Fall 2018 SPOT Global Health Travel Award

Applications for the Fall 2018 SPOT Global Health Travel Awards are closed. Winners will be announced at Global Health Night.

The Global Health Travel Awards were established in 2015 with funding from the McGill Faculty of Medicine’s Global Health Programs and a donation from the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy Alumni Fund. They are awarded to three Physical or Occupational Therapy students to support expenses related to participating in a clinical practicum in a low or middle-income country or with an underserved population in Canada, as part of their professional Master’s degree at SPOT.

Objective

To recognize students in the professional Physical or Occupational Therapy Programs who demonstrate commitment to global health, and who are pursuing their interests in global health through a clinical practicum in a Low or Middle Income Country or amongst an underserved population in Canada (e.g. many Aboriginal communities).

Eligibility

McGill students who have been accepted to take part in a clinical practicum in a Low or Middle-Income Country (as defined by the World Bank) or with an underserved population elsewhere in Canada (e.g. many Aboriginal communities).

Evaluation criteria

1. Degree of Self-Reflection: The applicant demonstrates thoughtfulness, openness and humility regarding the reasons for their interest in the practicum and what shared benefits they foresee. (5pts)
2. Consideration of Ethical Implications: The applicant demonstrates a nuanced and sensitive approach to cultural, historical, socioeconomic and political considerations related to the practicum in a global health setting. (5pts)
3. Interprofessional Collaboration: The applicant demonstrates how they intend to develop their interprofessional skills including communication skills through this practicum. (5pts)
4. Anticipation of Potential Challenges and Plans for Preparation: The applicant demonstrates an awareness of potential obstacles and identifies a suitable plan for preparation. (5pts)
5. Style of Presentation: The application is presented in a way that is logically consistent with the above criteria and uses language that is non-discriminatory. (3pts)

Value of the Awards

Each year, a sum of up to $2,000.00 will be available for each of three awardees.

Eligible expenses

This award is to cover expenses associated with the clinical practicum (e.g. travel, lodging and vaccinations).

Responsibilities

As a condition of the award recipients will be required to:

• Give a presentation related to their clinical practicum at the SPOT global health evening and the Global Health Programs’ Global Health Night.
• Submit a short post-travel report about their practicum.
• Actively participate in the organizing committee for the monthly SPOT Global Health Forum from November through August of the year in which they receive the award.

Review Process

• Blinded applications will be reviewed by two evaluators
• All applicants will receive notification from the McGill Global Health Programs once the selection process is complete.
• Awardees will be publicly announced at the Global Health Night of the McGill Global Health Programs (November) and formally presented at the Awards Reception at SPOT which is held prior to convocation every May.

Each application must include:

• Curriculum vitae
• Budget of estimated expenses (e.g., airfare, accommodations, cost of living, etc.)
• Typed, double-spaced, 2-3 page essay addressing all of the following questions*

1. Why are you interested in taking part in this practicum, and what shared benefits do you foresee from the experience? How does this practicum link to your future career plans and objectives?
2. What ethical considerations are associated with participation in a practicum in a global health setting?
3. How do you intend to develop your inter-professional collaboration skills, including communication skills, within this practicum? 
4. What obstacles or challenges do you foresee (e.g: cultural, linguistic, safety, ethical), and how do you plan to address them?
5. How will you prepare for your practicum (including learning about the local cultural, political and social context)?

*We realize that many students will not have all details of their practicums established prior to applying for the global health travel award. Please attempt to address the points listed above as best as you can based on the knowledge you have at the time of application.

Application material should be submitted below

• Full applications must be received by 11:59PM on September 30, 2018  Applications that are incomplete will not be considered.

General Instructions and Eligibility Requirements

• Only McGill students, postdocs, and residents are eligible for GHP travel awards.
• No program cost/fees will be covered. Travel support for conferences will not be supported.
• Travel cannot be completed before the application deadline for the awards.
• Student travel to a country with a DFATD-3 or higher warning is not encouraged and will not be funded by any of these awards. To view the latest travel advisories click here.
• Travel Awards are non-transferable to another student or trainee.
• Travel Award recipients have twelve months to complete their travel as described in their applications starting from the day they receive their award letter.
• If a student is unable to travel to the destination for which the application was submitted they must contacted the Global Health Programs as soon as they know. The situation will have to be evaluated on a case by case basis to determine if the award can be deferred (up to 6 additional months considered), used for an elective in another location, or must be declined.
• A student or trainee is eligible for only one award from GHP for the same trip.
• Students must be registered with McGill as either a full or part-time student, postdoc or resident for the entire duration of their trip. Criteria for the Bubbie and Nanny Global Health Travel Award and the McGill International TB Centre Travel Awards may differ slightly.

Conditions of the award requirements include the following:

1. Candidates must complete the mandatory Pre-departure orientation by the time travel starts.
2. A poster presentation of research or activities for which the travel award was given must be presented on Global Health Night (November 2019)
3. A report about your project must be submitted within 6 weeks of your return.