Jessica Jacob

At the time of the QE Scholarship, Jessica was an undergraduate student in the Bachelor of Health Sciences Program at McMaster University specializing in Global Health. Through her coursework and relevant experiences, she developed a keen interest in health systems strengthening initiatives, especially those in rural communities and amongst marginalized populations.

As an outbound Queen Elizabeth Scholar, Jessica travelled to Melbourne, Australia to work with The Australian Prevention Partnership Centre (TAPPC). As an intern she assisted TAPPC with a project examining the chronic disease management systems in various local communities, understanding its components, and ways in which it can be improved through a systems thinking perspective. She hoped to learn more about health systems research and how it can effectively be utilized to strengthen and improve upon existing frameworks.