André Gonçalves: “One of the greatest experiences in my life”

My name is André and I am very pleased to be one the students enrolled in the 1st year of the ISGlobal-UB Master of Global Health.

June is here, and so are our final presentations. My time here in Barcelona has passed surprisingly quickly, and I believe this is due to all the great learning moment I have had  in the last nine months.

To be honest, I didn't know so much about the field of research and global health until now. I have always been interested in health inequities and health-related programs  in low-income countries, but I never had the opportunity to go deeply into global health issues to realise what's really happening on the other side of "my world".

Since my graduation in 2009, I worked as a nurse in different departments, taking care of different people and managing different kind of pathologies. However, after I enrolled the Master of Global Health I was surprised by many different kinds of neglected diseases that affect millions of people worldwide that I couldn't imagine. I found all the subjects taught in this master amazing. For instance, I was surprised with the diversity of communicable diseases that affect developing countries and how education is an important determinant in health outcomes. Furthermore, I found out how health policies influence the burden of disease both in developing and developed countries.

I strongly believe that now, I have a much clearer idea of global health issues. Experts taught us subjects related with global health, and I loved all of them because they provided a critical interdisciplinary perspective. Professor Ned Hayes taught us epidemiology, and we all feel a bit experts now! Thanks to all of you!

From now on, I hope to redirect my profession to the ones who need it more. With the Master of Global Health it is my intention to work in international aid programs, and therefore contribute for the well-being of the most vulnerable people in developing countries.

Finally, living in Barcelona was one of the greatest experiences in my life. It's a multicultural city were I contacted with people from all over the world. And it's a city where you can combine high level of education and leisure.

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Presentation of the Master of Global Health and Master of Clinical Research: International Health track