Are we training students to be white saviors in global health?

Ananya Tina Banerjee, PhD, Assistant Professor at the Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupation Health, McGill University and member of SHERPA University Institute.
The field of global health continues to gain prominence and has been criticized as a modern form of colonialism and the essence of the white savior industrial complex (WSIC) in medicine and public health. This phenomenon can be dangerous as Teju Cole notes that WSIC is “not about justice.” Rather, “it is about a big emotional experience that validates privilege.” The term “white savior,” can refer to any person or group - regardless of race - possessing an imbalance of power or privilege. This session aims to deepen our understanding of how educational programs are designed to train our students to be white saviors rather than a desire to build a more equal, fair, and sustainable world.