SPH Global Travel Blog

Dr. Joan Bloch, an associate professor at the Drexel University College of Nursing and Health Professions traveled to Bangkok, Thailand with colleagues—including the School of Public Health's Dr. Carla Campbell (left) and Dr. Afaf I. Meleis (center), Dean of the School of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania—to present their interdisciplinary maternal-child health work. Dr. Bloch was invited as a guest speaker to address the Public Health Doctoral students at Mahidol University. She organized the collaborative work team at Drexel, and four members of the Drexel University faculty team had peer-reviewed presentations at the International Council for Women’s Issues Congress. “I was quite proud that I organized our collaborative work team at Drexel University to be so visible to the international community. It was by far the most robust collaborative group from one University, all proudly from Drexel!” Dr. Bloch said.

Dr. Frank is currently in India. Yesterday, he visited R&D facilities in the Delhi area of the 3M company to discuss issues related to worker protection and safety and health.

This picture is from that visit. He will be in India for another week lecturing and participating in an international meeting.

DUSPH Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Director of Global Public Health Initiatives Dr. Shannon Marquez, DUSPH associate professor Dr. Longjian Liu and Dr. Julie Mostov, Vice Provost for Global Initiatives at Drexel are currently in Fujian Province, China at the Xiamen University School of Public Health. Dr. Marquez recently sent some photos and an update:

"Today we toured two of their campuses—main and health sciences campus—and I gave a talk this morning on 'The DUSPH Global Health Initiative' and this afternoon on 'Critical Components in Undergraduate Public Health.' Additionally, we participated in a round table discussion/partnership meeting about potential collaboration and exchange opportunities between the DUSPH and the Xiamen SPH. Meeting attendees also included visiting scientists from from the US CDC National Center for Environmental health in Atlanta.  This evening their office of International Affairs hosted a dinner in our honor.  Dr Julie Mostov and Dr Longjian Lu are also here on this visit with me."

I am currently traveling in Japan, as the fellow of the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (the largest government-supported foundation in Japan), to work on a proposal of the US-Japan Nutrition, Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiovascular Risk Comparative Study, and I am invited to speak at Shiga University of Medical Science, and visit Kyoto and the Mukogawa Women’s University Institute for World Health Development.  More to follow when I return in early September.

Last week the L.O.V.E. Abroad team separated. Tomi and Idris accompanied Shirin and Dr. Allen on their first trekking endeavor. They left early in the morning to meet Mr. Badgie, CEO of Sulayman Junkung General Hospital. While touring SJGH they were introduced to the hospital procedures and operations, as well as visited the medical school where past WeServe participants set up the virtual library for e-learning and other telecommunication. Shirin and Dr. Allen also saw the library that was implemented by the first WeServe participants. After the hospital tour, the group went trekking in Kanilai. Dr. Allen was taken aback by the many idle machines that could have been used by the trekking staff. When Tomi and Idris asked both Shirin and Dr. Allen about their overall thoughts of their experience, they responded by saying they were astounded by the staffs resourcefulness. It was nice for the L.O.V.E. members to see their Drexel colleagues experience similar situations that they had been accustomed to!

The second half of the L.O.V.E. team (Greg, Lauren, and Tosin) assisted Dr. Marquez in a meeting with The University of The Gambia (UTG). The whole UTG administration team, press, and faculty was in attendance including the Gambia newspaper, the Daily Observer. The L.O.V.E. team was amazed to find out that Dr. Marquez had previously taught many of the faculty and administration that now run the University including the head of the public health department. The purpose of the meeting was to sign a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the relationship with the Drexel University's partnership with the University of The Gambia. The event was so important to the Gambian community it was featured in the Daily Observer where some of the L.O.V.E. team members were pictured at the signing ceremony.

The meeting led to a collaboration dinner to introduce all participating university's including the University of Iowa, Drexel University, and University of The Gambia. During this dinner, the L.O.V.E. Abroad team was able to mingle with other students from Iowa and South Dakota and hear about their experiences and work within the Gambia. The whole team, as well as the entire Drexel faculty, was able to share their purpose and goals in working with the University of The Gambia.