Practicums

DLSPH Masters students can choose to complete a practicum placement that is global health-related. While important, interesting global health work happens in the Greater Toronto Area, students may also travel elsewhere in Canada, the United States, and globally to apply the theory and knowledge gained in coursework in professional settings.

The approach to global health at the DLSPH is interdisciplinary and integrative, bringing together ideas, theories, and methodologies from multiple disciplines. The school emphasizes equity-oriented research; that is, projects focusing on the health challenges of low-income and marginalized populations in all countries and the relationship of these challenges to global, national and local political, social, economic, and institutional factors.

Past global health practicum placements have taken place at organizations like the WHO (Geneva, Switzerland), the Centre for Infectious Disease Research (Lukasa, Zambia), PAHO (Washington, DC, USA), Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (Eldoret, Kenya), Sri Ramachandra University (Chennai, India), and the Government of Nunavut (Iqaluit, Nunavut).

Students have described their experiences doing global health practicum placements as “eclectic, memorable, and inspiring,” allowing them to participate in “incredible and passionate work,” “develop confidence,” and grow as a “health promoter, a public health student, a research, and as a person.”

Contact: Practicum Placement and Professional Development Officer

2019/2020 Global Public Health Masters Travel Awards

DESCRIPTION

The awards will provide financial support for travel outside of Canada linked to practicum placements addressing global health issues. The approach to global health at the DLSPH is interdisciplinary and integrative, bringing together ideas, theories, and methodologies from multiple disciplines and sectors. The school emphasizes equity-oriented research, policy and practice, that is, work focusing on the health and health system challenges of populations living and working in conditions of vulnerability in all countries and the relationship of these challenges to global, national and local political, social, economic, cultural, environmental and institutional factors.

ELIGIBILITY

All Dalla Lana School of Public Health (DLSPH) Master of Public Health (MPH), Master of Science (MSc) and Master of Science in Community Health (MScCH) students whose practicum placement is focused on global health (as defined above) are invited to apply for 2019/2020 Global Public Health Masters Travel Awards. Although students can apply multiple times while registered at the University of Toronto, each student can only receive this award once.

FUNDS AVAILABLE

Reimbursement up to $5,000 will be awarded to students to support a global health practicum placement

HOW TO APPLY

To apply for a Travel Award, please e-mail the documents listed below, in one PDF format, to Vadim Levin at ghoffice.dlsph@utoronto.ca by Sunday March 8th, 2020

  • A brief description of your global health practicum project, including a statement of interest (max. 5 pages, double spaced, 1- inch margins, 12-point font).
  •  The description should include the following information:

1. Your name, Master’s program, expected graduation date and expected dates for your trip to the placement site

2. The name, title, and affiliations of your academic supervisor/mentor at the University of Toronto

3. Your destination and the name and contact information of your supervisor/mentor at the host institution

4. The title and a brief summary of your practicum placement, including the relevance and applicability of the proposed work to global public health (see definition in description of this Call).

  • The statement of interest should include:

1. Reflections on what you hope to learn from this placement, and what challenges you anticipate

2. Reflections on the CCGHR Principles outlined in Appendix I in their statement

3. The anticipated “value-add” of your placement/project to global health research, policy and/or practice

  • A current curriculum vitae
  • A letter of support from your academic supervisor/mentor at the University of Toronto (who will be supervising you during your practicum placement). Please see Appendix II for more information on the role of an academic supervisor/mentor.
  •  A letter of support from your supervisor/mentor at the host institution outlining the role and responsibilities you will have in the practicum placement
  •  A detailed budget (please see Appendix III: eligible expenses and potential budget items. Please think carefully about which items you will need to budget for in order to participate in your placement.

For more information please click here.