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Grit as a Key Factor in the Ability of Students to Achieve Productive Global Field Research

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Abstract

Global fieldwork is an invaluable educational experience for students who aspire to pursue careers as global public health professionals and cancer experts. Student-led research projects can be mutually beneficial for students and host institutions by providing opportunities for bilateral learning, sharing resources, building databases, and ultimately creating uniquely informed multi-cultural health research relevant to global communities. The USA-host country partnerships can be delicate, requiring tactful approaches to the investment in the careers of students and the field projects. The US and host institutions must therefore be selective in determining which students have the privilege of participating in global field work. This paper examines the importance of grit as a character trait contributing to the success of student-led global health research projects. Grit has been explored at length as a predictor of student success in domestic educational experiences, yet is underrepresented in the context of global education, field training, and evaluation of research and learning outcomes. This manuscript utilizes testimonials of three public health graduate students recently returned from summer cancer epidemiology education training fellowships to explore the role that grit played in completion of their independent research projects. Ultimately, this paper discusses ways to identify grit in student applicants and to foster an improved capacity for grit before, during, and after their field experiences. We share the experiences with an aim of providing participant perspectives that may be used by educators, students, and administrators at US and international partner institutions to inform global research, experiential learning, and educational and training programs.

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Acknowledgements

We thank all CEESP partners around the world for their invaluable mentorship and for graciously hosting CEESP students in their communities. Special thanks to Dr Dawit Worku, Kassa of Black Lion Hospital and Addis Ababa University; Mr Atota Halkiyo of Arizona State University; Mr Abdulkerim Dedefo of Adama Hospital; Mr Tesfaye Kebede of Bale Town Health Office in Ethiopia; Drs Julius Mwaiselage and Crispin Kahesa of the Ocean Road Cancer Institute in Tanzania; and Dr Ahmed Hablas, Dr. Ibrahim Seifeldin, and Dr. Mohamed Ramadan at the Gharbiah Cancer Society in Egypt.

Funding

Lindsey Mattick, Breanne Lott, and Christina Baum were supported by the Cancer Epidemiology Education in Special Populations (CEESP) Program-Grant R25 CA112383 from the National Cancer Institute.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Health Professions, University At Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA

    Lindsey J. Mattick

  2. Department of Health Promotion Sciences, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Breanne E. Lott

  3. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA

    Christina E. Baum

  4. Community Health and Social Medicine Department, CUNY School of Medicine, The City College of New York, New York City, NY, USA

    Amr S. Soliman

Authors
  1. Lindsey J. Mattick
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  2. Breanne E. Lott
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  3. Christina E. Baum
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  4. Amr S. Soliman
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Contributions

ASS conceptualized the review. LJM, BEL, and CB drafted the manuscript. All authors edited the manuscript, reviewed the final version, and approved of its contents.

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Correspondence to Lindsey J. Mattick.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Mattick, L.J., Lott, B.E., Baum, C.E. et al. Grit as a Key Factor in the Ability of Students to Achieve Productive Global Field Research. J Canc Educ 36 (Suppl 1), 55–61 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-021-02035-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-021-02035-w

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