Alumni
Course: 2023-2024
I am an experienced midwife with a strong background in delivery room and obstetrical emergency room settings, further strengthened by the achievement of a master’s degree in nursing and midwifery. I currently work at Vimercate Hospital, where I am honing my skills, providing care to expectant mothers, and ensuring safe and successful childbirth experiences. My passion for women’s health and maternal care has driven my career, especially during my tenure at San Paolo Hospital in Milan, where I collaborated with the ‘Health and Support Center for Migrant Women,’ gaining a deep understanding of the importance of midwifery in gender-specific healthcare. I am an advocate for the donation of blood and cord blood stem cells and I firmly believe in the power of sharing knowledge and best practices through a multidisciplinary approach, across borders, to reduce maternal mortality rates and enhance the quality of care worldwide. I aspire to collaborate with organizations and professionals from various backgrounds to make a positive impact on the lives of women and children in diverse countries.
“In these first three months of the Master’s in Global Health, I realized how little I knew about global health. For this reason the introductory modules, including a historical overview of the subject, were particularly helpful. I have understood the indispensability of certain statistical and epidemiological tools to produce and recognise relevant literature, and I have grasped the importance of maintaining a critical approach that gives the right weight to numerical data, without forgetting to keep a broader perspective on everything related to the context of a specific reality or population.
I discovered that having a good idea or project is not enough to achieve a goal; it is essential to take in account the political, economic, practical and social context and other dynamics. Finally, I had the opportunity to listen to and personally engage in interesting and profound exchanges with my fellow master’s colleagues, all incredibly prepared and capable, rediscovering the importance of collaboration and diversity of perspectives in order to delve deeply into each topic. The overarching vision that emerges is of a real and comprehensive framework of health that goes beyond the simple concept of physical well-being.
In some cases, the thrill of starting a new module had to face the fear and the confusion typical of someone getting into a new field of knowledge. However, it is always reassuring to see how all the different sectors involved, even the most diverse, at the end of the day aim at improving human health and reducing sickness, disabilities and deaths.
In this scenario, I realized that the figure of the midwife can play a multifaceted role in contributing to important global health goals. It is not only a reference point for childbirth and postnatal care but can also play a crucial role in reproductive health (prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and contraception) and in health education during the first year of a child’s life. This is a crucial year in which important health interventions can be implemented in relation to nutritional education (weaning time is a crucial period for educating the entire family about healthy eating) and awareness of childhood vaccinations; all actions that have a wide-ranging health implication.
My future engagement in Global Health
The complexity of the subject and the countless facets that unfold as the modules progress, motivate me to continue this interesting journey, fully aware that the commitment is indeed significant. I aspire to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and practical application, working collaboratively to implement interventions that address the root causes of health inequalities. This includes advocating for comprehensive maternal and child health services, integrating community engagement strategies, and promoting resilience in addressing emerging global health challenges. The course has instilled in me a passion for lifelong learning, urging me to keep pace with evolving trends in global health, research findings, and innovative interventions. I am particularly eager to delve into specialized areas such as reproductive health policies for migrant women and the use of cross-cultural teaching tools in maternal and child health in resource-limited settings.
Looking ahead, I am enthusiastic about translating my new knowledge and expertise into tangible improvements in health outcomes. I aspire to disseminate this way of viewing health as much as possible, including in university settings, because I firmly believe that change must come from us professionals from the very beginning, even before graduation. I believe that every healthcare professional should learn to broaden their perspective beyond borders, viewing their work in a much broader context than is currently the case, including and considering collaborations with professionals from other sectors. My aim is to be actively involved in awareness raising and research initiatives that address the unique challenges faced by midwives globally, and to support the recognition and empowerment of the profession as a key component of effective healthcare systems.
I feel a bit like the first time I looked through a telescope. I fervently tried to focus on the moon for days, to realize that I had the wrong lens. It is only by looking through the right focal lens that you have the overview – broad, complex, but incredibly fascinating – of what we have around us, and the privilege of enjoying the spectacle of the harmony of the universe. Thank you for allowing me to look beyond my limited boundaries.