News

The Global Health Office is pleased to present the Dr. Ron Stewart Award for Student Leadership in Global Health to Danielle MacDonald (Nursing).

This award was established in 2006 and is given to a student who has demonstrated leadership in global health and a committment to improving the health of marginalized communities during their time at Dalhousie.  This award honours Dr. Stewart's personal, professional and educational support and dedication to global health and the advancement of social capital worldwide.  Dr. Stewart, a former provincial Minister of Health and Order of Canada recipient, has been enriching students' experiences at the Dalhousie Medical School for many years as a popular and accomplished educator, past Director of the Medical Humanities program and as a key champion for global health education.

Forging partnerships with Tanzania

Danielle's committment to global health has been evident throughout the completion of her nursing degree.  Perhaps her biggest achievement has been as founder of the School of Nursing Global Health Committee and solidifying its place in the Dalhousie University Nursing Society constitution.  Danielle consistently demonstrates a committment to sustainable partnerships in Nova Scotia and Tanzania, where she has focused most of her global health initiatives on research and education.

As part of her summer experience in Tanzania in 2012, she helped in the orientation and guidance of medical, nursing and pharmacy students who were first time participants in the summer program.  She was able to support these students as they "got their feet underneath them" in Tanzania.  She also met with the Dean of Nursing at Muhimbili University and was pivotal in re-establishing Dalhousie's relationship with their Nursing Faculty.  She was able to write grants, coordinate a nursing faculty team and gather support to realize the first official visit of the Dalhousie School of Nursing to Muhimbili since the 1990's.

Danielle is a natural leader who supports and encourages others to pursue involvment in global health.  She is also a graduate of the Advocates in Global Health Program.