Student Corner - Winter 2007/2008

Students across Canada interested in becoming involved in addressing public health concerns in their communities and abroad have several exciting opportunities.

Join your public health professional organizations.
Become a student member. Examples include:

• Canadian Public Health Association http://www.cpha.ca
• Provincial Public Health Association http://www.cpha.ca/en/about/provincial-associations.aspx
• Canadian Society for Epidemiology and Biostatistics http://www.cseb.ca/
• Society for Epidemiologic Research http://www.epiresearch.org/
• Canadian Society for International Health http://www.csih.org/en/index.asp

All offer excellent opportunities to become involved in addressing public health concerns and in developing research skills and projects for your degree program. A number of them have mentorship programs that can help students develop skills and practical experience for their public health careers. Many have a section of their website with links to other organizations.

Increasing access to essential medicines/technologies
Universities Allied for Essential Medicines (UAEM) http://www.essentialmedicine.org/ Student-led chapters are working to ensure that universities commit to ensuring access to essential medicines around the world. The chapter at the University of British Columbia (UBC) has successfully encouraged its university to adopt principles to increase global access to UBC technologies. The group’s ideas have influenced licensing agreements to include global access terms. The chapter is also initiating a fund for neglected diseases research at UBC.

Raising awareness about public health in Canada
The Association of Faculties of Medicine of Canada (AFMC) has initiated the start of twelve new student-led public health interest groups across Canada. The membership includes medical students, community medicine residents, midwifery students, nursing students and students from other health disciplines. The objectives of the groups are to: 1) raise awareness of pubic health; 2) increase knowledge of the concepts and issues in public health; and 3) foster integration of public health concepts across all disciplines. Contact Barbie Shore, Project Manager at AFMC, at http://www.afmc.ca/contact-e.php

Institute of Population and Public Health Student’s Corner
http://www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/32428.html
This is an excellent resource for students, especially if you are looking for opportunities for an MPH/public health internship, field experience, or a practicum. Includes sections on career awards, training opportunities, networking and capacity building, and funding opportunities.