Between April 21 and May 2, 2025, three UAB master's students participated in a global health symposium at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, as part of the Master of Science in Global Health (MSGH) curriculum. With support from Bhekumusa (Bhekie) Lukhele, PhD, co-director of the Master of Science in Global Health program, the students – Djenabou Diallo, Cordelia Capodiferro and Zuha Fatima – engaged in health systems mapping, collaborated with local organizations in the Hamilton area, presented research findings and received valuable feedback from a diverse group of faculty and students during the symposium.
McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Photography: Adobe Stock The “glocal” event was initially created for McMaster University students who could not attend the Manipal Academy of Higher Education symposium in India but expanded to include UAB students who were also not able to travel to India. Students attending this event learned to “think global and act local,” treating the local environment in a global manner. The goal is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-cultural dialogue, showcasing the transformative power of collective action in tackling global health challenges while emphasizing the local impact of global health issues.
Diallo, Capodiferro and Fatima shared deep and insightful reflections on their experiences at the event. “I gained some key skills, such as system mapping and project management,” said Capodiferro. “It was also a great networking opportunity.”
(L-R) Djenabou Diallo and Zuha Fatima, students in the MSGH program. Photography: Zuha FatimaDiallo said her contributions to a group project allowed her the opportunity to “step back, observe and learn from my peers rather than take the lead. […] It enhanced my public health communication, research synthesis and collaborative writing ability in distilling intricate policy into accessible information to diverse constituencies.”
Fatima described meeting her MSGH Foundations II group in person as “a full-circle moment that highlighted the small yet meaningful impact of the global health community.” After weeks of working remotely together on a proposal addressing anemia in Bihar, India, “we never thought we’d meet in real life.”
Fatima also said, “Attending the glocal symposium in Hamilton, Canada, has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my global health master’s journey so far. I’m truly grateful to everyone who made it possible and welcoming.”
Zuha Fatima, MSGH student. Photography: Cordelia CapodiferroDr. Lukhele noted that this fully funded travel opportunity is a unique element of the UAB MSGH program, since it is built into the curriculum. “It heightens the ability to translate collaboration and partnerships into real-life, meaningful experiences for our students,” he said. “UAB, through the School of Public Health and Heersink School of Medicine, is a member of the impactful alliance of nine academic institutions of global health initiatives, which directly benefits MSGH students.”
Apply today for the Master of Science in Global Health
The UAB Master of Science in Global Health is uniquely offered by the UAB Heersink School of Medicine and the UAB School of Public Health. The program connects students with cutting-edge global health research and practice through the collaborations amongst the Sparkman Center for Global Health, the Mary Heersink Institute for Global Health, the Global Health Consortium and international partners. The deadline to apply is July 15. To learn more and apply, visit go.uab.edu/msglobalhealth.