Winner of the 2016 Michael Decter Scholarship for Health Leadership and Policy Studies Announced

Saint Elizabeth is pleased to announce that Ursulla Aho-Glele has been selected as the winner of the 2016 Michael Decter Scholarship for Health Leadership and Policy Studies.

Born in Cotonou (Benin), Ursulla spent her high school years in New York (U.S.A.), where she learned English before heading north to obtain her Bachelor of Science in microbiology in Montreal (Canada). After working four years in the field of environmental microbiology, both in the private and municipal sectors, she sought a master’s degree in public health and a professional diploma in health care management. Since then, Ursulla has accumulated a couple of years of experience in public health by working for the provincial government of Quebec (Health and Social Services) and the Canadian Federal Government (Public Health Agency of Canada). While evolving professionally, Ursulla kept giving back to her community through volunteering for causes such as HIV and cancer. Driven by her passion for health policy and management, Ursulla is currently pursuing a PhD in public health at the University of Montreal– specializing in public policy (Patient Partnership as a strategy for health system sustainability) - while conducting the International Masters in Health Leadership (IMHL) at McGill University.

Her medium-term vision is to be able to help build a sustainable health system model that the world can use as a reference. Therefore, the model she envisions is one that integrates the socio-economic determinants of health, the use of evidence-based practices (such as the Patient Partnership strategy) for health care system sustainability, and leverages innovative sustainable technology linked to renewable energy.

Ursulla believes that a country’s health is its greatest wealth, even more important than its GDP. Health must not be perceived as an expense, but as a cost saving generator (by engaging people in their own care, using renewable energy sources, evidence-based efficiency practices, etc.). Health is a resource that contributes to the economic growth of a nation.

Please join us in congratulating Ursulla!

For more information about the Michael Decter Scholarship please contact learninganddevelopment@saintelizabeth.com