Welcome from the AVP

Welcome from the Associate Vice-President, Global Health

Dr. Andrea Baumann

McMaster University has long been recognized for its leadership in the development of global collaborations on all continents and in diverse learning and teaching environments throughout the world.

By initiating partnerships with institutions and governments in developing countries, a few  of McMaster’s seminal  contributions have included the supply of interdisciplinary humanitarian aid to Haiti, advancing the education and development of women health professionals in Pakistan and oncology nurses in Trinidad/Tobago, developing an educational outreach project for anaesthestists in Uganda, and improving the health of vulnerable people in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.

In today’s inter-connected world, health problems transcend boundaries. Global health has become more than vaccinating children in poor countries, teaching safe birth practices to mothers-to-be or a doing a month-long stint as a volunteer at an HIV/AIDS clinic in Africa.

 Aware of current and ever-changing global health needs, international  engagement remains a high priority for McMaster. Its new 12-month global health program is a direct response to the world-wide need to develop dynamic health professionals  with the leadership skills required to respond effectively to emerging health concerns on an international scale  – whether it’s  an infectious illness like SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) or  a potential pandemic.

The Master of Science in Global Health Program is a partnership between McMaster University in Canada and Maastricht University in The Netherlands, two universities highly regarded internationally for their focus on small group, problem-based learning. As the first Canadian-European partnership degree program, it  is unique,  involving not only a partnership between universities on two different continents but  also collaboration between three different McMaster faculties  – health, social sciences and business.

This truly global program  provides students with a solid foundation in global health issues, web-based learning and experience in low-and-middle-income countries. Students have the opportunity for international collaborative learning through core courses taught online by faculty at both universities and departments, international student exchange and participation in a learning symposium/field orientation.

McMaster, one of Canada’s leading research-intensive universities, is recognized across Canada and around the world for its leadership in education and research. The university has reached over 100 countries and is involved in 820 partnerships with more than 250-research-based activities worldwide.

It  is the only North American host site of the United  Nations University and participates in more than 40 exchange agreements around the globe. The university is home to students from over 80 different countries.

I invite you take the time to review our website and comment on our new social media tools either via our blog, or on Facebook, and please stay tuned to our upcoming events. We look forward to hearing from you and welcome your input worldwide.