Thesis Title: The Impact of International Trade Agreements on Health: Patent System Harmonization and Medicines in Mexico

Ben's thesis supervisors are:
Dr. Jerry Spiegel, Research Co-Supervisor, School of Population and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia

Professor Ian Townsend-Gault, Research Co-Supervisor, Faculty of Law, University of British Columbia

Sex workers experience the worst health outcomes globally, with escalating rates of violence, HIV infection and premature mortality worldwide. Unfortunately recent history has shown that all too often moral debates dominate the public health response in sex work, and science continues to take a backseat to punitive approaches aimed at eliminating sex work and "rescue" operations. This is despite the ample evidence of the failures of criminalization in preventing harms among sex workers both locally and internationally, and the inadvertent role of these policies and enforcement-based approaches in exacerbating violence and poor health among sex workers. Growing evidence points to the need for global account-ability by policy makers, governments, scientists, and international bodies to public health efforts that redress the health inequity gaps among some of the most marginalized individuals.

Presenter: Dr. Kate Shannon

Dr. Shannon is the Director of the Gender and Sexual Health Initiative at the BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine and Associate Faculty in School of Population and Public Health at the University of British Columbia. She leads a large program of CIHR and NIH-funded research on the social and structural determinants shaping sexual health and HIV/STI prevention and care for marginalized populations both in Canada and sub-Saharan Africa, particularly youth and sex workers. Her work has contri-buted substantially to local and global policy discussions, including expert witness testimony and UNAIDS HIV updates. She is Associate Editor of the International Journal of Drug Policy and is currently consulting with World Health Organization on the development of international guidelines and best practices on violence and HIV/STI prevention among sex workers and clients. In 2011, she was the recipient of the Peter Lougheed Award (Top-Ranked New Investigator in Canada in 2010) at the Canada Health Research Awards Ceremony in Ottawa, and holds a MSFHR Career Investigator/Scholar Award.

Reception: 5:00 pm
Lecture: 6:00 pm

This event can be viewed LIVE by using Adobe Connect.

To login to the seminar using Adobe Connect:

1. Go to the Adobe Connect login site: http://webinarfomubc.adobeconnect.com/spph-shannon-2april2012/


• for traditional computers, click the login address link


• for iPhone, iPad and Android users, please type the login address into the Adobe Connect Mobile app when prompted


2. Enter as a Guest


3. Click on "Enter room." You will be placed into a queue, awaiting approval from the seminar assistant.

Communicating in Adobe Connect:

• You will be able to view the presentation, hear the presenter, as well as text-chat with the seminar assistants in the chat box at the bottom of the screen


• You will not be able to ask questions.

Adobe Connect Technical Support: on-line or by phone 1-800-422-3623.

The UBC School of Population & Public Health cannot diagnose remote technical issues on the day of the seminar. However, we are happy to confer with you or your IT support staff regarding our configuration ahead of time; please contact spph.it@ubc.ca at least three business days before the seminar.