By Lucianna Ciccocioppo
(April 26, 2012) Alumnus Steven Hoffman has been pretty busy since graduating from the University of Toronto in 2010 with his JD and MA in political science. Currently pursuing a PhD in health policy and governance at Harvard University and a doctorate in law at the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris, Hoffman is gearing up for a fascinating summer job in New York City.
He was selected to be a fellow in the executive office of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, from June to August 2012. The position is facilitated through a secondment from the UN Foundation.
And to say he’s excited is an understatement. “It will be a tremendously powerful experience, for informing my future research and for enhancing my future public service contributions,” says Hoffman.
He’ll be working on new initiatives to promote options for universal health coverage, supporting stakeholder engagement with respect to the secretary-general’s maternal and child health strategy, and providing overall communications and policy support to the office.
His previous global health policy experiences will serve him well, such as positions with the World Health Organization and Pan-American Health Organization. He was also an intern with the Faculty of Law’s International Human Rights Program at the World Health Organization in the summer of 2008. He continues to teach two courses on global health governance, law and politics at McMaster University as an assistant professor.
Hoffman articled at the intellectual property litigation firm Gilbert’s LLP in Toronto “and loved it. The advocacy and strategic problem-solving skills I gained will certainly help me to do well in the secretary-general’s office. This summer position builds on the legal training I received at the Faculty of Law and Gilbert’s LLP.”
Hoffman, who hopes to return to Canada one day for a career in academia, says Canadians enjoy a special place at the UN. “It’s quite wonderful to be a Canadian working at the UN and in public affairs. Canadians have such a stellar reputation in the UN system.”
