You probably wouldnât be surprised to learn that students enrolled in the Master of Science in Public Health are studying infectious diseases, epidemiology, and health care systems around the world. However, you may be surprised to learn theyâre also writing press releases, prepping for podcasts, and training for TV interviews.Ìę
Those assignments are on the syllabus for course PPHS 614: Knowledge Translation and Public Health Leadership. Itâs taught by Dr. Madhukar Pai, chair of the Department of Global and Public Health at the School of Population and Global Health.Ìę
âThe [COVID-19] pandemic taught me that it is critical for public health professionals to engage with the public,â says Pai. âI wanted to make sure our students know how to write, advocate, and engage with the public, media and policy makers.âÌę
Judging by the results, his students are succeeding. In the past few weeks, theyâve published six op-eds â in The Montreal Gazette, La Presse, and more â while several others are in the works. Ìę
âThe students are excited,â says Pai, âand itâs what I think public health students should be doing.âÌę
Hot off the press
The first op-ed appeared in The Montreal Gazette on February 21. Co-authored by Gabrielle Gosselin, Meghan Pritchard, Mariane Saroufim, and Charlotte Serrano, it encouraged readers to get COVID-19 boosters.Ìę
âIt was an opportunity to choose a topic that mattered to you, and I thought, âyes, this matters to meâ,â says Saroufim. âNo one in my family is vaccinated, so I pushed our team to write about it.âÌę
Pai invited as a guest speaker , an award-winning science journalist, to do a three-hour workshop on op-ed writing. She walked the class through what an effective op-ed looks like: writing a catchy title, choosing a hook, and deciding who to pitch to and when.Ìę
Serrano appreciated all the feedback she got from Pai, Khamsi, and The Gazette, and admits that seeing the final version in print was very exciting. âIt really motivated me to advocate for the subjects Iâm passionate about,â says Serrano.Ìę
Saroufim says the online article garnered both positive and negative comments. âWe see it as a sign of success. It means people are reading and thinking about it,â says Saroufim, who translated the piece into French and Arabic as well, to garner an even larger audience. Ìę
More to come
Next up, Paiâs students will be drafting persuasive speeches, running advocacy campaigns, and confronting misinformation. Theyâll also keep pitching op-eds. He anticipates 10 could be published before the semester ends.ÌęÌę
âStrong scientists should take the microphone so we can be the first ones to provide good information,â says Pai. âEven the best science may not get translated into action on its own. You have to go out and make it happen.âÌę
As the 2018 winner of the , Pai is well placed to give to give advice, even to those outside his class.Ìę
ÌęâStart small: write letters to the editor, op-eds, blog posts, or get active on social media,â he says. Ìę
Are you a McGill faculty or researchers looking for guidance? Contact the Media Relations Office for tips on writing op-eds as well as media training.Ìę
Op-eds published by Master of Science in Public Health students:
- , The Montreal GazetteÌę
- , The Montreal GazetteÌę
- , The Montreal GazetteÌę
- , Speaking of Medicine and HealthÌę
- , Healthy DebateÌę
- , La PresseÌę