Rachel Key studied Neuroscience at university and eventually transitioned into teaching Biology, Chemistry and Calculus. She has been a teacher now for seven years and has taught in the U.S., Korea, and China. The Concordia Welfare and Education Foundation awarded Rachel the “Dedication to Service Award” as recognition of her passion for service and public health. In this podcast Rachel takes us on a journey from gaining administrative support to engaging with student practitioners as they touch the lives of the medically disadvantaged in China.

This podcast is one of ten in the HowTo@ConcordiaShanghai series. For information on how to contract the Limitless platform to benefit your organization email Ally here.

We have transformed our curricular efforts into concrete results…I’ve not seen another school doing this kind of work at the high school level.

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Show Notes

Intro to the Global Development and Public Health class

This course started as an introductory public health course in the context of China in which students could learn university-level material while applying practical concepts in real-life context. Students have since teamed up with a senator in Liberia, the former economic advisor of the world bank and various public health professors from leading global institutions to transform the curricular efforts of the class to concrete results at three project sites around China.

Class goals

• Students become knowledgeable about public health and the current challenges in addressing healthcare needs in the global context.
• Students are empowered and inspired to make a difference and scale-up impact over time.
• Students interact with the outside world/Chinese community in a meaningful, sustainable way

A measurable student impact

• Students are empowered to make a profound difference in the life of others.
• Students develop skills in grant-writing, data analysis and managing a long-term public health initiative.
• Students are changing lives; that includes their own.

Impact on the greater community

• Students raise awareness in the school and broader community.
• Students’ work with local migrant schools has benefited Shanghai’s migrant community.
• Students’ work with NGO in Southern China has helped to empower rural villagers at three sites in Yunnan.
• Students’ have access to public health professionals with whom they are able to contribute to larger-scale, more far-reaching projects.

Class set up

• Could be one semester class, but full-year course plan allows for theory and application
• Use local resources to find demographics in need of health knowledge Even if you’re at a school
• Utilize guest speakers (skype or in-person seem to capture the attention of both students and teachers)
• Determine which curriculum is most comfortable (lose vs. strict)

Must-haves to ensure success

• PASSION
• Students who truly want to make a difference.
• Administrative support

Wish list items

• Network of working professionals
• Outside funding to travel to work sites if necessary
• Innovative learning space that fosters creativity & thinking outside the box
• Pre-made curriculum from which we can pick and choose

Personal Preparation

• Decide the objectives for class one year in advance.
• Read and research public health books to help create framework.
• Explore project options (in and out of classroom).

Resource Links

Books

• Essentials of Global Health by Richard Skolnik

Connecting with Rachel

Email howto@concordiashanghai.org, Attention: Rachel Key and we’ll make sure Rachel receives your message.