Course Spotlight - IR218: Global Health and Development in a Changing World

We sat down with Christopher, who took IR218: Global Health and Development in a Changing World, to find out more about the course and his top tips to those interested in applying. 

Why did you decide to attend LSE Summer School?

I wanted to attend LSE Summer School to gain a worldly education, learn from diverse perspectives, and advance my academic and career goals. Recognising that I could not study abroad during my academic year, I was attracted to LSE Summer School for the opportunity to study over my summer, but also because of LSE’s world-class faculty and research contributions to the social sciences. I am very glad I attended the programme, as my summer experience was truly a lifetime memory filled with daily adventures, everything from the Euros football tournament, to Oxford and Cambridge day trips.

Why did you choose your course?

Studying biology and business through the Vagelos Life Sciences & Management (LSM) programme, my education at the University of Pennsylvania often concentrated on the US healthcare system. Taking IR218 enabled me to expand my understanding of different healthcare models internationally, focusing on developing markets and the politics behind the global health agenda. The breadth and depth of knowledge, from learning about philanthropy to the pharmaceutical industry and the role of intergovernmental organisations like the United Nations, made the course genuinely interesting and allowed me to grasp the complexities of healthcare today.

Tell us about an average day as a student on your course.

Every morning consisted of a Tube ride from Spitalfields to LSE’s campus. I would then meet friends for a morning coffee and head to my lecture. The lecture always had a different presentation about a range of subjects, including group discussions, guest speakers, and case studies. Following the lecture, a group of my classmates and I would walk to a local restaurant for lunch or grab a snack for a picnic when the weather was nice. We concluded each day with a seminar, which was mostly group work, debates, and recaps. This reinforced and engaged our learnings from the lecture. When the school day ended, my friends and I would immediately explore London and its many iconic sites, from markets to restaurants.

What was your favourite part of your course?

My favourite part of the course was the community. My course mates became my closest friends at LSE. I was incredibly grateful for every individual in my class as they created such a supportive and welcoming environment. Everyone came from international backgrounds, and we had fruitful discussions and truly learned from each other’s experiences. This was especially important in a course like IR218, as global health often hinges on individual’s first-hand stories. My friendships from LSE lasted beyond the summer as some have visited me in college, and we are all making plans for reunions and meetups.

What advice would you give to students considering your course?

If you have any interests in healthcare, economics, or politics, students should undoubtedly consider IR218. The course’s concepts and curriculum include ideas translational to many career paths and industries. Taught by Professor Tiziana Leone, Professor Philipa Mladovsky, and Professor Ken Shadlen, the lectures were insightful, making the course exciting and very relevant to current events today.

What are your short-term professional goals, and how does your course contribute to these goals?

My short-term professional goals are still unclear. However, I do know I want to merge my biology and business degrees to best serve the healthcare industry. Tentatively, my plans after graduation are either postgraduate studies or consulting/finance. I am interested in pursuing a Ph.D. in cancer biology and hope to explore entrepreneurship in the biopharma space. I am also considering life sciences consulting/investing as an alternative possibility. My experience at LSE has exposed me to new perspectives and new skills that I will take with me, whichever career path I take.

What would be your top tip for future Summer School students?

When deciding which course to take at Summer School, consider both your academic/career interests but also the work-life balance. I can only speak about my course and definitely recommend it. IR218 was not only intellectually stimulating, but also fostered a collaborative community that balanced my studies and social life. We had homework and readings, but it was very manageable while also wanting to travel and explore London. Finally, before deciding on a course, I suggest thinking about what you want to achieve at Summer School, and this will inform your specific course choice – for example, do you want to study something not taught at your home university? Do you want exposure to specific LSE faculty and research? Do you want to explore something completely out of your area of expertise? It’s worth considering your motivations for attending to help you narrow down your course selection.

How has your course helped you in your undergraduate degree/career plans?

A large focus of this course was global politics. As someone interested in policy but not fully studying law, IR218 expanded upon my knowledge, providing useful insights into hallmark agreements and agencies on the global stage. As a Legislative Ambassador for the American Cancer Society and Oncology Researcher at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, I learned philosophies directly translational to my professional work and had the opportunity to explore my passions outside my degree.

How did you find the course and teaching experience at LSE?

I thought the learning experience at LSE was practical and comprehensive. The lectures provided a robust foundation in core concepts and were strategically laid out in a digestible manner. Meanwhile, the seminar activities were hands-on and engaging, allowing us to develop our knowledge and voice our own opinions. For example, a standout activity we completed was a role-play exercise reflecting the conflict of interests in the healthcare industry. Students represented different global actors including governments, non-governmental organisations, developed countries, and developing countries. This debate engrained the influence of bargaining power, country dynamics, and ethics as part of the global health agenda.

How will the course contribute to your longer-term goals?

My long-term career goals consist of entrepreneurship and possibly exploring healthcare markets abroad. Having graduated high school and completed the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma programme, LSE was an opportunity to reconnect with a worldly education drawing from my past knowledge and experiences. Intrigued by emerging markets and Europe’s healthcare ecosystem, LSE bridged the gap between my US-centric studies with comparative models abroad. This awareness enables me to fully comprehend the extent of innovation and problems within global health beyond my country.

This interview was written by one of our 2024 students, who are here to share their stories and help you understand the Summer School experience at LSE.