Health Sciences Crossing Borders

When: Thursday 19 October 2023 (13:30 - 16:15)
Where: Campus UZ Gent, Corneel Heymanslaan 10, 9000 Ghent

For the seventh year in a row, the faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is organising Health Sciences Crossing Borders. Starting this year, we are happy to additionally do so in collaboration with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine. The aim of this event is to showcase the many facets of internationalisation and to prepare you for an important challenge of our time: our global and hyper-diverse society. 

Programme

In each time slot, you can choose between 5 different sessions. 

 Auditorium C  Auditorium D  Auditorium F  Auditorium G  Entrance K3

 Timeslot 1
 13:30-14:15

To the Global South: ethical considerations (Sebastian Van Hoeck) Global South perspectives on neurodevelopmental disability (Femke Bannink) The Mobile School-Streetwize story (Hans Lamberts) Panel discussion: The affordability of (animal) care and interculturalism International market
 Timeslot 2
 14:30-15:15
Working overseas as a doctor: a personal story with success and failure (Piet Pattyn) The psychosocial well-being of refugees (Ilse Derluyn) Insights from a cross-cultural journey: experiences of Master Global Health students (Brigid Transon & Afsaneh Nejat) One Health implementation of disease control, the example of Taenia solium (Sarah Gabriël) International market
 Timeslot 3
 15:30-16:15
Cross-Cultural Competence in Health Practices (Jeanne Boden) Dental Mission Afghanistan (Marc Jeannin) Diversity in a nutshell: super-diversity and its impact on care (in Dutch) (Stéphanie De Maesschalck) Our journey through Zambia: thesis insights and cross-cultural adventures (Bertus Lavaert & Brigid Transon) International market

To the Global South: ethical considerations (Sebastian Van Hoeck)

Sebastian Van Hoeck currently works for the University of Antwerp as a Global Engagement & Decolonization officer, while previously having worked for UCOS as an intercultural trainer and policy advisor with regards to North-South partnerships and student mobility. Sebastian has trained more than 8000 students before their departure to the Global South and has lived himself in Cuba, Eswatini, South-Africa, Nicaragua and Tanzania.

In an age of rapidly increasing systemic challenges, international solidarity is more needed than ever. There is a lot of enthusiasm and goodwill to contribute to change while at the same time strengthening our own intercultural skills and experiencing an international adventure. A great win-win in other words! But, contributing to positive change in the so-called Global South brings with it a plethora of paradoxes and difficulties, whereby it is sometimes unclear what the added value is of our internship for local communities and partners. High levels of power inequality, coupled with possible unconscious racism and cultural misunderstandings, may lead to no positive change taking place.

This session aims to analyze various pitfalls around class, race, culture, privilege, and motivation when undertaking an internship in the Global South and frames to combat these.

Global South perspectives on neurodevelopmental disability (Femke Bannink)

Dr Femke Bannink Mbazzi is a clinical and educational psychologist, and cultural anthropologist with over 20 years of research and clinical work experience in disability inclusion in Uganda. She is passionate about developing evidence based culturally appropriate health and education interventions with young persons with disabilities, their families and communities. In 2016 she graduated with a PhD from Ghent University, in which she focused on the social inclusion of children with spina bifida in Uganda. She is currently associate professor at the Medical Research Council / Uganda Virus Research Institute and London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine of the University of London, based in Kampala, where she is head of the Disability Research Group. She is also director of the psychology practice at The Surgery in Kampala.

During colonial and missionary times, biomedical language and treatment were exported from the Global North to various countries in the Global South, often ignoring existing indigenous medical knowledge and practices. For instance, the word ‘neurodevelopmental disability’ does not exist in most local languages in countries in the Global South nor are specialized services as known in the Global North available in most countries in the Global South.

In this talk Dr Femke Bannink will discuss different interpretations of neurodevelopmental conditions and the importance of cultural concepts in diagnosis, treatment and follow up of persons with neurodevelopmental disabilities. Ethical considerations in diagnosis and treatment, the intersections with poverty and neocolonialism, and potential of family and community centered care will be highlighted, using research examples from Uganda.

The Mobile School-Streetwize story (Hans Lamberts)

Partner Streetwize-Mobile School, Change Manager VRT, Runner when life allows him to. Hans is a professional optimist fascinated by the fact that most organizational changes do fail. His drive to have a modest but tangible positive influence on this sad fact, brought him to VRT where he guides the organization in transforming towards a brand new building in 2026. Surprisingly enough, the backbone of the beliefs he’s relying on in his work, comes from an environment that is – at first sight - pretty far away from the business context he’s working in: the streets.   

