Global Health Transplant

Coding for Health Equity - Stephen Felix: GHT S1E7

In this Season 1 finale, we sit down with Stephen Felix, a Saint Lucian-born tech innovator whose career journey spans high-stakes IT in the financial sector to groundbreaking work in healthtech. As the Founder & CEO of Medial Health, Stephen is on a mission to level the playing field in Caribbean healthcare — building an Electronic Health Record (EHR) platform that helps clinics go "from paper to pixel in under 24 hours." In our conversation, we explore: * How his IT and finance background shaped his approach to health tech * The “a-ha” moment that inspired his foray into the health tech space * The technical, regulatory, and adoption challenges of digitizing medical records in the Caribbean and Latin America * Medial Health’s features: scheduling, patient management, strong encryption, and interoperability * The role of data in powering public health, epidemiology, and smarter resource allocation * The tension between passion and profitability when building a mission-driven healthtech company * Why health equity must be at the heart of digital transformation, and how technology can bridge long-standing gaps in access and quality * The vision: scaling across more countries, developing population health tools, and moving toward predictive analytics 🎧 Tune in to this final episode of Season 1 and get inspired by a Caribbean founder whose ambition is to code not just for efficiency, but for equity — rewriting the rules of healthcare, one digital record at a time. Connect with Stephen & Medial Health:🌐 Website: medial.health [https://medial.health]📧 Email: stephen@medialhealth.com 📱 WhatsApp: +1 (758) 727-6318 | +1 (758) 484-0100

Cancer Epidemiology in the Caribbean - Dr. Aviane Auguste : GHT S1E6

In this episode, I speak with Dr Aviane Auguste, an epidemiologist from Saint Lucia and the first Caribbean guest on the podcast. Now an Assistant Professor at McGill University, Dr Auguste is at the forefront of reshaping cancer research in resource-constrained and geographically isolated settings, with a particular focus on Small Island Developing States. Trained in biochemistry and biology at Université des Antilles, he went on to complete advanced studies in public health and epidemiology in France, culminating in a PhD in 2019 at Université de Rennes, where he investigated head and neck cancer risk factors in the French West Indies. His career has included roles as a post-doctoral researcher with the Guadeloupe Cancer Registry and at the Gustave Roussy Institute in Paris. Today, he also co-leads the head and neck cancer working group in the African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium (AC3), focusing on disparities in cancer outcomes among populations of African descent. Currently, Dr Auguste is spearheading the CASIDEC study across six protocol member states of the OECS, an ambitious initiative examining cancer survivorship and health systems in small islands. His research spans community-based cancer prevention, health equity, and the lived realities of patients who must often travel overseas for care. In our conversation, we discuss what it means to be a pioneer in a space where little precedent exists, how his command of both English and French has shaped his journey, and the balance between rigorous science and grassroots engagement that defines his approach to global health. Resources Referenced : 1. Thinking in Systems - Donella Meadows : https://amzn.to/45WDVJA 2. CASIDEC Study Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/p/Casidec-study-61566172731223/

Anthropology in Implementation - Daniela Cossio- Martinez : GHT S1E5

What does it really take to turn a mental health policy into a living, breathing reality in people’s lives? In this episode of Global Health Transplant, we speak with Daniela Cossio Martinez, an Implementation Lead based in Ireland, who is working on one of the country’s most ambitious efforts to transform mental health services—Sharing the Vision, Ireland’s national mental health policy. Born in Mexico and now living and working in Europe, Daniela brings a powerful cross-cultural lens to her work. As a migrant woman navigating systems far from home, her lived experience has sharpened her understanding of belonging, access, and inclusion—core themes that shape the equity challenges she addresses on the ground. Daniela’s background in Anthropology also brings a unique vantage point: one that sees people not as passive recipients of care, but as meaning-makers living within complex social systems. From her role at the intersection of government, NGOs, and service users, she shares how she navigates tensions, builds trust, and supports policy implementation that is context-aware, inclusive, and sustainable. We explore: * What meaningful implementation actually looks like * The challenges of translating policy vision into frontline practice * How her anthropological training helps her listen differently * And why migrants—and implementers with lived experience—bring essential value to global health work Daniela’s story is a reminder that implementation is where the real work begins—and that the people closest to the work often hold the deepest insight.

The Advocate's Prescription - Dr Fifa Rahman : GHT S1E4

In this episode of Global Health Transplant, Chadel speaks with Dr. Fifa Rahman, a global health advocate and legal expert whose work centers on access to medicines, pandemic preparedness, equity, and civil society engagement in global health governance. With a background in law and health policy, Dr. Rahman has established a Consultancy Practice and collaborated with major health actors such as the WHO, the UN, and international coalitions to ensure the voices of marginalized communities are represented in critical decision-making spaces. In today's conversation we explore: * Her "transition" into the global health law space * Some of the projects and policies she's been able to contribute to * Her insights from her role as Manager of a Consultancy firm * Lessons on navigating power and politics in the space. This episode offers inspiration and insight for anyone interested in forging an impactful, non-clinical path in global health.

Statistically Speaking... - Mansuk Daniel Han : GHT S1E3

In this episode of Global Health Transplant, I sit down with Mansuk Daniel Han, a statistician working in the Global Health Space. . Dan has collaborated with leading organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), contributing to critical initiatives in child health, humanitarian response, and outbreak data analysis. During our conversation, Dan shares insights into his career journey, from his start cold-calling organisations to his stints with various UN agencies. We also discuss the role statistics have played in his most recent assignment in Ukraine. With experience spanning pandemic response, humanitarian emergencies, and public health data visualization, Dan offers a unique perspective on the challenges and triumphs of using statistics to drive policy and improve health outcomes. Join us for this deep dive into the role of statisticians in global health!