Worlds Collide: How editors shape an academic journal

About the series 

The Scan miniseries ‘Worlds Collide’ feature two well-known global health researchers from different parts of the globe, Jaime Miranda, from Peru, and Seye Abimbola, from Nigeria. Each wears a variety of ‘hats’, holding a number of positions, in different countries. Featuring unstructured conversations as they reflect on daily interactions it offers illuminating insight on navigating work and cultural perspectives. It offers the audience an intimate setting as they share their experiences with each other – and us!

In the third episode of this four-part series, among other items, Jaime and Seye reflect on how editors shape an academic journal and the kind of research papers that may be favoured in prestigious journals.

Worlds Collide: Decolonising minds and navigating the academic space

About the series The Scan miniseries ‘Worlds Collide’ feature two well-known global health researchers from different parts of the globe, Jaime Miranda, from Peru, and Seye Abimbola, from Nigeria. Each wears a variety of ‘hats’, holding a number of positions, in different countries. Featuring unstructured conversations as they reflect on daily interactions it offers illuminating insight on navigating work and cultural perspectives. It offers the audience an intimate setting as they share their experiences with each other – and us!

In the second episode of this four-part series, Jaime and Seye chat about decolonising minds in the global health space and navigating the academic space as people from the global south.

Worlds Collide: Growing up in non-Western culture & effect on thinking about global health

The Scan miniseries ‘Worlds Collide’ feature two well-known global health researchers from different parts of the globe, Jaime Miranda, from Peru, and Seye Abimbola, from Nigeria. Each wears a variety of ‘hats’, holding a number of positions, in different countries. Featuring unstructured conversations as they reflect on daily interactions it offers illuminating insight on navigating work and cultural perspectives. It offers the audience an intimate setting as they share their experiences with each other – and us!

In the first episode of this four-part series the two health researchers reflect on growing up in non Western cultures and how it affects the way they think about global health and academics.

About the speakers

Jaime Miranda is a health systems researcher from Peru. He holds appointments as Professor of Global Health at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Lown Scholar at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Boston USA; and is a Visiting Professorial Fellow at The George Institute for Global Health Australia; is a member of the Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) of Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research from the World Health Organization for the period 2021-24; and is a member of the Independent Group of Scientists (IGS) appointed by the UN Secretary-General António Guterres in charge of drafting the 2023 Global Sustainable Development Report. Professor Miranda trained in medicine at Cayetano Heredia University (Spanish: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, (UPCH)) and earned a PhD in epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK).

Seye Abimbola is a health systems researcher from Nigeria. Amongst other roles, he is Prince Claus Chair in Equity and Development at Utrecht University, The Netherlands; a senior lecturer at the School of Public Health, University of Sydney in Australia; and is editor in chief of BMJ Global Health; a member of the World Health Organisation (WHO) Health System Governance Collaborative; and serves on the advisory council of Global Health 50/50. Seye had his initial training in medicine at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife in Nigeria and gained his PhD from Sydney University in 2016, on a wide-ranging institutional analysis of primary health care governance in Nigeria. From 2018-2019, Seye was a Sidney Sax Overseas Early Career Fellow at the University of Oxford.

A discussion about the Lancet Commission on Women and Cancer - Dr Ophira Ginsburg and Dr Carinna Hockham

This episode features a discussion with Dr Ophira Ginsburg and Dr Carinna Hockham about the Lancet Commission on Women and Cancer, currently underway. The Commission is exploring the relationship between gender, power and cancer, and is taking an intentionally broad, intersectional feminist approach to its investigation. Despite the Commission’s title the work is inclusive of all genders insofar as to explore how one’s gender identity might contribute to a person’s marginalised identities, which can influence cancer risk and cancer outcomes. For more information on the Lancet Commission on Women and Cancer click here. Dr. Ophira Ginsburg is a medical oncologist and global women’s health researcher with nearly 20 years of experience in global cancer prevention and control. Formerly based at the University of Toronto, Canada, she was a Medical Officer at the World Health Organization Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland has served as an ad hoc consultant to several UN agencies. Recently Dr Ophira commenced a new role at the USA National Cancer Institute’s Center for Global Health as Senior Scientific Officer, Senior Advisor for Clinical Research. We spoke to Dr Ophira following London Cancer Week, while she was a senior visiting scientist at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Leon France, a specialized agency of the World Health Organization. Dr Carinna Hockham is a postdoctoral Research Associate in the Global Women’s Health Program at The George Institute for Global Health, Imperial College London

