September 2021

Global Pediatrics Program Newsletter

Risha Moskalewicz, MD

Director, Global Pediatrics Track

In the past month, as we see summer starting to turn into early fall, we've also been inundated with news of ongoing and new humanitarian and environmental crises: a new more virulent strain of COVID, a devastating earthquake in Haiti, wildfires across North America, numerous civil wars, persecuted people fleeing... or at least desperately trying to. Global health physicians process these things in a way I've known to be truly inspiring and unique, looking for opportunities to be in solidarity, to support, to reach out, and to do something. Despite what could be depressing and devastating situations, without disregarding the grief and gravity of those situations, I truly look forward to continuing to work with all of the Global Pediatrics Program to find and expand our role in contributing positively to our world, right here in the Twin Cities and beyond in the face of all that is going on. I invite anyone reading this newsletter, who may have ideas, to contact me personally to discuss them and help us maintain momentum.  Our academic year is off to a good start, interns are transitioning and we enjoyed meeting many GH residents at our welcome picnic last month.  We are now ready to hunker in for both the literal and metaphorical "winter" ahead of us, together, and I believe our collective energy will provide much "warmth".

Thank you for joining us for our welcome picnic! It was great to meet the new interns and see each other again for the first time in a long time.

Thank you for joining us for our last happy hour. If you weren't able to come, we hope you join us for the next time.

Welcome Interns!

We are so glad you are here! If you're interested in joining the Global Pediatrics Track, fill out the application. 

Nuala Flood, DO PGY-1

I am from St. Paul but spent a lot of time overseas; particularly in Spain because I am half Spanish which is where my love for different cultures began and continued to grow as I got older. I come for a big family (over 70 first cousins) and it is one of the most fun things. I am very interested in working with people from different backgrounds in a medical capacity as well which is why I am looking to be involved in global health. 

Megan Lucas, MD PGY-1

I grew up in Minneapolis and have lived here most of my life (with a quick 4 year break an entire state over in Wisconsin for college), but still love continuing to learn about the neighborhoods, populations, and history of Minneapolis that I have been previously unaware of. I also love having it as a home base to travel, however infrequently during medical school and residency :) My favorite places to travel usually involve mountains, spicy food, the ability to practice my Spanish, and/or entirely new places or cultures in general!

Svatava Merkle, MD PGY-1

I am originally from the Czech Republic and came to US to do my pediatric residency training because I heard that the University of Minnesota is fabulous at it. I love to spend my time outdoors (especially on backup days - see photo :))). I would love to share my training with as many people as I can around the world and that’s why I am interested in global health. 

Jennifer Robinson, MD PGY-1

I am from Denver, Colorado and have been interested in global health since I decided to go into medicine.  I have done some global health work in Kenya and in Guatemala, and am interested in doing primary care both here and abroad.  I have two dogs (one with 3 legs), I like to ski, snowboard, rock climb, paint, snack, and take naps in my free time.

Upcoming Events

Global Surgery & Disparities Program Monthly Forum

Date & Time: Tuesday, September 7, 2021 — 4:00 p.m.

Topic: Research in Indian Country: Partnering in a Good Way to Improve Health Outcomes with Dr. Mary Owen.

Register

Global Pediatrics Track Monthly Meeting

Date & Time: Friday, September 24 - post Block Ed

Topic: Navigating the Global Pediatrics Program - Meeting all your Global Goals in Three Years

Location: Wilf 1 & 2

NPH USA Grand Gala Weekend

Date & Time: October 20 - October 24, 2021 — 6:00 p.m. CDT 

Topic: NPH USA Grand Gala Weekend, The St. Damian Collaborative event is Friday, October 22 at 7:00 p.m. 

Event Information


IHS Clinic
Treaties not Tar Sands protest against Line 3 at the MN State Capitol

Chief's Corner

Phil Plager, MD

In my first newsletter section as a global pediatric co-chief resident, I write to you with enthusiasm. The energy coming into this year is great and its source is our community. I feel ever so lucky to work with Kendra Martinez as co-chiefs, and grateful to have Hannah Lee as Med-Peds GH chief and Emily Halverson as medicine GH chief. We are fortunate for faculty that are eager to connect and collaborate. But most importantly, you, the residents, are an inspiring group of people. I am thankful to those I have been able to meet and learn from thus far and I cannot wait to get to know you all better over the next year. 

