This is the third in a series of conversations we have been having with our past students to understand the impact of their studies on their work with young people in the community.
Here, Kristina speaks with Dr Elizabeth Bankah a graduate of both the Centre for Adolescent Health’s Global Adolescent Health Massive Open Online Course and the Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, both of which are run through the University of Melbourne, Department of Paediatrics. We regularly run information sessions that are recorded and can be accesses via the University of Melbourne information web pages.
Dr Bankah is a specialist family physician in adolescent care in Ghana and has been instrumental in setting up and running specialist adolescent care where she also cares for hospitalized adolescents, in Accra, Ghana. She has been inspired through her studies to enhance the quality of teaching and training provided to Ghanaian family physicians. She is currently working with the Ghana Health Service and the Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons to develop a new curriculum in adolescent medicine for both undergraduates and postgraduates, with a new compulsory module on adolescent health for postgraduate training in family medicine. She is also wanting to develop plans for Ghana to access subspecialist fellowship training in adolescent medicine.
Q: How did you find out about the Global Adolescent Health – Massive Open Online Course (MOOC)?
A: A friend mentioned it a long while ago, which I found by searching online after finally deciding I needed to gain some further training in Adolescent Health.
Q: What did you like about doing the MOOC?
A: It was convenient and allowed me to pace myself according to my schedule as I work full-time.
Q: What inspired you to continue the more formal study pathway at Melbourne University?
A: The passion of the instructors, Professor Susan Sawyer and Professor George Patton inspired me. I contacted them by email and Professor Sawyer encouraged me to consider applying for the Diploma, as she appreciated the professional value I would gain from an accredited course (rather than simply the MOOC).
Q: How long did it take you to decide to enroll in the Graduate Certificate/Diploma course?
A: It took just a few days to decide, and I was able to secure funding for the course after several weeks. I was able to secure funding from the Government of Ghana through the ministry of health.
Q: What was your favorite subject during your Graduate Diploma in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing?
A: I did not have a favorite subject – all were very interesting to me. I found some subjects were a bit more challenging because of the different contexts in Australia to Ghana, but it was all part of my learning experience.
Q: How did you find studying the course online from your home location overseas?
A: Shortly after I started the course the COVID-19 pandemic hit. As a frontline healthcare worker, it was very challenging for me to keep up with assignment submission deadlines in a different time zone while combining my work duties, especially as these were also more challenging due to the pandemic. My lecturers were really helpful and supportive – without their appreciation of my circumstances and their flexibility, I doubt I could have completed the course.
Q: What was the most surprising thing you learnt during your studies with us?
A: I did not know much about law enforcement and juvenile offenders in Australia and was quite surprised about the historical and current issues that are still topical, including with Indigenous Australians. This was an example of how the course engaged us in real-time adolescent health and well-being concerns, and how important it is to consider our own historical and contextual perspectives.
Q: What has been the most significant change, for you, as a result of doing the course?
A: I have started an Adolescent Care clinic, the first of its kind in my country. The postgraduate course provided an immense amount of invaluable knowledge and skills that have led to my further interest in promoting wider training for primary care in adolescent health and the development of a subspecialty training curriculum in Adolescent Medicine.
Q: Why is this significant?
A: Adolescent medicine is new to Ghana, as it is new in sub-Saharan Africa. Until very recently, there has been no training available in Ghana for health professionals to advance their skills in working more effectively with young people. My efforts in developing specialist adolescent healthcare services in Ghana feel like a big step forward.
Q: What difference has it made?
A: Beyond the development of health services, I am supporting the next generation of health professionals in Ghana as they also build their skill sets in adolescent health and medicine. The course has also strengthened my capabilities around advocacy and I am now more widely involved in a range of community-based initiatives that aim to enhance community understandings and support for young people. Due to Professor Sawyer’s ongoing mentorship, I am also now connected to a wider group of adolescent health professionals in sub-Saharan Africa and am also pleased to have been supported to join the education committee for the International Association for Adolescent Health.
Q: Any last thoughts for people considering doing either the Global Adolescent Health MOOC or the Graduate Diploma/Masters in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing?
A: I learnt so much from this course. I unequivocally encourage anyone interested in Adolescent Health to enroll!