Dr. Sheela Basrur and Dr. Donald Low were
both great communicators who exceled in conveying the role and achievements of
public health. Many recall their clear and consistent voices during the 2003
SARS crisis and continuing efforts to promote public health. Both were highly visible and proactive
communicators who earned respect and trust from the public and the health
sector in Ontario.
The Sheela Basrur Centre’s Don Low
Communications Fellowship honours Low, former microbiologist-in-chief at Mount
Sinai Hospital and medical director of the Public Health Ontario Laboratories.
It seeks to empower the next generation
of public health professionals to advance their communications skills,
equipping them with the necessary tools to become effective leaders and
spokespersons.
Fellows receive training to enhance their
ability to communicate effectively, create engaging stakeholder relations
strategies, and craft messages for journalists, politicians, government
officials and the general public.
“Attending this course at Harvard University also provided a great opportunity for networking. The individuals I became acquainted with through the course are part of a network of colleagues I can now call on from organizations like Health Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, and the Environmental Health Program at the University of Alberta. These connections I made during my time at Harvard have proved to be quite valuable.”
- Robert A. Muhong, 2016 Don Low Communications Fellowship
recipient
Learn more about prior recipients:
2016 Fellowship recipients
Robert A. Muhong, Environmental Health Program Manager, North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit
Patricia Simone, Emergency Manager, Middlesex-London Health Unit
2015 Fellowship recipients
Atul
Jain, Manager, Inspection Services, Peterborough County-City Health Unit
Angela
Newman, Manager, Grey Bruce Public Health Unit
2014 Fellowship recipient
Dr. Kathleen Dooling, Peel Public Health
2013 Fellowship recipient
Cameron Clark, Manager, Environmental Health and
Infectious Diseases, Timiskaming Health Unit
Eligibility Criteria
The Fellowship is open to mid-level and
senior-level public health professionals from all disciplines (e.g., nursing,
medicine, inspection, nutrition, health promotion) actively working in the
Ontario public health sector. Fellows are eligible to receive this award
only once during their professional career.
Professional
Development Activities
The Fellowship may be applied to a
number of professional development and skills enhancement activities. SBC
has identified some training and education programs that qualify, and we encourage
individuals to bring forward other ideas.
Continuing Education
Enrolment in a communications course,
workshop or conference to further develop communications skills and better
understand the critical role communications plays in strengthening the public
health system.
See the list of suggested professional development activities.
The Fellowship award can be applied to registration
fees, travel and accommodation expenses, and course
materials.
Coaching
Public health professionals who
interact with the media and public on a regular basis can apply to the Fellowship
for one-on-one coaching with a communications expert or media trainer. Personal
coaching strengthens communications skills while building confidence.
SBC facilitates the matching of the
Fellow with a communications expert, media trainer or journalist.
The Fellowship award can be applied to coaching
fees and related travel and accommodation expenses. It is estimated that the
Fellowship would cover 3-5 days of coaching time.
Value
Each award is for a maximum of
$5,000 CDN. Up to two fellows may be chosen.
Criteria
Applications are reviewed and selected by a panel of public health and
communications professionals, based on the following criteria:
- How the Fellowship will assist and
support them in their day-to-day work communicating important health
information to the public and/or stakeholders.
- An interest in learning and exploring
ways of presenting public health issues to the public and media in a clear and
concise manner.
- How they will apply the knowledge they
acquire through the Fellowship to advance public health in Ontario and support
other public health professionals.
Recognition
- Fellows will be announced on the SBC
website and other communications
- Fellows are asked to provide SBC with a
written two-page summary of his/her Fellowship experience within 30 days of
completion. This information will be profiled in the SBC Centre newsletter,
website and other communications.
- Fellows will be recognized at The Ontario Public Health Convention
(TOPHC) 2018, held in Toronto from March 21 - 23, 2018.
- Fellows may be asked to present on
his/her Fellowship experience at other SBC events, such as media training
workshops.
- Fellows will join a network of that may
be called upon to act as media spokespersons to convey important public health
messages.