Humanitarienne
with Dr. Kirsten Johnson
Hosted by CBC's Rebecca Zandbergen
Fall Festival In Person Streaming Politics Non-Fict History Memoir
Dr. Johnson’s memoir paints a detailed picture of the triumphs and the horrors of conducting humanitarian work in developing parts of the world. It’s a fascinating read, and I’m glad that she, and others like her, are willing to do the hard work to actually make the world a better place… one mission, and sometimes one person, at a time.
As a physician and public health specialist, Kirsten Johnson has led missions in conflict zones, disaster-stricken regions and underserved communities. Join us for a conversation on her life and work.
In Humanitarienne: A Doctor's Stories from the Conflict Zone, she traces how a strict childhood marked by trauma pushed her to seek independence early. Living in a punk flop house while trying to finish high school was the unlikely turning point in a life that would be shaped by curiosity, resilience and a commitment to others.
Over the years, Dr. Johnson completed medical school, received her Masters in Public Health from Harvard, studied tropical medicine and eventually brought her skills into some of the world’s most precarious settings.
It is a story of hard-earned transformation and unwavering commitment: a girl who once felt she belonged nowhere becoming a woman who has built a life of purpose everywhere, defined not by where she came from but by changes she has helped create. Informed by courage and a touch of rebellious spirit, Humanitarienne is essential reading for anyone drawn to international work, social justice, or the ways in which people are shaped by—and in turn shape—the world around them.
Books are available for purchase from our friends at Perfect Books.
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