As Co-President of Penn’s GlobeMed chapter, Gabriella Meltzer has the drive and ambition to revolutionize the way Penn’s campus views health care and the current health status in Lwala, Kenya. Her willingness and dedication to making a difference is contagious.
What is GlobeMed’s mission?
From their website, globemed.org: “GlobeMed aims to strengthen the movement for global health equity by empowering students and communities to work together to improve the health of people living in poverty around the world.”
How do you and the club plan to achieve this goal?
As a club, we plan to achieve this goal through two primary initiatives. The first is to create a thriving community and movement of Penn students who are passionate about global health equity…We hope to spread awareness of health disparities [that occur] not only in developing countries, but also in Philadelphia. Secondly, our ongoing partnership with Lwala Community Alliance allows us to build a meaningful relationship with community-workers who are currently working to eradicate health challenges in Lwala, Kenya. We hope to foster sustainable change by contributing to their pre-existing model that emphasizes a holistic approach towards improving Lwala’s overall health through increased access to education, clinical health services and public health outreach, infrastructure and economic development. Specifically, GlobeMed at Penn is supporting Lwala Community Alliance this year by raising $6,000 to fund the safe births of 120 babies in the newly constructed maternity/HIV wing in the Community Hospital. In addition, we are also fostering a relationship with Lwala’s staff both on the ground and in the U.S. to advise and support them in the implementation of programs targeted towards comprehensive maternal and child health.
What inspired you to become involved with GlobeMed?
In high school, I traveled with a summer program called Lifeworks International to volunteer in China and Thailand. In China, our group volunteered with an organization called China Little Flower, an orphanage and foster care program serving infants to young adults with severe physical and mental disabilities who had been abandoned as a result of the One Child Policy. In Thailand, we volunteered with the Duang Prateep Foundation, an organization that provided social services to the economically and socially marginalized community in the Klong Toey slums in Bangkok. As a result of these moving experiences, I became extremely passionate about global health policy and sought out both academic and extracurricular opportunities here at Penn to pursue that passion. GlobeMed really appealed to me due to its national student network and belief that sustainable change comes from meaningful, long-lasting relationships between global activists.
I heard that you were chosen to fly to Lwala this summer to work on some super cool projects. Congratulations! What do you plan to do there?
While the details of the GROW (Grassroots Onsite Work) internship are still being hashed out, our time in Lwala will be spent developing a comprehensive public health outreach program to promote women in the community to seek prenatal, postnatal and pediatric care for their children. In addition, we will be teaching the Lwala staff various technical skills in order for them to aggregate and organize their health information in an efficient and secure manner.
Do you plan on going to the 2013 GlobeMed Summit at Northwestern University?
Yes, I do! I am so excited and just happen to live in the next town over, so it’ll be great to see my family!
Are you excited about this year’s Summit for any particular reason?
I am so excited to not only meet the incredibly supportive and sweet staff at the National Office in person, but I am also psyched to be part of a movement that includes such amazing students who share the same passion and want to engage in meaningful discussion throughout the weekend. I am also looking forward to the keynote speakers, as they are such inspirational people who I really admire and hope to emulate in the future!
Do you have any advice for students who would like to get involved with Global Health?
While I myself have not been involved in global health for that long, my best advice would be to seize every opportunity that Penn has to offer! The Health and Societies department has phenomenal classes, there are great speaking engagements and events going on all over campus and many departments here offer great research and travel opportunities. Also, get involved in GlobeMed!
What can you never leave your house without?
I can never leave my house without my phone. Whether checking my email, reading the news or playing word games incessantly, I love to be in touch!
Where are we most likely to find you on campus?
Hillel :)
What’s your favorite…
Movie? Midnight in Paris
Candy? Truffles
Computer font? Comic sans
Philly Restaurant? Zahav
City? Jerusalem
Season? Spring
Holiday? Passover
Penn study space? Rooftop lounge in Rodin
Winter apparel? Earmuffs