Published October 21, 2014, last updated on April 9, 2018
On a crisp fall night in central Durham, DGHI members huddle around a fire pit, roasting marshmallows, and discussing the challenges inherent to life in the global health field. Known as “Fireside Chats,” these discussions offer global health masters students, professors, and alumni a rare opportunity to share knowledge and experiences outside of the classroom.
Melissa Watt, Associate Director of Master of Science in Global Health, initiated DGHI’s Fireside Chats to facilitate conversations between graduate students and their professors, moving beyond the formal communication barriers of the classroom setting. Around the fire, students have a chance to interact with global health faculty on a more personal level.
To preserve this intimate environment, the chats are limited to six DGHI students/alum and two faculty members. Participants are encouraged to discuss a wide range of topics beyond those that typically get covered in the classroom and formal advising meetings. The first two fireside chats were hosted by DGHI faculty Joanna Maselko, Manoj Monahan, David Toole and Melissa Watt. Faculty and students discussed matters ranging from the pros and cons of doctoral training to the challenges of balancing family life with global health careers. Faculty members reflected upon the career challenges they have faced, their strategies for overcoming those challenges, and mistakes they have made and learned from along the way.
Watt plans to continue hosting these chats at her home throughout the fall and spring semesters. She hopes that every second-year masters student has the opportunity to gather with their professors and peers, sharing s’mores and exchanging knowledge to support successful, lifelong careers in global health.
