Meet Dr. Angela Dong

The PGME Global Health Education Initiative (GHEI) includes 26 modules on critical global health themes led by over 100 faculty. This unique program is offered by PGME to all residents and fellows across all programs and specialties and is led by Dr. Barry Pakes, Global Health Academic Lead and Ms. Judy Kopelow, Manager, Global Health Programming. The GHEI is part of a continuum of education which includes the Global Health Education Program (GHEP) for Medical Students and Global Health Mini-Masters for junior and high school students. Notably, GHEI participants and graduates are encouraged to lead modules across this continuum. 

Dr. Angela Dong is an Internal Medicine resident entering her third year of training who recently completed the GHEI program. In this Q&A she shares her passion for global health, experience in completing the program and her encouragement to learners to take advantage of this valuable opportunity.

What interested you the most about the GHEI program and encouraged you to apply?

I’ve always been very interested in international relations and during my undergraduate studies I was fortunate to be mentored by Marilyn McHarg, founding member and General Director of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF)/Doctors Without Borders -Canada. Hearing about her experiences, both in the field and with MSF really inspired me to learn more about health humanitarian missions and further explore the world of global health.

I learned of the GHEI before I applied to postgraduate training. The GHEI was actually a big reason why I wanted to pursue my residency at Temerty Faculty of Medicine.

How are you integrating what you learned from the GHEI program into your current position?

I’ve been able to apply my learnings from the GHEI program in a number of areas during my training. Firstly, GHEI’s Global Infectious Diseases module directly related to my infectious disease rotation. This helped broaden my thinking and consider a wider range of differentials for diagnoses, particularly with more tropical medicine aligned cases.

Secondly, participating in the GHEI impacted the way I think about core medicine principles. I gained a broader worldview of what it means to deliver healthcare across diverse and complex systems; providing me with a greater understanding of accessibility and potential barriers to care. Without GHEI, I don’t think I would have grasped how multi-layered and complex global health can be. I was able to further apply these lessons on more than one occasion clinically in caring for and planning for discharge and post-discharge considerations for international patients returning to their home countries. 

Finally, completing the GHEI also introduced me to the ways we can make an impact globally outside of clinical medicine. The GHEI includes a full module on global health teaching where we learn how to communicate across cultural barriers and teach effectively. It was fascinating to learn about the GHEI faculty’s paths clinically and in other fields, such as policy.

Was there anything that surprised you about the GHEI?

The amazing breadth of GHEI modules offered surprised me. I was so impressed by the wide range of options - if you have any specific interest in global health, you will likely be able to choose modules or sessions on those themes. For example, I chose modules on Bioethics, Global Health and Law, Health Economics, Complex Humanitarian Emergencies, Global Health Partnerships outside of Canada and Innovative Health Service Delivery Models. There really is something for everyone, and you are not limited to a specific set of modules. You can tailor the program to your own areas of interest.

What was a highlight of participating in the GHEI program?

While registered in the GHEI I participated on the PGME Global Health Day Planning Committee (2022-2024) which really stood out as a highlight. It’s such an amazing opportunity to connect with colleagues across programs and specialties who are interested in global health. I had the chance to facilitate roundtables, with Joseph Belliveau, Executive Director, Doctors Without Borders/MSF-Canada (2017-2024) and Dr. Nathan Stall, Geriatrics and General Internal Medicine, Clinician Scientist, Sinai Health and Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Temerty Faculty of Medicine. 

There are so many interactive discussions and opportunities provided to share experiences and learn from the foremost luminaries in their fields. PGME Global Health Day brings together a diverse and passionate community. I am grateful to have met many amazing people from around the world and with a wide range of experiences.

Do you have any advice for others who may be considering participating in the GHEI?

Sign up! If you are at all interested in global health, you will not regret taking part in the GHEI program. 

I would also suggest participating in the next Global Health Day, which is open to all PGME residents and fellows. This will allow you to get a feel of what’s offered and begin to meet some of the amazing people in the global health community. If you aren’t ready to commit to the program right now, you can still start to build relationships with colleagues in the field. From my experience, the global health community has always been happy to chat, answer questions and collaborate – don’t be scared to reach out and start making those connections. It’s a great way to expand your network, and if you choose to explore global health later down the road, you’ll already know some great people to guide you.