Global Health initiatives at PGME

Global Health (GH) at PGME is committed to the development and delivery of coordinated, inter-specialty global health programming and initiatives. As a leader in this area, GH has a number of initiatives that reflect local and global social responsibility and accountability. These initiatives support resident trainees in global health education, research and practice. 

Residents and fellows from all programs and specialties are encouraged to pursue global health electives – https://goo.gl/NlWdyt. These electives offer valuable study experiences outside of Canada. The global health experience process helps to facilitate this through providing guidelines and support at all pre and post departure stages.

For those interested in more intensive global health education, the Global Health Education Initiative (GHEI), now in its 8th year, is a two year, 12 module certificate program offered by PGME – https://goo.gl/CpxUDb. Over 100+ participants, 100+ faculty, and 150+ graduates are part of a strong GHEI alumni network. Many of those who have been involved in the program have become global health leaders in Canada and abroad.

Dr. Georgios Tsermoulas, is a fellow in neurosurgery at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, United Kingdom. He is a fellow with the Royal College of Surgeons of England and holds a masters degree in clinical research. He sub-specialised in neuro-oncology and skull base surgery in Toronto. He aspires to incorporate a trajectory of global health in his work. George is a graduate of the GHEI Class of 2016.

Dr. Amy Gajaria is a child and adolescent psychiatry trainee, and a Public Psychiatry fellow with the American Psychiatric Association (APA), and a member of the council on Minority Mental Health and Health Disparities. She is a clinician-scientist with a focus on global mental health, cultural psychiatry, and health equity. Amy is a graduate of the Global Health Education Initiative in 2015.

As the interest in global health continues to grow, GHEI will ensure that programming is offered to address local challenges, including Inner City Health, Mental Health, Immigrant/Refugee Health, Indigenous Health and health of Vulnerable and Marginalized populations are also looked at through a global lens.

Global Health initiatives are overseen by the Global Health Education Sub-Committee. The Sub-Committee reports to the Postgraduate Medical Education Advisory Committee (PGMEAC) and is led by Dr. Barry Pakes and Judy Kopelow.