McMaster-Organon International Women's Health Elective Scholarship

Requirements and Background for the Scholarship

Background: The International Women’s and Children’s Health (IWCH) Group of McMaster University is a group of individuals who are committed to improving the health of women and their children worldwide. Our three main emphases are: education, intervention and research. The IWCH Group is committed to programs that have a holistic and effective influence on the lives of women worldwide. The Group is multidisciplinary and is a mixture of faculty, students and other interested individuals.

Amount: $1,100 Canadian ($900 at the time of the award, the remaining $200 when the recipient’s final report is submitted). One award will be given this year.

Deadline: Friday November 13, 2009 (late applications will not be considered)

Eligibility: the recipient must be an undergraduate/postgraduate in health sciences (medicine, nursing, midwifery or other health related sciences) -the student must be currently enrolled in a Canadian university

Criteria for selection:

1) Priority will be given to a well-planned elective in international women’s health
2) The proposed elective should include exposure to women’s health issues in developing countries, some hands-on experience and if possible, include some involvement in a small research project (please include a short description of the research proposal and the ethical standards that will be implemented in this research)
3) Students must have a Canadian and a foreign supervisor (on site)
4) The elective must be after Apr 30, 2009 and must begin before May 1, 2010 (you may have already completed your elective at the time of application). The minimum is a 4 week elective
5) Participants may receive the award only once. There is no limit to the number of times that one can apply.

Required Documentation:

1) Complete the McMaster - Organon International Women’s Health Elective Scholarship APPLICATION form
2) On a separate sheet, outline the elective proposal including
a) dates
b) location
c) supervisors (Canadian and on-site)
d) objectives
e) research component (if applicable)
f) activities and sustainability: a brief outline of what you will be doing—can others follow up on your activities and continue the work you have started?
g) cultural sensitivity: How might your presence be perceived by the nationals where you are working (positive or negative?). Discuss briefly.
3) Include a brief CV (nothing over 2 pages!)

4) Include 2 references (at least one must be completed by an educational supervisor from your university)

5) Include a brief (less than one page) budget and document funding promised/received to date

6) At the completion of elective, complete a final report including the above details. Describe your experience and lessons learnt. Include your research outcome, your supervisors’ evaluation of your elective and your future plans for involvement in International Women’s health. Include of a couple of good photos from your elective (please describe the photos including names on the back). The report should be written in a format that is conducive to publication.

The winner will present a poster/workshop at the Annual McMaster International Women’s Health Symposium (2010) –location to be announced. A subcommittee of the IWH Group (McMaster) will review the applications and select the recipients.

Send your completed application (please see ‘required documentation’) to
Dr. Jean Chamberlain (jchamber@mcmaster.ca)
AND
Dr Lynda Redwood-Campbell (redwood@mcmaster.ca)

Please note: applicants MAY be asked to complete an interview with the International Women’s Health Sub-committee.