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2009 Center for Global Health Headlines September 29, 2009 Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health represents University at Consortium for Universities in Global Health conference President Ronald J. Daniels participates on Presidents' Panel New univeristy consortium will boost research, form partnerships, and provide better health care to save lives around the world Research presented at meeting demonstrates doubling of students enrolled in global health programs in the last three years Thomas C. Quinn, director of the Johns Hopkins Center for Global Health, represented the University at the Consortium for Universities in Global Health (CUGH) conference held September 14-15, 2009 at the NIH Natcher Center. The meeting focused on how universities can pool together their research, education, policy and workforce training talents to bring new energy and approaches to narrow health disparities in low- and middle-income countries. The meeting drew 250 representatives from 58 universities. The effort to push more global health education and training comes amid a renewed focus on global health at the NIH. Incoming Director Dr. Francis S. Collins last month singled out global health as one of five areas he will focus on during his tenure, acknowledging the “enthusiasm in ratcheting up” research and training. Collins spoke at the conference as did Ambassador Eric Goosby, MD, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator. (See the webcast here.) Ronald J. Daniels, President of Johns Hopkins University, participated in a panel discussion with Presidents Robert A. Brown of Boston University; Richard H. Brodhead of Duke University; Mark A. Emmert of University of Washington; and James W. Wagner of Emory University. (See webcast here.) ``From every part of the nation, to every part of the developing world, our universities are working every day to reduce the disparities in health,’’ said Dr. Brown of Boston University. Eight university presidents – from BU, Duke, Emory, Johns Hopkins, University of Washington, McGill University, Stanford University, and University of California, San Francisco – also released a joint statement urging the United States to use the resources of universities to respond to global health needs and support a new generation of global health workers. ``Virtually the entire range of university expertise is now engaged in addressing the global disparities in health and development,’’ the statement said. Research conducted in preparation for the conference and released during the sessions showed that the number of students enrolled in global health programs in universities across the United States and Canada doubled in just three years due to a surging interest in careers to address health disparities and improve care to people living in developing countries. The survey findings reflect an unprecedented increase in student interest in global health education that is imposing hefty demands on universities to not only provide classes but also hands-on experiences in Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
The survey also found that universities have rapidly established training and education programs around the world. The 37 universities are involved in a combined 302 programs that have been in place for at least one year in 97 countries. About 150 North American universities have developed global health programs, most of them in the last few years, according to the Consortium. ``You cannot overstate the energy and enthusiasm on university campuses today with students who want to work on global health issues,’’ said University of Washington President Mark A. Emmert. ``The commitment of our students to help bring higher quality and greater access to health care to developing countries is one of the most impressive things I’ve ever witnessed.’’ James W. Wagner, President of Emory University in Atlanta, said that most incoming freshmen in universities and colleges around the country were born in 1990 or 1991, arriving on campus with an appreciation of the global community they live in. ``The news items that stick in their heads are almost all global – they remember 9/11, and realize that political boundaries don’t stop terrorism. They remember SARS, the West Nile virus, and now swine flu – so they know that political boundaries don’t stop disease. They have grown up as global citizens demonstrably more so than prior generations.” Laura Ferraro, of Carlisle, Mass., a senior at Duke University, helped develop a survey on women’s health issues for a university project in Leogane, Haiti, in conjunction with Family Health Ministries. She said the experience in Haiti was difficult but that it had changed her. ``I realize more and more that I want to do global health work,’’ said Ferraro, who is applying to medical schools. ``I just feel there is such a need, and I’d rather be helping than not.’’ Dr. Haile Debas, Executive Director of the University of California, San Francisco’s Global Health Sciences program, said universities were especially strong at teaching others to help build capacity in places with little expertise. ``We need to build the capacity of the developing world. That’s what universities can do better than anyone else,’’ he said. Following the meeting, the CUGH participated in a Congressional briefing Sept. 16 at the Rayburn House Office Building, which is sponsored by the CSIS Global Health Policy Center and the Congressional Global Health Caucus. For more information on CUGH and the September 14-15 meeting, please see their Web site at www.cugh.org |
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