McMaster Awards Internal Bursaries and Scholarships to Global Health Students

Each year, McMaster University’s School of Graduate Studies awards internal scholarships and bursaries to graduate students. This academic year (2015-2016), four students in the MSc Global Health program are honoured to receive financial support from these funds.

Annaliese Ionson has received the Dr. John Thomas Memorial Bursary, established in 1996 to assist graduate students enrolled in the Department of Philosophy or the Faculty of Health Sciences. “I am so grateful for this award, which will support both my summer placement activities in Northern Canada, and my pursuit of medicine and a career in global health,” says Ionson. “It is a privilege to be a student, and I personally thank both the donors of this bursary and McMaster University for enabling me to pursue my goals.”

Anita Koipuram has been awarded the Myra Baillie Academic Grant, established by the Surgical Associates in 2005 for a graduate student in any degree program who attains an “A” average. “Receiving this grant allows me to focus on pursuing my research interests while I continue to gain hands-on experience in the field of global health,” says Koipuram, who is currently working with an NGO to further understand poverty and sustainability in Uganda.

Meaghan Hagerty, recipient of the Graduate Students Association Bursary, says it has contributed to her ability to get involved with an international practicum in policy implementation, one of her main goals coming into the program. “Building on this as I move into the future, I plan to continue building my career in improving standard care and quality of life for children with cancer around the world,” says Hagerty, who is “thrilled and humbled” to receive this bursary, which the Graduate Students Association at McMaster established in 1999 under the McMaster Student Opportunity Fund initiative.

Nicola Gailits, who has been awarded The Louis Minden Scholarship in Health Sciences, is excited about the award and her future research work. “I am honoured to receive this scholarship,” she says, adding, “I think its focus on prevention is essential in today’s world of global health, and I hope that my master’s research can expand understandings of ways communities can work together to prevent mental health problems.”

The award was established in 1995 with funds from the estate of Mr. Louis Minden. Each year, it goes to a graduate student in the Faculty of Health Sciences on the recommendation of the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies (Health Sciences).

 Global Health News