Doctor inspires UQ students with her UN experiences

Dr Jo DurhamArmed with a Masters and PhD in International Health, plus more than 10 years of experience working in global health, lecturer and researcher Dr Jo Durham is dedicated to sharing her extensive knowledge of Health Aspects of Disasters and Health and Development as part of UQ’s Master of Public Health program.

Dr Durham has a solid background of working with national government bodies and international organisations across countries as diverse as Lao PDR, Thailand, Indonesia, Cambodia, Lebanon, South Sudan and the Kurdish Region of Iraq.

She has worked with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), and international non-government organisations (NGOs).

During her long-standing working relationship with the University of Health Sciences in Lao PDR she has informed the development of policy and further research into mine action within that region.

Dr Durham has been teaching at the tertiary level in Australia since 2008 during which time she has honed her experience in delivering internal, external and blended learning courses.

“Students appreciate the practical, ‘real world’ experience that I bring to my lectures, combined with my extensive research across global health,” she said.

“In aiming to create an environment to inspire and motivate students to learn, I ensure that all learning activities and assessments are designed to be purposeful, authentic, and relevant.

“It is heartening that student feedback consistently acknowledges my strong command of the global health field.”

Her research focuses on the role of collective resilience and adaptive capacity in recovering from trauma and shows that in fragile and transitioning states, viewing the health system as a complex adaptive system that extends beyond state borders provides a more holistic understanding of the health system.

“This knowledge assists scholars, policy-makers and health care professionals to consider the theoretical and practical implications before applying health system interventions.”

Dr Durham is committed to connecting health practitioners with students, enabling discussions about workplace challenges and opportunities and how to enhance employability in the field of public health.

“Global health is a great fit for postgraduate students who are passionate about working in diverse settings to promote health,” she said.

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