(Health Systems and Global Policy MSc, 2016)
We need to show more people of colour, trans folks, people with disabilities and people in non-traditional relationships. Queer culture is very rich and full of nuance because we have to actively chart our own paths, and we should be proudly showing that face to the world.
Why did you choose to study MSc Health Systems and Global Policy at Barts and The London? Did you have a particular career path in mind?
I chose this programme because it combined social science and social justice perspectives that I value with education on topics like health economics, health inequalities, migrant health and planetary health that are incredibly relevant in the public health field today.
I’ve always been interested in group and system dynamics, and I’m passionate about using evidence to develop programmes that work – especially for people who struggle to engage with or who are poorly served by health systems. I’m curious about why people behave as they do, what they believe about their health and the causes of illness, and how health systems can better meet them where they are. My background in anthropology forms the basis of how I approach these issues, and the MSc in Health Systems and Global Policy showed me how to apply that approach to real world challenges.
What aspects of your degree do you still use today in your current role as Senior Policy Advisor (Global Health) at the British Medical Association?
My work feels like an extension of my degree in a lot of ways! So much of what I do day to day is similar – reading, researching and analysing; writing essays (they’re called briefings now); having discussion groups with colleagues to consider the best way to influence on a particular topic. Many of the topics are the same: migration; climate change; health security; trade agreements. The key thing I learned, which I take into all aspects of my work at the BMA, is to think critically about how an action affects the whole system. It’s tempting to focus on one issue or the needs of one group, but you have to balance that against the needs and constraints of many other issues and groups across the health system.
There are so many arbitrary constraints placed on us by society, but when we break free of those limits there’s a huge realm of possibilities to have truly authentic and affirming connections.
How did the outbreak of COVID-19 have a direct impact on your work, considering your role within the Global Health sphere? How has your role grown and evolved?
COVID-19 has profoundly impacted the global health landscape and consequently, it’s become a huge part of my role. During the early phase of the pandemic, I was often asked to provide advice about appropriate international comparisons and policy lessons the UK might learn from other countries. Thankfully, this is something we studied as part of the course! In the past 2 years I’ve actually produced over 50 global COVID-19 situation reports, which is wild to think about in retrospect.
I do a lot of work on migrant health issues, and COVID-19 is a huge concern with regard to migrant communities, both in the UK and in transit. I’ve been involved in lobbying to highlight the infection control risk posed by inappropriate accommodation and the urgent need to suspend all NHS charging of ‘overseas visitors’ to ensure everyone feels safe coming forward for treatment. More recently, I’ve been leading the BMA’s campaign on global vaccine equity, which has involved writing to the Prime Minister, coordinating a joint statement with royal medical colleges and health unions, and putting out media comments.
I also did an internal secondment in the BMA’s domestic population health team at the start of 2021, where I led the policy response to easing lockdown measures. My experience of the global COVID-19 situation was absolutely key to securing that role, and my work on global vaccine equity has greatly benefitted from the experience I gained through working closely with comms and media colleagues on such a high-profile issue.
What do you feel is the best thing about being LGBT+?
For me it’s very much about freedom and authenticity. Freeing myself from societal ideas about who I should love and what my relationships should look like. I’m still actively working to free my mind from the binary conceptions of gender that existed when I came of age, and that’s been a really rewarding process. There are so many arbitrary constraints placed on us by society, but when we break free of those limits there’s a huge realm of possibilities to have truly authentic and affirming connections.
Putting pronouns in email signatures, implementing blind recruitment processes and providing gender-neutral toilet facilities are all important steps that organisations can take to become more diverse and inclusive.
2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the very first Pride March in the UK in 1972. What do you think still needs to be done to give greater equality and representation to the LGBT+ community?
I think we’ve achieved much of what we set out to do 50 years ago as far as the LGB parts of the community. There’s still more work to do, for example increasing acceptance and mainstream representation of bisexual men. But the frontier has largely moved on and it’s now our trans siblings who are fighting for basic acceptance, equality and freedom from discrimination.
Discourses around gender have changed radically in the past decade and we need much more representation of trans and also gender non-conforming individuals in order to bring society along on this journey. I also think that we need a greater focus on intersectionality – in the struggle for equality we’ve centred an ‘acceptable’ face of queerness that’s usually white, cis-gendered, non-disabled and married with children. We need to show more people of colour, trans folks, people with disabilities and people in non-traditional relationships. Queer culture is very rich and full of nuance because we have to actively chart our own paths, and we should be proudly showing that face to the world.
Why is it important that networks and allies exist within the workplace to support LGBT+ individuals and communities?
LGBT+ networks are important first and foremost for bringing people together and making us visible to each other. They connect us with sources of solidarity, acceptance and support in a setting where we spend a huge portion of our lives. They help to nurture an environment that is actively welcoming, so that we feel able to bring our full selves to the office. They also help to break the taboos that can surround talking about personal topics like your sexuality or gender in the workplace.
Networks and allies also play an important role in shaping processes and norms within workplaces. Putting pronouns in email signatures, implementing blind recruitment processes and providing gender-neutral toilet facilities are all important steps that organisations can take to become more diverse and inclusive. These actions often require activism before they are adopted, and networks and allies provide a way to share the load so that the burden of advocacy does not fall only on those directly affected by an issue.
If you would like to get in touch with Arielle or engage them in your work, please contact the Alumni Engagement team at alumni@qmul.ac.uk.