I have a humble admission to start. I have difficulty defining global health and that is a source of embarrassment for this global health chief. Here are two frameworks that I have found. Koplan et al. define global health as: “an area for study, research, and practice that places a priority on improving health and achieving health equity for all people worldwide”. Macfarlane et al. “worldwide improvement of health, reduction of disparities, and protection against global threats that disregard national borders”. In combining these definitions, my working definition of global health is an area of study and practice of improving health and health equity, while not being tied or restricted by political boundaries. 

This broad definition is the anchor of my philosophy this year: one big tent. The individual stakes you have in your communities and bring to our shared community is what holds down this tent. We live in a time of systems under stress: health systems, social systems, ecological systems. It is critical to acknowledge that many of these systems under stress were created to be unequal by design. It is my opinion that the study, reflection, and movement towards creating new or restored systems will take a large and deep community. It is from this understanding that I derive my goals for this year. 

I want to continue to integrate global health education into the mainstream residency curriculum. For those on the track, I want you to feel supported. My main goal is that we support you in your goals. I want this time to feel meaningful to you and hope you find inspiration on what a practice could look like after residency. 

Let’s get together to the extent possible. The 4 global health chiefs are organizing joint get togethers for folx across medicine and pediatrics. Dr. Rahel Nardos from the department of OBGYN is hosting a trans-discipline journal club on global health ethics. The inaugural discussion in August was a great success. I would love to know, what are you thinking about? Want to share an event yourself? What is your definition of global health? What is happening in communities that you are a part of? Lets connect and continue the conversation. 


Phil Plager, MD

Plage011@umn.edu

Grand entrance of the Wacipi in Rosebud, SD 
Wild horse riding at the Rosebud Rodeo 

Resident Spotlight

Kristen Bastug, MD - Medicine Pediatrics PL3

Kristen studied Biology at the University of Saint Thomas in St. Paul, MN, where she also developed an interest in Ecology and Environmental Science. She spent one month in Northern India during this time observing rural and urban healthcare settings and the patients they served. Next, she attended the University of Minnesota Medical School, where she helped establish the student group "Health Students for a Healthy Climate," an interdisciplinary group of nursing, pharmacy, public health, dental, and medical students. As a resident at UMN, she has attended the AAP Advocacy conference and also attended the United Nation's Foundation's "Nothing But Nets" advocacy training event to help end malaria. She is excited to travel to Kampala, Uganda in Spring 2022. 

Favorite travel destination: Any place where I can scuba dive! The Turks and Caicos holds special memories with my family, but I look forward to diving in other places too. I hope to become a "Master Scuba Diver" someday

What the world needs more of: Edible plants in public spaces! And fewer high maintenance manicured lawns. There is a lot of urban land that could be used to help pollinators and produce food. 

If you weren't a physician you would be: A marine biologist! Though I admit, I'm intimidated by the thought of owning a fish tank... I'll take any tips from fellow fish owners. The container would need to be quite cat-proof

Catch up on Past Events

Global Health Research Series - July 30, 2021 "Expert Panel on Global Health Research Electives – tips for success from Lessons learned by former chiefs" Ife Ojo, MBBS, MPH, Nate Meuser-Herr, MD, Stephanie Lauden, MD CTropMed®, and Andrew Wu, MD, MPH, CTropMed®

After you've watched the presentation, please fill out our evaluation. 

Grand Rounds - August 25, 2021 "Present status of critical care in low-resource countries, Bridging the gap in critical care" Tina Slusher, MD

Employment Opportunities in Global Child Health 

HEAL Initiative is looking for applications for the 2022-2024 HEAL Initiative Fellowship. Apply here.

Arc Health, a Public Benefit Company has several positions open. 

Boston Children's Global Health Program Fellowships applications are due September 24, 2021.

Award Opportunities in Global Child Health 

AAP International Elective Award Application is due September 15, 2021

Global Child Health Literature and Media Highlights

Please consider a tax-deductible donation, if possible. We use these funds to bring trainees and faculty here from our international and domestic partner sites. The trainees do four to six week electives during the summer to in our hospitals and clinics during non-pandemic times. We are grateful that we have been able to bring faculty here as well to present their research and collaborate with colleagues here in Minneapolis.

Click on Welcome on the left hand side to get to the Pediatric Global Health Home page.