Building a Career with the World Health Organization – My Journey! with Firdosi Mehta
In this seminar, Dahdaleh adjunct faculty fellow Dr. Firdosi Mehta will share his journey leading to his extensive career in public health in six diverse countries. With over 30 years of experience, learn from his first-hand experiences working with the World Health Organization on polio eradication efforts, communicable diseases control, Tuberculosis, NCDs, etc. to contribute towards a healthier and equitable world.
Dr. Mehta will impart some key lessons including how kindness, compassion and empathy are at the roots of public health necessary to create effective health interventions. He will also highlight the necessity for patience, perseverance, passion, and perspiration – the indomitable foursome – essential for navigating the challenges in any field.
Participants will gain practical networking and reputation building tips, as well as key insights into emergency and humanitarian action, communicable disease control, mental health, and noncommunicable diseases prevention and control. Register to join the discussion and hear more about Dr. Mehta’s illustrious career in global public health.
Speaker Profile
Dr. Firdosi Mehta has over 30 years of Public Health experience, more than half of which were with the WHO. He has worked in several countries and regions of the world. Dr. Mehta completed his medical education in India after which he served in the Indian Navy Defense Services. He then served in the Ministry of Health, Sultanate of Oman in various capacities for 10 years, the last being Director of Surveillance and Disease Control.
Dr. Mehta then joined the World Health Organization and worked in Somalia from 1998 – 2002, where he was responsible for supporting the control of TB and all other communicable diseases in a complex emergency situation. He moved from Somalia to Indonesia in 2002 in the capacity of Country Advisor Tuberculosis Control program (Mega High burden country) for seven years.
Dr. Mehta then moved to Sri Lanka in 2009 as the WHO country Representative until 2014. His experience in emergency and humanitarian action, communicable disease control, health system issues, mental health and a keen focus on addressing non communicable diseases in Sri Lanka have been well recognized and acknowledged. He is an Adjunct Professor & Fellow at York University and University of Toronto in Canada, as well as a senior Mentor on several mentoring platforms. In recognition of his contributions to the Global Health Program at York, a Global Health student prize has been named after him in 2022.
He is a member on the Governance and Advisory committee on Human Trafficking at the Peel Institute on Violence prevention, Family services Peel Toronto. Also a member on a Lived experience Advisory committee on research at the Centers for Addictions and Mental health (CAMH) Toronto. Member on the Steering Committee on Research for Mental Health Equity in the Asia Pacific – Digital (REMAP-D) based at the University of British Columbia (UBC). Advisor on “The Young Innovation Leaders Fellowship” Nigeria, which is a platform created by Hutzpah Centre for Innovation and Development – a social enterprise aimed at promoting innovation across sectors in Africa. Inducted onto the Stop TB Canada Steering Committee in end 2023. Stop TB Canada brings together individuals committed to ending TB at home and abroad, including TB researchers, TB advocates, TB practitioners, and TB survivors.
Register below and join us on Wednesday, April 3, at 1 p.m.
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Thank you for your interest in this seminar.
Please find the recap and recording here.