In 2013, Hans engaged in the Mobile School - an organization that reaches out to street children for whom change really matters. Using a unique approach, the Mobile School not only educates children (healthcare, social skills) but foremost the school wants to help street children to reconnect with their talents and strengths. To make this possible Streetwize was founded. StreetwiZe is a hybrid social enterprise that invests in the sustainable development of people, organizations and society, inspired by the strength of street connected children & youth.

In this talk, Hans will explain how the often unknown environment of the streets has become an inspiration for him (and many people he works with) in the professional challenges he engages in.     

Panel discussion: The affordability of (animal) care and interculturalism

The work of a veterinarian largely involves communicating and interacting with owners. As we are living in a global and hyper-diverse society, this subject is more important than ever.

The panel invites four guests, all working in different fields, to represent the challenges our students will face during but mostly after their studies. An interdisciplinary perspective on the affordability of (animal) care and interculturalism. A mix of different insights and experiences will be discussed and shared during this panel discussion.

Working overseas as a doctor: a personal story with success and failure (Piet Pattyn)

Project leader together with prof. dr. De Baerdemaeker in Jimma (Ethiopia) within the NASCERE project (cooperation between Ghent University and Jimma University). Parttime active surgeon at Ghent University Hospital, former head of department gastrointestinal surgery and lecturer surgery at Ghent University, coordinating internship supervisor. First experience with overseas surgery in 1999 in Cambodia, a project which recently ended and where students still are doing internships.

We are confronted daily through media with the difference in quality of life between North and South. This can make you feel indifferent but also defiant towards the system. That defiance however, can be bent into the search for solutions, participation in think tanks or even in participation in organisations which want to achieve a turning point. I went through these phases myself and gladly share my experience in what succeeds and what doesn’t.

The purpose of the lecture is to inspire people through a personal vision for initiatives where Ghent University believes in.

The psychosocial well-being of refugees (Ilse Derluyn)

Ilse obtained her PhD in Educational Sciences at Ghent University and is currently affiliated as lecturer to the Department of Social Work and Social Pedagogy (Ghent University), where she teaches courses in migration and refugee studies. Ilse's main research topics concern the psychosocial wellbeing of unaccompanied refugee minors, migrant and refugee children, war-affected children, victims of trafficking and child soldiers. Prof. Derluyn is heading the Centre for the Social Study of Migration and Refugees (CESSMIR) and is co-director of the Centre for Children in Vulnerable Situations (CCVS).

Migration is an important topic on the political agenda and in public debates. Yet, the group of people with a migration background in our country is highly diverse. The lecture will discuss the different definitions and legal procedures of this diverse group and discuss how their migration experiences impact their wellbeing. These reflections will then be translated into concrete tools to support this group in health practices

Insights from a cross-cultural journey based on experiences of Master Global Health students (Brigid Transon & Afsaneh Nejat)

Brigid is an aspiring Global Health professional pursuing an advanced master's in Global Health at UGent. Prior to this degree, Brigid studied in the United States, earning her masters in K-12 education, specializing in dance. After her studies, she taught secondary school in both New York City and Shenzhen. Afsaneh is a passionate second-year student in the advanced master’s program in Global Health at UGent. She is a medical doctor with experience working as a general practitioner in Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic, both treating patients and supervising and coordinating vaccination centers.

Global health is about solving health problems that affect people all around the world. Two international students studying global health in Ghent will share their stories about the challenges they face and explain what they have learned about working in and with a culture other than their own. So, come along with them as they explore their exciting global health journey.

One Health implementation of disease control, the example of Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm: a potholed road to success (Sarah Gabriël)

Prof. Sarah Gabriël is currently heading the Laboratory of Foodborne Parasite Zoonoses in the Department of Translational Physiology, Infectiology and Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University. She has been working for 23 years in the Global South. She lived and worked for five years at the University of Zambia, in collaboration with Ghent University, and for three years in Gabon. In 2008 she was attached to the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium. Since then, she focused her research on foodborne parasitic zoonoses. In October 2016 she established the Laboratory of foodborne parasitic zoonoses at Ghent University. Her research applies a multidisciplinary, One Health approach, including the host, parasite and environment, within Belgium, the European Union, but equally so in endemic areas in the Global South. Development and evaluation of diagnostic tools/ studies on transmission dynamics/ development and evaluation of possible control/elimination strategies are keywords in her research. She is Chair of the European Network on taeniasis/cysticercosis (CYSTINET). She has been a member of several committees/working groups for WHO, PAHO, OIE. She is a lecturer in Veterinary Public Health.

