User:Josephine

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Josephine El Balaa is a postgraduate student studying Masters in Oral Surgery at Saint Joseph University of Beyrouth. Josephine is originally from Baalbak, but lived all her life in Hadath. After exploring her potential and interests I the faculty if dentistry for 5 years, she was exposed to the University Innovation Fellows thanks to one of her professors.

At Saint Joseph University of Beyrouth, Josephine is involved with the Independant movement and the University Pastoral work. In addition, she is committed to spiritual movements in parishes since the age of 6. Josephine has always been interested in music, arts and nature. She spends a lot of her time doing volunteering work with different NGOs. She strives to develop her personal skills and enrich her personal growth by taking workshops, seminars and participating in camps, despite the pressure of the academic schedule.

She is mostly inspired by the special health care needs population. Josephine hopes that she will one day be able to make a change concerning these people, and encourages and promotes as much as possible their inclusion in society. She would love to offer them free dental services, once her career is stable enough.

On her campus, Josephine tries to create bonds and connections with people around her. She is curious about everything she encounters and when there is a certain lack or problem, she tries to solve it. She encourages multidisciplinary work and believes in the power of a healthy team work, in succeeding in problem solving and innovation. Josephine aims to make students think outside the box and invest their potential in several different fields. She likes what is new and loves to work on enhancing the old, because it’s its origin.

Joséphine is now working in a private dental clinic and volunteering in another clinic. She is investing part of her time in her master studies. During the pandemic she has participated in the UIF vs Corona and has lead with her team, an initiative to break the stigma about mental health in Lebanon and in India. She is a co-founder and a board member of a junior entreprise at her university, called UChange, which is a community inspired by the UIF values. Through this community, students are able to connect with alumni thanksnto the Alumni Meetups project. They also had the opportunity to collaborate with Open Ideo and other international universities, aiming together to educate students about design thinking. Despite the ongoing engagement and activities on and off campus, Josephine still prioritizes her family and loved ones and cherishes the moments she spends with them while they are still healthy, because covid 19 taught her that nothing is given for granted.

The current motivating moto is: If not me, who? If not now, when?