Part I: Thank You and তোমাকে ধন্যবাদ, dhonnobaad to our Volunteer Faculty!

Due to the lack of qualified nurse educators in Bangladesh, international volunteers have taught most courses at IUBAT’s College of Nursing. Over the last decade, about 100 individuals paid their own travel expenses to volunteer with us.

Our visiting faculty are truly international, coming from Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Middle East, Philippines, Portugal, UK and USA. They have been role models as successful, respected and well-paid professionals. Their presence helped change attitudes in the university as well as in our partner teaching hospitals. Showing solidarity with local nurses, demonstrating commitment and critical thinking – built our credibility as outsiders striving to change outdated views of nurses and nursing.

As a result of their capability and commitment, about 50 young men and women from Bangladesh and Nepal have graduated with BSN degrees. Local and expatriate doctors and nurses providers tell us they consider our graduates the best-prepared nurses in Bangladesh. Most are working in their own countries, many in leadership roles. A few are overseas in careers or higher education.

Thank you to all of our volunteer faculty. This generous effort will have benefits for these nurses, their future students and all their patients for decades to come.

IUBAT Graduates and their Career Progress

Recently, six IUBAT graduates living in or near Dhaka, told us about their current jobs and plans for further education. Tutul is working as an instructor for the BRAC Midwifery Program, as are four other graduates who could not attend the meeting. Shahed is an instructor in the College of Nursing at IUBAT. He teaches various subjects to general university students, supervises the Nursing Practice Lab and promotes Nursing for the IUBAT student recruitment program. Rakib has worked at Ayesha Memorial Hospital since graduation. Initially at the bedside, he worked for a while in an administrative role, then returned to clinical work, now mostly in the ICU. Imran has focused on bedside nursing since graduation. He has been promoted to the High Dependency Unit at Apollo Hospital. His goal is to develop his clinical skills for eventual emigration. Nausheen works for an international NGO, where she organizes medical care for sponsored children. Her tasks are often very challenging as many of the children have special needs. Prashanta has had varied experience since registration, working as a research nurse, staff nurse in a large private hospital and on a Red Crescent team sent to support a seriously under-staffed rural hospital.

All the graduates are actively planning for further education, mostly in Master’s programs in Bangladesh or overseas. We wish them well and look forward to hearing of their career success in future.

Former Volunteer Faculty Recognized with Caring Canadian Award

Dr. JoAnn Leavey, pictured here with some IUBAT students, is a former volunteer faculty member at IUBAT’s school of nursing and was recently announced as a recipient of the prestigious Governor General’s Caring Canadian Award.  The Caring Canadian Award acknowledges the efforts of unsung Canadian heroes who volunteer their time and efforts to help others.  The award highlights the fine example set by these volunteers, whose compassion and engagement are seen to exemplify Canadian character.

To help celebrate this honour, we have invited Dr. Leavey to reflect upon her volunteer work, her involvement with the Bangladesh Health Project, and her many accomplishments along the way that have led to this remarkable accolade.

1) What was your initial role in Bangladesh and how did you feel like it helped with your career/personal growth?

My initial role was to teach in the Nursing College at IUBAT. I taught mental health nursing and co-taught medical/surgical nursing. I also taught the principals of public and environmental health and leadership and change management.

I really learned a great deal when working in Dhaka at IUBAT and beyond. Living and working in Bangladesh taught me more about international citizenry and global health matters, not only from a public and environmental health perspective, but the fact that each citizen on this planet matters in terms of health and welfare. It became so evident that each one of us contribute to the status of the other.  It helped me gain insight and knowledge regarding international issues of health, poverty, building capacity and sustainability, the importance of local and international relations and relationships and how that impacts on global functioning on every level, and how each of us is responsible for public policy, leadership and change.

2) What is your current role with IUBAT?

Research Fellow and International Advisor for (OfP) Opportunities for Posterity, in Bangladesh.

3) Is there any other work besides Bangladesh that contributed to your success/being awarded this national honour?

Yes, I did volunteer camp counselling work in Moosonee, ON with the Cree First Nation community years ago in high school, and that set the stage for my passion to volunteer for social change, poverty, opportunities for those needing assistance and first responder work in disasters.

Dr. Leavey during humanitarian work in Haiti.

I worked in Hurricane Katrina with the American Red Cross for 28 days when it first struck, providing medical and mental health interventions.  I volunteered for IUBAT in 2011 and I have subsequently volunteered once or twice a year on a medical team in Haiti (Perryville Rhode Island Medical Team).  I have also volunteered as a Board President in BC at VTEA, providing equestrian (mobility and agility) training for those with physical/emotional/behavioural/neurological challenges and I am a Habitat volunteer member, a Canadian Mental Health Association of BC – Beyond the Blues national annual telephone counselling volunteer.

I do a lot of volunteer speaking events to help raise awareness for Breast Health and Cancer in London Ontario at Hot Talks and the Annual Breast Show in Town, and I am the Founder and President of Hometeam Foundation, which raises money for educational opportunities for disadvantaged youth aged 18-24, amongst some other projects.

I spend about 40-50% of my time on giving back to the community. I truly believe in global citizenship, global health safety, achievable public and environmental health safety through health promotion, prevention, and infectious disease management, positive social change through productive relationships and international friendship.

Congratulations on your amazing achievements, Dr. Leavey; your various humanitarian efforts have helped so many, and it is an honour to have your continued involvement with the Bangladesh Health Project.  The recognition is very much well-deserved, and best of luck in the future with your many endeavours!