One Health recognises the close link and interdependence of the health of humans, animals, plants and the wider environment, and encourages multiple sectors, disciplines and communities at varying levels of society to work together. While the One Health approach is increasingly considered by different sectors and levels of society as the way forward to tackle complex problems, many hurdles and barriers remain.

This talk covers the implementation of the One Health approach to control a neglected tropical disease. Taenia solium, the pork tapeworm, is the most important foodborne parasite globally, and main cause of acquired epilepsy in endemic areas in the Global South. Moreover, the parasite has a major economic impact, representing a double burden on the already resource poor households. Several intervention tools are available to control this parasite, targeting the human host such as mass drug administration, sanitation, education or targeting the pig host such as treatment, vaccination, management. Nevertheless, control is hardly implemented in the Global South. In the CYSTISTOP project a One Health approach was used to eliminate this parasite from endemic villages in Zambia. The results and challenges encountered are discussed from a One health implementation perspective.

Cross-Cultural Competence in Health Practices (Jeanne Boden)

Jeanne Boden holds a PhD in Oriental Languages and Cultures and a management degree from Solvay Brussels School of Economics and Management. Her PhD, focusing on Eurocentrism, culture-centrism, identity, and culture deepened her insights in the area of cross-cultural cooperation. She established ChinaConduct in 2001 and Cultural Quantum in 2016. Both organizations specialize in training and advice on working across cultures. She has published extensively (>100 publications) including on cross-cultural and international cooperation. She developed her own method described in Cultural Quantum. A Practical Method for Efficient Cross-Cultural Cooperation.

People often think about culture in terms of meet, greet, dress or eat. In reality, culture underpins all our actions, including how we communicate, how we look at health and health problems, at relationships (male/female, health practitioner/patient), and the cosmological view defining how we position the human being in a broader context. Health practices therefore can differ hugely from one another. People trained in the West adopt a western-centric reference framework. Awareness of one’s own framework and the existence of alternatives is crucial in working across cultures.

In this lecture dr. Boden will highlight some key aspects of cross-cultural cooperation and will give tips of how to better engage in cross-cultural practices.

Dental Mission Afghanistan (Marc Jeannin)

Dr. Mark Jeannin had a long and distinguished career as an independent general dentist at Jeannin Dental Practice in Ghent, retiring in 2021. In addition to his clinical practice, he has been a dedicated volunteer student supervisor in the Dentistry program at Ghent University for over 40 years and continues to contribute to dental education to this day.

Dental Mission Afghanistan is an initiative by the Belgian dentist Marc Jeannin, with the aim of training local students in West Afghanistan to provide basic dental care. Especially in rural areas, there are few to no dental practices, but there are many people suffering from severe toothaches often accompanied by additional health issues such as abscesses, and maxillofacial traumas and injuries. He has travelled to Afghanistan multiple times and is trying to obtain materials locally to facilitate practical training.

In this lecture, Dr. Mark Jeannin shares his experiences and discusses the current situation on the ground. How did they manage to establish a university hospital and training? What is the impact of the Taliban's takeover? How are students currently being trained?

Diversity in a nutshell: super-diversity and its impact on care (in Dutch) (Stéphanie De Maesschalck)

Visiting Professor of ‘Diversity in health care’ at Ghent University, Department of Public Health and Primary Care. 

Working in both the academic/teaching area and in primary care for many years has given me the great opportunity to curiously explore diversity in both fields and take the experiences from one field into another in both directions, in a sort of cross-fertilization.

In this interactive talk, we will examine together, through some real-life experiences and exercises, what it means to use an international approach to health and healthcare, and how you can apply this perspective in your daily life and in your future life as healthcare provider. This lecture will be in Dutch.

Our journey through Zambia: thesis insights and cross-cultural adventures (Bertus Lavaert & Brigid Transon)

Bertus graduated in 2022 as a physiotherapist with a specialization in internal disorders at KU Leuven. Now he is following the interuniversity, advanced master in global health. For this program, he traveled to Zambia to conduct his master's dissertation about photovoice for food hygiene. Brigid is an aspiring Global Health professional pursuing an advanced master's in Global Health at UGent. Prior to this degree, Brigid studied in the United States, earning her masters in K-12 education, specializing in dance. After her studies, she taught secondary school in both New York City and Shenzhen.

The presenters will discuss the process of a photovoice study in another country in addition to impressions and experiences while in Zambia. This lecture will utilize the experiences of examining perceptions of food hygiene and WASH behaviors.  

International market

Meet national and international organisations that are committed to improving health care in Belgium and abroad. Explore the wide range of initiatives, visit the various booths and find out more about who they are and what they do.

Organisations within Ghent University

Organisations outside Ghent University

Register here

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