Interprofessional Global Health Course

Overview

The McGill Interprofessional Global Health Course (IPGHC) is a student-led initiative that was started in 2007 in an effort to address the paucity of global health content at the time in health professional students’ curricula at McGill University. Entering its 20th year in 2026, the course aims to build on current curricula and engage participants in an interdisciplinary discussion of global health contexts. It is open to McGill students studying dentistry, medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, speech-language pathology, dietetics and human nutrition, psychology, and students from other academic backgrounds with a strong interest in global health. The course is a 10-week lecture series that meets on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The format for each lecture will include a 1-hour lecture and 1-hour of student-led activities. The course will incorporate online and in-person lecture-based learning, case studies, speakers and panel discussions, small group activities, and audio-visual materials to meet the following course objectives:

Objectives

1. To increase student awareness of the global burden of diseases and the geopolitics of global health.
2. To expose students to the realities and challenges facing health professionals in a global and local context.
3. To provide a framework for students to approach global health challenges.
4. To encourage inter-professionalism by facilitating collaboration and communication amongst students.
5. To inspire students to consider applying global health principles to their professional practice.

Course Details

Who can apply? 

The course is open to McGill students studying dentistry, medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, dietetics and human nutrition, psychology, and speech-language pathology. Students from other academic backgrounds (U1 and higher) with a strong interest in global health are welcome to apply.

When is the class? 

The course will run from January 13 to March 24, 2026 on Tuesday evenings from 6 PM to 8 PM. You will be required to attend at least 8 lectures out of the 10 to receive the certificate.

Where?

The format of the course will be in-person sessions on campus, in the Arts Building Room 150. Course materials will be available online in MyCourses.

What? 

Subjects covered in the course include, but are not limited to, global mental health, advocacy and allyship, migrant and refugee health, climate crisis, Indigenous health, oral health, disability, politics and policy, and maternal health.

Specifics: 

• This is a free, non-credit course.
• The course will accept a maximum of 100 students.
• Eligible students must complete the 2026 IPGHC student registration form.
• The IPGHC student committee will review all registration forms.
• Selection to the course will be based on the student program, year of study, motivation to take the course, and overall interest in global health.
• Students must complete a pre-and post-survey for the course.
• Students will be required to attend at least 8 lectures out of the 10 to receive the certificate.
• Students who meet all attendance and other course requirements will have it stated on their Co-Curricular Record (CCR).

Registration

Registration is now open, click here to apply!

2026 IPGHC Schedule

Please note that the schedule is tentative and is subject to change. 

Course Materials

All course materials will be available on MyCourses for registered participants.

The McGill IPGHC Team 2026

Faculty Advisors

• Dr. Charles Larson, MD, Adjunct Professor, Department of Global and Public Health, McGill University
• Dr. Svetlana Tikhonova, DMD, PhD, Faculty Lecturer, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University
• Dr. Guillaume Fontaine, RN, PhD, Assistant Professor, Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University
• Dr. Raphael Lencucha, BScOT, PhD, Associate Professor, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University
• Kevin O'Neill, Global Health Programs, McGill University
• Johnathan Lin, Global Health Programs, McGill University

Student Coordinators

• Wan-Li Sun, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University
• Adetomiwa Adedire, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University
• Greta Zogaj, Ingram School of Nursing, McGill University
• Stefanie Frances, School of Physical and Occupational Therapy, McGill University

Video Suggestions

• The UN Millennium Declaration (3 min, 2007)
  Short introductory video which lists the 8 MDG and is accompanied by an excerpt from Kofi Annan’s address to the millennium summit in 2000.
• Hans Rosling: Yes they can! Gapminder
  TED Talk: The best stats you've ever seen - Hans Rosling, 2006
  About low and middle income countries that, with economic and health progress, are catching up with high income countries.
• Gapminder  on maternal health
   
• The girl effect (3 min)
  Quick animation about issues affecting maternal health.
• My Sister Myself  (13min, 2003)
  Short video featuring testimonies of mothers and midwives in villages and slums across Africa and South East Asia.
• First, Do No Harm: A Qualitative Research Documentary (1 hr, by Alyson and Tim Holland)
• WHO: Mental Health
• Interesting Clips: Short clips calling for action to solve global issues.  
  • Making Health Global: UN DPI/NGO Conference 2010 Curtain Raiser | World Vision Australia
  • Everyone Has a Role - The Millennium Development Goals
  • Someday - United Nations Association of the USA
• UNICEF movies
   

Contact Us

• Send us an email at ipghc.fmhs [at] mcgill.ca
• Follow us on Instagram