Global Health Symposium

Catherine A. Colaianni, M.D. 

Resident in Otolaryngology 

PGY 4

May 14, 2019

As an otolaryngology resident with an interest in global surgery and ethics, I am always on the lookout for thoughtful programming related to these topics. To that end, I was thrilled to hear about and apply for admission to the Global Health Symposium this October, sponsored by the Partners Center of Expertise in Global and Humanitarian Health. I came with an intention to learn more not only about the practicalities of designing a career serving abroad, but also to identify specific mentors who have had success pursuing careers and research in this arena. Therefore, in particular, the panel discussion held during the symposium was especially useful for me. The panels were broken out by specialty, and so I joined a group of surgeons and anesthesiologists to discuss how they had found – or, put more accurately, designed – their career paths in global and humanitarian health. The outcome of this discussion has changed the way that I’m thinking about my next academic and career steps. I’m in the midst of applying for fellowship in head and neck surgical oncology, and as a result of the panel discussion during the Symposium, I am specifically targeting institutions that have a history of global and humanitarian health work, as well as longstanding teaching relationships with institutions abroad. I feel that this will best position me to be able to contribute in meaningful ways, and to continue to identify surgical mentors whose interests align with my own. 

The symposium was also helpful in alerting me to the existence of travel grants for which residents are eligible. After learning about it from one of the panelists, I applied for and received the American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Humanitarian Travel Award to partially fund a ten-day surgical mission trip to Conakry, Guinea with the Mercy Ships organization. Having this funding significantly lessened the trip’s personal financial impact that I had been preparing for, and as a result, I am now looking into returning in the next year or two to build on my experience. Having access to organized experiences such as the Global Health Symposium during residency training is crucial – it has helped me think about being creative when pursuing academic funding, making connections early, and identifying career mentors who share my enthusiasm for global surgery.