Perspectives, practices, and environmental footprints related to menstrual hygiene management in India

It is crucial that awareness and uptake of environment-friendly menstrual hygiene practices increase, but we must be aware of the challenges and misinformation that exist in this space. The most widely used menstrual products (disposable sanitary pads) are non-biodegradable so their disposal and waste management raise major

environmental concerns. And while awareness of different types of menstrual products and practices (including more environment-friendly approaches) is slowly increasing in India,

misconceptions remain around associated hygiene and related matters. To further explore this, The George Institute’s Global Women's Health Program conducted a pilot study on “Perspectives, practices, and environmental footprints related to menstrual hygiene among girls and women in India”. The research team used a qualitative and exploratory approach to familiarise themselves with prevalent menstrual hygiene practices and perspectives, and life cycle assessment to estimate carbon dioxide emissions and freshwater use associated with the sourcing, manufacture, use, and post-use treatment and disposal of menstrual hygiene products. You can hear findings from the study in The Scan podcasts focused on menstrual hygiene management. In the second episode with this focus, we discuss the stigma and challenges around sustainable menstrual health practices in India with experts Dr JK Lakshmi, Senior Research Fellow at The George Institute, Kamal Nayak, Founder of Good Universe, and Dr Arundati Muralidharan, a public health professional engaged in research and policy advocacy in menstrual health. The discussion also includes the perspectives of Archana Sali, an IT professional and Amrita Suresh, author of a book on menstrual cups.

Tackling the stigma: let's talk about menstrual health in India

Menstruation is a major taboo in India, with huge society-wide stigma around hygiene-related menstrual practices and needs . It is crucial to raise awareness around menstrual hygiene management to ensure the adoption of safe and sustainable menstrual practices. This must extend to sharing information on the range of sanitation products available and the respective impact these have on environment. In this episode of The Scan, we discuss the stigma and challenges around menstrual practices in India, hearing from from Dr JK Lakshmi, Senior Research Fellow at The George Institute, Kamal Nayak, Founder of Good Universe, and Dr Arundati Muralidharan, a public health professional engaged in research and policy advocacy in menstrual health. The discussion also includes the perspectives of Archana Sali, an IT professional and Amrita Suresh, author of a book on menstrual cups.

Primary health care a fundamental right of communities in India

Primary health care is a cornerstone of a vibrant health system. It caters to the health needs of communities especially the vulnerable. Canvassing the significant health challenges across society through care delivery that must, fundamentally, be good quality, accessible, equitable, and affordable in times of crisis and calm

In this episode of The Scan, we interview Drs Bob Mash and David Peiris, both experts in primary health care and founding members of the Primary Health Care Research Consortium (PHCRC). They reflect on their journey and the role research plays in addressing the challenges faced by primary health care, defining solutions that bolster community level care.

ASHAs the backbone of India's primary health care

Community health workers or ASHAs (accredited social health activists) are a key resource in India’s health care system as non-physician health workers, affording vital connection between consumers and the health care system. Drawn from within the community, their unique reach and familiarity with the local population is a great asset that can be leveraged to improve healthcare delivery.

In this episode of The Scan, we hear from Dr Rohina Joshi, Scientia Associate Professor of Global Health at UNSW's School of Population Health, and Senior Manager and Senior Research Fellow at The George Institute, she is an in-house expert on community health workers. She reflects on how ASHAs first came to play a role in India’s health systems as connectors with marginalised communities, and how they are now the backbone of primary health care in the country. Rohina also considers how COVID-19 has challenged the work of ASHAs, and describes the vulnerabilities they face. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Living through crisis: the COVID-19 situation in India

Over recent weeks, India has become the epicentre of the COVID-19 pandemic, with an over-burdened healthcare system, widely reported shortages of essential oxygen supplies, escalating case rates and lives lost. In this context, The George Institute for Global Health, India have released this special episode. Experts reflect on the huge challenges facing the country and its people, including of the shadow pandemic of domestic violence, and the mental health impacts of – and coping strategies for – living through crisis.

Fighting stigma in mental health in India

Stigma is a big barrier to seeking and providing mental health care in rural areas. In this podcast, our researchers talk about the various types of stigma that exists and how it inhibits people from seeking mental health care. The anti-stigma campaign implemented by The George Institute India in the West Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh is described in great detail along with efforts now being made to scale it up. Those who are interviewed in the episode include Dr Pallab Maulik, Head, Research, TGI. Amanpreet, Senior Research Fellow. Mercian Daniel, Program Manager. Santosh, Head of Field operations at Ballabgarh, Haryana.