The Binaytara Foundation hosted its second Perspectives in Global Health Series – Exploring Challenges and Solutions this past Wednesday, June 26th. The speaker was Dr. Raquel Sanchez, an experienced global health professional,  and recent graduate from the first cohort of the University of Washington Doctor of Global Health Leadership and Practice. 

This session served as a space for Dr. Sanchez to share valuable insights into her 20+ years of experience and leadership in global health with the Binaytara Foundation’s US-based team at their offices in Bellevue, WA. With a background in cancer care starting at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center managing oncology clinics and translating for patients, and then relocating to Seattle to work on the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center – Uganda Program 10 years ago, Dr. Sanchez is well versed in the field of global oncology. Throughout this meeting, Dr. Sanchez was able to share her thoughts on the Binaytara Foundation’s current global oncology endeavors in Nepal and offer some advice to members of our team. 

Emphasizing the need for collaboration between public and private entities, Dr. Sanchez highlighted how partnership and exchange between organizations is crucial to allow for change to be made within this field. This is particularly relevant to the Binaytara Foundation team currently, as we work to establish a 200-bed cancer focused hospital in Janakpur, Nepal. The need to partner with the government of Nepal, the National Health System, and other international organizations is critical to address all aspects of this current project, and Dr. Sanchez’s words resonated with the foundation’s team as we work to promote and provide collaboration between all of these entities. 

Global health problems are complex and interdisciplinary, and Dr. Sanchez also brought forth important dialogue on typologies of power and understanding that everyone in the global health space comes with different agendas. She stated, “if you feel comfortable, get uncomfortable.” During the session, Dr. Sanchez pushed the team to lean into new ideas and reflect on personal biases that can influence work in the field of global health. Conversations like this serve as an important reminder to consider the goal we are all working towards at the Binaytara Foundation – health equity. 

The Binaytara Foundation will host similar sessions monthly at its Bellevue office. For more information on attending or speaking, please contact Emma Robinson [email protected]

To learn more about Dr. Sanchez’ work and consulting firm:

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