Tahani Dakkak
Tahani Dakkak is a Master’s of Management of Applied Sciences Candidate, specializing in Global Health Systems in Africa at Western University. Through her undergraduate career, Tahani has established a new club on campus called the Canadian Coalition for Global Health Research (CCGHR) which promotes equitable health worldwide. Through the club, she was able to raise awareness about numerous global health issues the world is facing today including HIV, mental health, and heart stroke. Throughout her undergraduate career, Tahani got the opportunity to do extensive research investigating the correlation between Suberin levels in Nicotiana benthamiana and plant resistance as part of her fourth- year thesis project. Tahani is passionate about achieving accessible and equitable health worldwide as well as promoting education in developing countries to seek sustainable development. Throughout her Master’s degree, she hopes to explore the interconnectedness of global issues pertaining to health, education, politics, and economy. Her desire is to work on designing and implementing development programs in refugee camps promoting better education and access to healthcare as well as promoting the empowerment of women in developing countries.
What are you passionate about in global health systems?
My interest in pursuing global health management stems from my unshakeable commitment to make a positive change in this world and advocate for those who are less fortunate. My goal is to promote education in developing countries especially for women as well as designing and implementing development programs in refugee camps promoting better education and access to healthcare. Furthermore, I am interested in studying the effect of infectious diseases on maternal and infant health in under-resourced communities and economically poor societies.
Working for health and social equity around the world: Q&A with Tahani Dakkak, MMASc’18
Alumna Tahani Dakkak, MMASc’18, discovered her potential as a global leader during a placement in Kampala, Uganda. As a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Scholarship, she was given the opportunity to work with local organizations to develop and launch a project focused on access to medical testing and medication.
“I pursued my master’s degree in global health to equip myself with the necessary training to be a global leader that can create an impact and advocate for those who are less fortunate,” she said. “Being a QE Scholar is a responsibility that motivated me to get out of my comfort zone and thrive abroad.”
Dakkak recently participated in the Queen Elizabeth Scholars (QES) Program’s fifth anniversary celebrations in Toronto, one of three representatives from Western University. The QES Program aims to mobilize a dynamic community of young global leaders to create lasting impact at home and abroad, promoting international student exchange and civic engagement.
We spoke to Dakkak about her experience as a QE Scholar, her passion for global health and her strong commitment to health and social equity.
What project(s) did you undertake as a QE Scholar?
I was placed in Kampala, Uganda and worked as an intern at Mulago National Referral Hospital and the Makerere University – Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration (MUJHU).
At Mulago, I launched my project “Practice Humanity, Be The Remedy”, a medical funding initiative to fund medical tests and medications for patients who can’t afford them. At MUJHU, I participated in HIV outreach activities to test local residents for HIV, as well as HIV psychosocial groups that facilitated discussions on topics such as drug adherence and disclosure.
What does being a QE Scholar mean to you?
Being a QE Scholar is a responsibility that motivated me to get out of my comfort zone and thrive abroad. I feel honored to be part of a community of peers and scholars who have travelled abroad to create a lasting impact.
The efforts of every member of this community is a living proof that through hard work and determination, every individual, once given the right opportunities, can create an impact to help developing countries prosper and develop.
How did your experience as a QE Scholar impact your education and training?
Designing an intervention in a foreign country exposed me to many unfamiliar obstacles, which significantly enhanced my interpersonal skills. Working abroad has also allowed me to build a global network and enhance my adaptability and self-reliance. It gave me the opportunity to discover my potential as a young global leader who wants to be an agent of change and helped me start something in Uganda that will grow over the years.
Why did you pursue the GHS program at Western?
I wanted to specialize in health management in Africa because of the complex interplay factors that lead to today’s health disparities, which I have a desire in learning more about. The GHS Program at Western stood out because it focuses on Africa and the curriculum incorporates a three-month placement in Africa, which gave me the opportunity to apply my knowledge and transform it into action.
Why are you interested in global health? What motivates you in this area of study?
My interest in global health stems from my unshakeable commitment to achieve health and social equity worldwide. We continue to have a heartbreaking and unacceptable level of health inequity. Access to healthcare, education, food, clean water and shelter should be a human right, not a privilege. Every one of these elements significantly impacts the health and wellbeing of an individual.
I pursued my master’s degree in global health to equip myself with the necessary training to be a global leader that can create an impact and advocate for those who are less fortunate. As a Muslim, my faith emphasized thriving to build communities and promote prosperity. Therefore, my main source of motivation in this field is my faith, as well as my determination and desire to give people access to the same rights that I have.
