Global Health Photography
Medical Photography and Healthcare through Social Documentary
In the most remote regions of developing nations, where access to healthcare is limited, photography is a powerful tool for documenting both the challenges and breakthroughs in healthcare delivery that are the reality in these remote areas. By capturing compelling images of patients, healthcare professionals, and medical facilities, these images are valuable as social documentary and shed light on the realities faced by individuals in these underserved communities by providing a visual narrative that not only informs but also inspires action. Such images often also depict the struggles of patients battling disease and the dedication of health care professionals working tirelessly to provide care to prevent and relieve suffering, and showcase the innovative solutions being implemented to overcome resource constraints and address inequities in health care delivery.
Health and health equity are deeply personal to me and the foundation of my original interest and involvement in humanitarian work. As a scientist who has witnessed health care inequities both in the US and around the world, I am passionate to apply my background as a scientist, strategist and my skills as a photographer and visual storyteller to illustrate the pressing issues of healthcare around the world. Now more than ever, it is critical to amplify the voices of our fellow humans who need access to quality health care while celebrating the resilience and innovation of communities working toward their own lasting solutions.
I welcome opportunities to discuss potential collaborations to document and share stories of important work that can benefit from visual storytelling. You can contact me here. At this time, new, reinvigorated messages must shine through so that the world can see and understand the impact of these important programs that build capacity and empower people around the world to lead us all to a healthy future.
Collaborative Storytelling
Health equity isn’t just a goal—it’s a necessity. In my humanitarian photography work, I strive to document the disparities in healthcare access and outcomes while highlighting initiatives and self determination that help to bridge these gaps. From mobile clinics in remote areas to grassroots education campaigns, I seek out stories that illustrate the both the challenges and heroes that are central to the progress being made.
To tell these stories authentically, robust collaboration is essential. I begin each project by engaging with the organization to best understand your strategic intent and communition goals and subsequently with the healthcare workers, community leaders, and the individuals whose lives are being transformed. I have developed a tool known as the Humanitarian Photography Brief that provides a mechanism to advance a clear shared vision for the assignment. Click on this link to download a free copy.
Because of my extensive history in health care and health care strategy, I am uniquely positioned to understand your perspectives, and can often provide insights and perspectives that are not typical for contracted photographers. By listening to and understanding your perspectives and objectives, , I will ensure the images I create reflect the needs of your organization and the lived experiences of those being photographed. This approach builds trust and results in narratives that are both genuine and impactful.
Highlighting Innovation and Interventions
Whether it’s the deployment of telemedicine in underserved regions or the success of maternal health programs, I focus on capturing the tangible solutions driving change. These stories of innovation underscore the importance of investing in health systems that prioritize equity and access for all.x
Connecting Global Audiences to Local Realities
Health is a universal concern, yet the challenges and solutions often vary dramatically across regions. My photography serves as a bridge, connecting global audiences to the realities faced by communities worldwide. By humanizing these stories, I hope to inspire a collective commitment to health equity
ASSIGNMENTS
Eradicating Trachoma: International Trachoma Initiative (ITI) & Partners
Trachoma is a blinding bacterial infection of the eye caused by Chlamydia trachomatisis and is one of the oldest diseases known to humanity. While eradicated from the US and Europe during the last century, trachoma remains in areas where extreme poverty has made it more difficult to improve sanitation or to provide basic health education to promote hand and face washing. People suffering from the advanced, blinding stage of trachoma experience severe pain and diminishing vision, preventing them from contributing to their families’ economic livelihood, or even taking care of themselves. This project took us to the Karamoja region of Uganda to photograph a multi-pronged program that includes distribution of Zithromax donated by Pfizer and distributed by the International Trachoma Initiative, education on sanitation and hygiene and surgical correction of damaged eyes provided by other international partners such as World Vision and the Carter Center as well as various local partners and providers.
By showcasing the resilience and determination of individuals in the face of adversity, humanitarian or social documentary photography serves as a catalyst for much-needed action and support in improving healthcare outcomes in developing nations. This assignment included a requirement to capture the work of numerous NGOs and international organizations contributing to a multi-prong strategy that is addressing the ongoing battle to eradicate trachoma globally. This strategy is known as SAFE, which stands for Surgery, Antibiotics, Facial Cleanliness and Environmental Improvement (clean water and sanitation).
Project Kalay: Hygiene Education in Myanmar
Almost 2 million children in the world under the age of 5 die each year from diarrheal diseases and pneumonia, As summarized by the CDC, handwashing with soap could protect about 1 out of every 3 young children who get sick with diarrhea and almost 1 out of 5 young children with respiratory infections like pneumonia. Very few people around the world clean their hands with soap which is far more effective in removing germs than using water alone. Project Kalay worked with monastic schools in and around Yangon, Myanmar to teach the importance of proper hand washing and to improve access to soap. Buddhist monasteries provide critical education to poorer children without the means to purchase books and attend governmental schools. The value of basic hygiene is even greater within a lesser developed health care delivery system. The success of the program relied on education and support of the monastery leaders as well as local implementation by the teachers and older students. I returned to Myanmar several times to photograph the establishment and progression of this educational program prior to the pandemic and the military coup and governmental crisis of 2021.
PCI India Boys Home: A Sanctuary of Hope and Opportunity
Nestled in Haryana, India, the Boys Home operated by PCI India is more than just a shelter—it is a sanctuary of care, growth, and opportunity for vulnerable boys. Established with a mission to provide a safe and nurturing environment, the Boys Home addresses the critical needs of children who have faced challenging circumstances, including homelessness, poverty, and family instability.
Immediately before visiting the Boys Home, I asked a local guide to take me to the old Delhi train station where a number of lost of abandoned boys live as homeless. While we did not find any of the young boys living in the station, we did find a lost teenage boy who had travelled for two days by train in search of work. He was severely dehydrated, hungry and disoriented in the 110 degree weather. Fortunately for him, my guide was very familiar with the procedures to ensure this young man received supportive services. This experience left a lasting impression and made it very real to me to appreciate the advantages afforded to the young boys that were fortunate enough to find themselves living at the PCI Boys home in Havana, India.
A Safe Haven for Boys
The Boys Home offers a safe and structured environment where children who may have lost parents and caregivers can reclaim their childhoods and build a foundation for a brighter future. The program focuses on addressing the physical, emotional, and psychological well-being of the boys, ensuring they feel supported and valued.
This assignment centered on creating a series of materials that highlighted the excellent environment provided to the boys as part of a fundraising campaign to donors in the US. While at the Boy’s home, I was able to spend time talking with them and making portraits of all of the boys. I listened to each of their individual and sometimes heartbreaking stories as to how they found their ways to the Boys Home. Oddly enough, several of the boys told me that like the boy I had met in the train station, they had become lost traveling long distances to find work to survive.
During my two days at the Boys Home, I made images of their education, vocational training, and extracurricular activities designed to foster physical fitness, creativity and critical thinking. The Boys Home staff is well aware that many of the children in its care have experienced trauma. To support their healing and growth and psychological health of these boys, the program integrates counseling and mentorship initiatives. Life skills workshops and personal development sessions equip the boys with tools to navigate challenges and build resilience and prepare them for the time they will leave the home when they become 18 years of age.
Cultivating a Sense of Community
Beyond meeting basic needs, it was apparent that the Boys Home emphasizes the importance of community and belonging. My goal was to greta images that demostrated the strong bonds among the boys. By creating a family-like atmosphere, the program helps them develop social skills, empathy, and mutual respect.
