International student leadership to enhance patient care
Jasmine Elliott was the only student from Newfoundland and Labrador who participated in a Global Vision trade mission to China this summer. The third year pharmacy student was eager to compare health care systems in China and Canada. As the only representative of the health care sector, she joined 24 other ambassadors who represented education, agriculture, and entrepreneurship 鈥 to name a few.
Ms. Elliott also took part in a mission to Panama and Colombia in 2012, and was eager to embrace another opportunity to hone her global leadership skills.
鈥淭he ability to be adaptable in any situation is vital when participating in the mission, she said. 鈥淲e visited four cities in China 鈥 Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, and Hong Kong. Each city began with a briefing at the Canadian Embassy or the Consulate General (depending on the city). We met with Chinese companies and organizations and had to complete tasks assigned by the founder of Global Vision, Terry Clifford. As a team leader, coordination and team building activities were a big part of my responsibilities.鈥
Her aspirations to take on a leadership role could someday, somehow focus around traditional Chinese medicine 鈥 one of her major interests.
鈥淚ntegrative medicine is a growing field 鈥 I would love to be in a position to facilitate an exchange of information with the goal of enhancing patient care. Although westernized medicine is the standard in Canada鈥檚 health care system, North Americans are becoming more aware of this type of medicine so I think it鈥檚 important that pharmacists have a good understanding of both.鈥
She added that most of her team had strong backgrounds in economics and political science, which enriched her learning experience.
鈥淐oming from a health sciences background, it was very enlightening. I鈥檓 now able to better understand how politics and business affects health care, and vice versa.鈥
Ms. Elliott is currently recruiting interested youth to attend an upcoming Global Vision conference in Halifax, Nova Scotia, which takes place from November 20-22. Interested students can .