How I Became a Director of Education in Global Health and Social Medicine: Deborah's Story

Why It Matters

Her experience shows that blending elite academic training with field implementation can accelerate global‑health leadership and drive systemic improvements in healthcare access.

Key Takeaways

• LSHTM education built foundation for global health leadership
• Fieldwork in Uganda improved malaria diagnosis at public centers
• Teaching approach emphasizes critical thinking and collaborative partnerships
• Vision: universal access to quality healthcare through systemwide reforms
• Advice: actively engage at LSHTM for lifelong professional network

Summary

Deborah Hersync, director of education at McMaster’s Mary Hersync School of Global Health and Social Medicine and assistant professor, recounts her journey from Latin‑American fieldwork to a leadership role in global health education.

She chose the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine for its international reputation, then joined the ACT Consortium, spending four years in Uganda improving malaria diagnosis and treatment at public health centers. The research, policy, and evaluation skills she honed there now inform her teaching and curriculum design.

Hersync emphasizes a “critical‑thinking, collaborative” pedagogy, noting, “My big dream for global health is that all people worldwide have the chance to access quality health care.” She also urges current LSHTM students to “get involved” because the connections made “will serve you a lifetime.”

Her story underscores how rigorous academic training combined with on‑the‑ground experience can produce leaders capable of shaping system‑wide health reforms, offering a blueprint for aspiring global‑health professionals seeking impact.

Original Description

What if Deborah could help health workers diagnose and treat malaria?

Hear from Dr. Deborah DiLiberto, MSc Public Health for Global Practice 2009 graduate from LSHTM, as she shares her experience studying at LSHTM, learning from leading faculty, and engaging with a global cohort. She reflects on how her time at LSHTM shaped her approach to global health, informed her research, and guided her work in health policy, education, and field-based initiatives.

Now serving as Director of Education at the Mary Heersink School of Global Health and Social Medicine and an Assistant Professor of Global Health in the Division of Education and Innovation, Department of Medicine at McMaster University, Dr. DiLiberto continues to lead, teach, and mentor the next generation of global health professionals.

0:16 Why did you choose to study at LSHTM?

0:43 What did you do after you finished your master's?

1:05 How did your education at LSHTM help you in your career?

1:45 What is your big dream for public and global health?

2:23 Any tips for people thinking about studying at LSHTM?

If you’re passionate about global health and want to make a difference, studying at LSHTM could be your next step.

Click here to learn more: https://www.lshtm.ac.uk/study

Please note: MSc Public Health in Developing Countries is now titled MSc Public Health for Global Practice.

#MSc #PublicHealth #Malaria #HealthCare