Juxtaposition Global Health Magazine is a University of Toronto student-run publication which produces two issues annually focusing on global health issues. This year, Juxtaposition is reaching out to students to submit their own articles and get informed through a new social networking initiative helmed by their new administrative associate and social networker, Molly McGillis, who I was happy to sit down with to talk to about the magazine.

Give me a bit of background about Juxtaposition.

Juxtaposition was founded in 2004 by Kadia Petricca and Michelle Chakkalackal here at U of T. Kadia is actually back this year as Editor-in-Chief of the Editorial Division while she finishes up her PhD in Global Health Policy. They sought to create a forum to engage student interest in addressing global health issues from a multidisciplinary lens. The magazine was originally published in an online format, but through a number of partnerships and collaborations with college, departments and research bodies on and off campus, was able to secure funds over the past four years to become print.

The name ‘Juxtaposition’ comes from the verb ‘to juxtapose’, which is the act of placing two or more things side by side. Wherever possible, Juxtaposition seeks to include contrasting perspectives on global health issues in a wider social, economic, political, and legal context. All issues aim to highlight pertinent and controversial topics in the field of global health through the perspectives of students, researchers and alumni at U of T and beyond. The latest Spring 2011 issue, ‘Movers and Shakers’, offered perspectives from those working abroad of the ethics and challenges of working in the field. In particular, Dr. Raghu Venngopal provided an account of his experiences with Doctors Without Borders in addition to a photo essay by Charlotte Hunter, who documented her experiences in one Namibian Hospital confronting the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

Why should students be interested in the magazine?

We live in a global society, meaning that events and phenomena that happen across the globe will ultimately impact us all in some way. The magazine provides insight into critical topics that have long-term implications on society, politics, and economics, and we hope that the magazine will inspire readers to seek further information and try to make change.

Furthermore, it’s important for me to add that the scope of the magazine isn’t limited to third-world issues: it’s global health. For instance, the most recent issue contains articles about psychological issues, pollution, and health care reform in North America. They’re issues that affect us, and issues we can try to do something about no matter where they are rooted.

Where can students find Juxtaposition on the web?

Juxtaposition has a website where one can find all of our current and past publications, as well as calls for submissions: www.juxtaposition.sa.utoronto.ca. We also have a Twitter feed which will aim to broadcast global health-related events occurring on and off campus, as well as updates about the magazine and submission calls: www.twitter.com/juxtamagazine. We will follow you back! Look out for more links as we expand our social networking through our Twitter feed.

What are you looking for in terms of submissions, and when and where should they be sent?

For submissions, the deadline for the upcoming issue is October 21, and there are a lot of topics which writers can consider publishing, including articles on bio-technology, peace and conflict, and healthcare policy. Please visit our website for submission guidelines!

Thanks to Molly and Juxtaposition Global Health Magazine.

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