)
- Located at: Herstmonceux Castle, UK
- Program Dates: May 9, 2022 – Jun 17, 2022
- Apply by: April 1, 2022
- Open to Queen’s upper year students and Non-Queen’s students
- Join a webinar to learn more
- Learn more about the BISC experience
Winter Courses at Bader International Study Centre (BISC)
- Located at: Herstmonceux Castle, UK
- HLTH 305 – Fundamentals of Health Policy
- HLTH 351 – Health in Humanitarian Crises
Events and Opportunities
Student Groups
- Canadian Association for Global Health - Queen's Student Chapter
- Click here for more information, including events and opportunities
Global Health Learning Opportunities
- Masterclass in Critical Appraisal, offered by the Department of Oncology
- Audience: Professionals caring for patients with cancer
- Free online modules
- Pre and post survey to test knowledge
- Interactive journal club - check back for sessions in 2022.
- Global Oncology Rounds
- Recorded sessions are available here
- Canadian Global Oncology Workshop
- Hosted by Queen's in December 2021
- Recorded sessions are available here