OUR BOARD
The 2021 board consists of:
Puck Pelzer
Puck Pelzer is Epidemiologist at KNCV Tuberculosis foundation, a Dutch NGO for Tuberculosis control. Here she provides technical assistance on TB epidemiology and advises on implementation of TB surveillance on several international projects. At US she served as vice-chair in 2018 and was chair of the board from 2019-2021. She is specialized in TB and vaccines and has extensive field research experience in Rwanda, Cambodia, Vietnam and Kyrgyzstan.
Minjung
Treasurer
Minjung (Min), PhD, is assistant professor Global Public Health at Leiden University College Hague. Min focused her studies on international development and global health research. Her previous research projects include analyzing health risks in urbanizing regions of Central Asia (Uzbekistan) and examining health research systems in Central Asia
Kimberly Nehal
Chair
Kimberly Nehal is a Junior Lecturer in Infectious Disease and Public Health at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. Her main areas of interest are vaccination (policy) and disease surveillance research. During her studies, she has focused on integrated disease surveillance in Sierra Leone. With her involvement in Uniting Streams, she aims to connect global health researchers in the Netherlands and worldwide. Kim served as vice chair in 2020 and is chair as of 2021
Tom Jacobs
Vice Chair
Tom Jacobs is a PhD candidate at Radboud UMC Nijmegen. Trained as a pharmacist, Tom currently investigates clinical pharmacology of antiretroviral agents in children with HIV and other opportunistic infections in Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Previously he has studies reporting of adverse drug reactions in Ghana and worked on a project commissioned by WHO Europe about reducing OTC sales of antibiotics in Central Asia. Tom joined Uniting Streams to meet and learn from fellow global health enthusiasts. Tom serves as vicechair since 2021
Eugenia Di Meco
Eugenia is a MD specialised in Infectious Diseases. She has clinical experience in HIV and antimicrobial resistance in different hospital settings. She worked in the front line of migrant health, being involved in clinical and research activities in Lampedusa and in Rome. Lately, she shifted focus beyond the Italian borders, dealing with MDR TB in Afghanistan with MSF. For her “global health” is not only an area of research and practice, but mainly an approach that healthcare professionals should have in mind, in every context and every field.
Harry Coleman
Harry Coleman is a Junior Advisor in the Health Systems Strengthening team at KIT Royal Tropical Institute. He is also just finishing his PhD at the Vrije University Amsterdam that focuses on a healthcare outreach service delivery model for homeless groups in Delhi, India. His main interests are in health policy and systems research, social science and mixed methodologies in global health, and global health politics. Harry joined Uniting Streams to discuss the sphere of global health action and research with others working in the field.
Connie Rees
Secretary
Connie Rees is a medical doctor and is currently a PhD candidate in gynaecology at the Catharina Hospital in Eindhoven. Her interests include (global) maternal and women's health. She previously spent time conducting maternal health research in Ghana, amongst other projects. She joined Uniting Streams to stay involved in global health research and meet others passionate about global (health) issues.
WHAT WE DO
Throughout the year, Uniting Streams organizes events and sessions to connect global health researchers and provide them a platform. We are always looking for new members to support these activities. If you're interested, let us know!
A network of researchers in global health in the Netherlands
Uniting Steams is a network for (early career) global health researchers to meet, exchange experiences and share ideas.
In addition to various events throughout the year, we also publish an annual overview of successfully defended PhD theses in the field of Global Health in the Netherlands, and aim to keep you up to date with a newsletter.
Annual event: scientific sessions at the annual NVTG symposium
Uniting Steams organises scientific sessions at the Netherlands Society of Tropical Medicine and International Health (NVTG)'s annual conference.
These sessions provide an opportunity for researchers to present their global health research to an interested audience consisting of tropical doctors (in training), policy makers, NGOs and other academics and global health professionals.
Newsletters and newsflashes
Through our bi-monthly newsletter and newsflashes, we aim to keep global health researchers in The Netherlands and abroad up to date about (our) activities and opportunities. Newsletters and newsflashes tell you about upcoming events, update you on past events and keep you posted on job opportunities in the field!
Sign up to our newsletter here.
Annual event: Fieldwork in Global Health
Annually, an evening on fieldwork in Global Health for BSc, MSc and PhD candidates is organized by Uniting Streams.
During this evening researchers employing various research approaches (antropological/social/medical/health scientific) share their experiences and provide insights in the conduct of fieldwork in Global Health. Previous topics included: the social and cultural differences and how to be aware of them when doing fieldwork, intercultural communication in research (design), and pitfalls and practical aspects of research projects in the tropics.
Annual event: TropQuiz
Want to get to know other researchers in the field of global health in a fun way? Or are you just really competitive and up for a challenging game? The TropQuiz takes place every year in early spring.
So brush up your library of facts about global health, tropical medicine and research, music, movies and geography, and join us!
This event a collaboration TROIE and Uniting Streams
Global Health Research Nights
These evenings allows global health researchers to share their research in an intimate setting followed by drinks, bites, music and good conversation.
Global Health PhD & Postdoc Writing Retreat
The Global Health PhD & Postdocs writing retreat will offer participants the opportunity to work on their manuscript, join workshops to improve their academic writing and communication skills, and meet other global health PhD students and postdocs to share experience.
This is for everyone that has been dreading the writing-aspect of their papers.
The workshops will be directed by senior researchers and will be targeted to explicitly cover the major concerns of young researchers.Global Health Symposium
Expert presentations on Global Health related topic.
2019 Symposium on Novel Strategies in Healthcare:
Technology has the potential to transform healthcare, placing the patient at the center of the healthcare system, increasing security and resolving inefficiencies. “novel strategies”, “blockchain” and “innovations” have become buzzwords in healthcare. But what do these words mean in the context of global health?
Global Health Film Festival
The Dutch Society for Tropical Medicine and International Health (NVTG), TROIE, and Uniting Streams are proud to present the annual Dutch Global Health Film Festival, hosted in multiple cities across The Netherlands.
This film festival aims to bring people with either a general or professional interest in global health together to think, discuss and debate about global health related issues.
Sauerwein medal
To honor his legacy, the Robert Sauerwein medal will be awarded every 2 years to researchers in the field of tropical infectious diseases. The prize consists of a medal and €500 and is jointly awarded by Radboud university medical center and Uniting Streams. Nominees are early career researchers (PhD students or within 3 years after PhD graduation) who are affiliated to a university or research institute in The Netherlands who have made major
contributions to tropical infectious diseases.OUR SOCIALS
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