GP050: Considerations for and Reflections on International Physiotherapy Work with Alex Hejazi
Release Date: 01/18/2024
GP066: Palestine Series Part 3 with Sandra Ballantyne and Amira Dirie
Global Physio Podcast
info_outline
GP065: Palestine Series Part 2 with Rachel Coghlan
Global Physio Podcast
info_outline
GP064: Palestine Series Part 1 with Rachael Moses
Global Physio Podcast
In the Palestine Series, we sit down with three physiotherapists from Canada, the UK, and Australia, and a psychotherapist from Canada to explore their experiences with anti-Palestinian racism in healthcare systems. Together, we reflect on our personal and professional connections to Palestine, how the ongoing occupation across Palestine and ongoing genocide against Palestinians living in Gaza shape not only lives on the ground but also clinical and rehab spaces globally. In this series, we speak openly about discrimination, advocacy, and responsibility. We examine how politics enters...
info_outline
GP063: Health Justice Series with Stephanie Lurch
Global Physio Podcast
This episode we welcome back Steph Lurch to talk about her recent 30 day Health Justice Series, that has been taking place across several of her accounts. If you liked this conversation, head to to check out the rest of the content. You can find out more about Steph Lurch here: Website: TikTok: medicine.needs.medicine Art Work as part of the Health Justice Series: Charmaine Lurch at Bio: Stephanie Lurch (BScPT, MEd, Doctoral student) is a physiotherapist, educator, and health justice scholar with more than 30 years of experience at the intersection of...
info_outline
GP062: Introducing Zeina Abu-Jurji, New Our Co-Host
Global Physio Podcast
info_outline
GP061: Discussing Environmental Physiotherapy with 3 University of Manitoba Students
Global Physio Podcast
info_outline
GP060: Understanding Physiotherapy from the Perspectives of Non-Indigenous Black Peoples in Australia with Adelaide Rusinga and Nathalia Costa
Global Physio Podcast
This episode, which was recorded in early 2024, features two physiotherapists, Adelaide Rusinga and Dr. Nathalia Costa, who share the learnings from their paper titled "Exploring the Systemic Structures that Affect Access to Physical Therapist Services for Non-Indigenous Black People in Australia." Their research set out to explore the perspectives of non-Indigenous Black people when it comes to the physiotherapy profession in Australia. We discuss the intersection of race, whiteness and the physiotherapy profession, and ways to move towards a more culturally aware and appropriate profession....
info_outline
GP059: World Indigenous Physiotherapy Alliance with Ray Gates
Global Physio Podcast
Today’s guest is Ray Gates, an Aboriginal Australian (Bundjalung) physiotherapist with over 20 years experience as a PT and with Indigenous health. He was the first Aboriginal PT to become a member and later Chairperson of the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s (then) Indigenous Health Committee. He was a founder of the first Indigenous Physiotherapy Support Network in Australia, which later became the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Physiotherapists (NAATSIP). He has been involved with Indigenous health both in Australia and around the world in a variety...
info_outline
GP058: Exploring Critical Consciousness with Stephanie Lurch
Global Physio Podcast
In today’s episode, the co-hosts interview Stephanie Lurch, who is a storyteller, activist, leader and physiotherapist. Stephanie discusses her keynote address at the CPA National Congress in 2024 entitled “Manifesto of a Critical Consciousness”, and so much more in this inspiring episode.
info_outline
GP057: Memoirs of a Global Health Physiotherapist
Global Physio Podcast
In today’s episode, the co-hosts interview Hilary Crowley who is a physiotherapist and an author. Hilary published a travel memoir entitled “Mini Saga in South Africa” about a year that she spent working around South Africa in the 1960s. This was during apartheid which started in 1948 and continued until 1994. Her experiences there led her to follow a career in paediatrics and overseas development work. It also formed the base of her interest in politics. Her previous books include , which covers 25 years of experiences volunteering in a community based rehabilitation program in rural...
info_outlineIn this podcast episode, we speak with Bahareh Alexandra Hejazi about her experience and insights about her time spent in Italy, Palestine and Uganda. Despite international work offering many exciting prospects for health professionals and potential to create positive change across the globe, it is important to speak about the uncomfortable truths and complexities involved.
Alex speaks candidly about the impact of power and privilege associated with professionals from the Global North, the often under-considered consequences and disruptions we cause to local communities with our "good intentions", and suggestions she has for clinicians interested in working globally.
We hope this episode catalyses conversations for those who are considering international work, and even those who are currently engaging in this realm, to critically examine their work, projects and organizations. Does the work empower the agency of local communities to create systemic change? Or does it continue to perpetuate the narrative that "West Is Best"?
Alex qualified as a physiotherapist in 2014 in London, UK. She was working in London, both in hospital and community settings until 2018 when she moved to Canada. As a student she did elective placements in Italy and Palestine, which truly ignited her drive to ensure accessible and quality healthcare for all. During a sabbatical leave, she lived in Uganda for five months where she volunteered at a centre for children with disabilities. This experience opened her eyes to some of the power inequalities in the healthcare profession between high and middle/low-income countries that can be perpetuated by volunteering. Her volunteer experience is something she often reflects on and has guided her journey as a physiotherapist since. She now works in two communities in Eeyou Istchee, Cree First Nation territory in what is also known as northern Quebec. She is very passionate about her job and working with people to provide healthcare that is guided and led by what the community needs and wants.
Resources:
- Alex's piece on "The Trouble of Good Intentions" with World Economic Forums: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/authors/alexandra-hejazi/