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Building a Home for Global Health at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
In our increasingly
interconnected world there is an urgent need for physicians, nurses,
pharmacists, veterinarians, public health practitioners, and experts
from other fields to work together to address health issues. Whether
investigating animal-human links in new bacterial and viral diseases or
developing interdisciplinary models that enable communities to take the
lead in addressing health priorities, health professionals can be more
effective when they combine their scientific knowledge and skills with a
deeper awareness of culture, language, and society.
To better prepare our students
to meet the complex needs of our ever-changing global community, deans
of the UW-Madison health sciences schools and international studies
announced the formation of a new Center for Global Health (CGH) on
October 24, 2005. The center is a joint initiative of the schools of
Nursing, Pharmacy, Medicine and Public Health, Veterinary Medicine, and
the Division of International Studies. It is believed to be one of the
few centers for global health in which multiple health science schools
and an international studies unit on a single campus have united to
advance global health.
Why did a major Midwestern
university decide to invest resources in global health? How did the
UW-Madison Center for Global Health come about and what will it mean for
the campus in the years ahead? This story provides background, outlines
key steps, and envisions future efforts.
The context
The University of
Wisconsin-Madison (UW-Madison) is among the finest institutions of
higher education and research in the world. It enrolls more than 40,000
students annually, including more than 3,000 international students.
The university’s International Institute is home to eleven distinct area
studies programs and includes hundreds of faculty who are expert on
nearly every world region. The university also offers study abroad
options on six of the seven continents, as well as outstanding social,
biological and agricultural sciences programs. The UW-Madison health
sciences schools enroll more than 1,400 students each year, and the
faculty is engaged in a dazzling spectrum of basic and applied
research. Yet until recently the campus had no formal program to
promote global health.
Calls to strengthen global
health at the university converged from many directions. Growing
numbers of students were opting to study abroad. Health sciences
faculty and staff who recognized the importance of global health sought
to better prepare students through new courses and offerings. The
International Health Medical Education Consortium (now Global Health
Education Consortium or GHEC) played an important role when they
provided a consultant to the UW Medical School who outlined steps to
strengthen international education through a central office. UW
Chancellors David Ward and John Wiley encouraged global efforts when
they identified “accelerate internationalization” as one of the campus’
five strategic priorities. The Wisconsin Idea, drafted by Charles
McCarthy in 1912, recognized that “the boundaries of the university are
the boundaries of the state”. This was expanded to “the boundaries of
the university are the boundaries of the world; a world-class university
should be engaged in global understanding and action.”
Activating a university-wide
global health community
Dr. Philip Farrell, dean of the
UW Medical School (now the School of Medicine and Public Health)
stimulated global efforts when he activated a new International Health
Advisory Committee (IHAC) in 2001. The 24-member committee, comprised
of experienced faculty and staff from all of the campus’ health science
units, the Division of International Studies, as well as community
health professionals, was charged to recommend policies, expand programs
and coordinate international health efforts among the health sciences
schools.
Establishing vision, goals
and plans
The IHAC met monthly for more
than a year to clarify policies and procedures related to the conduct of
international programs among the health sciences schools. These
meetings provided opportunities for members to share experiences and to
discuss the potential for new courses, programs and partnerships. In
2002, an IHAC retreat was held to afford members time to envision
vibrant UW-Madison global health programs. From this gathering, a small
steering committee was charged to plan a course of action. The steering
committee developed ideas for forming an official center to serve the
following purposes: to enhance global health education, research and
partnerships based on the principles of addressing health disparities;
to promote interdisciplinary collaboration; and to build lasting
relationships to yield reciprocal benefits. This vision energized
students, staff and faculty.
Developing courses
Gilles Bousquet, UW-Madison Dean
of International Studies, and his staff championed global health efforts
as well. Realizing the potential synergy between the health sciences,
social sciences, and agricultural and life sciences, Dean Bousquet
provided crucial seed funds to support development of new field-based
courses on “Health, Language and Culture of Ecuador”, and “Health and
Disease in Uganda”. Dedicated faculty, staff and students piloted
courses that mobilized interdisciplinary groups around common goals.
Students returned profoundly moved by their experiences in the
international pilot courses, which triggered increased interest among
their fellow students. Currently, the development of courses in
Thailand, Mexico, and other sites is under way, and Graduate and
Capstone Certificate Programs will be offered at UW-Madison beginning in
the fall of 2006.
Establishing partnerships
The Center for Global Health is
working to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with universities,
health care centers and organizations around the world. Partnerships
continue to grow in Uganda, Ecuador, Belize, and Mexico, and are
evolving in Thailand, India, Vietnam, China, South Africa and other
locations. The staff, students, and faculty are continuously working
toward making new connections in our ever-growing global community.
Addressing challenges
Dreaming of a future for global
health at the university was energizing, but moving from the dream to
reality is challenging. A fundamental challenge is to show that global
health can add value to a state-supported university. Some have feared
that global programs might drain scarce resources and detract from our
ability to serve the people of the state, yet students, staff and
faculty have returned from global health programs with new skills and
experiences, as well as renewed commitments to address health needs
within our statewide community.
Another challenge was to secure
core resources for the new center during a time of university-wide
budget cuts and state budget deficits. All participating units were
invited to contribute towards the goals, programs and resources of the
new center. Steering Committee members from each school communicated
with their constituents, transmitted concerns from their schools, and
worked with the director to secure realistic budget support. Support
from community donors also provided crucial seed funds to hire core
staff and jump-start programs.
Welcoming everyone to the
emerging global health community is important in a large campus with
many distinct and varied participants. Office space for the Center for
Global Health in the new Health Sciences Learning Center has provided
convenient access to students, staff and faculty. Our new Web site
offers core information about the center and global health education, as
well as up-to-date information on current CGH events and activities. A
Global Health Student Interest Group is in place, and is very active in
promoting the inter-disciplinary nature of the CGH. They host noon
talks and discussions that are very well-attended, provide
representatives for the Steering Committee, and coordinate our annual
symposiums. These symposiums, as well as our Global Health Seminar
Series, provide opportunities for faculty, staff and students to share
their work and for visitors to present new ideas. Individuals who have
attended these activities have been invited to join a listserve to
receive notice of CGH events. Currently, this group is made up of over
400 members. A global health affiliate program has also been launched.
This allows faculty, staff and community members to register and
contribute to a global health database that enables students to locate
and efficiently network with advisors and members with shared
interests.
Envisioning the future
In November, 2005, the steering
committee for the Center for Global Health gathered at a retreat to
continue to plan for the future of the center. During this session, the
Vision Statement, Mission Statement, and Goals were refined to reflect
the spirit and purpose of the newly formed center:
Vision Statement:
Contributing to sustainable health improvements for populations
throughout the world.
Mission Statement:
The UW Center for Global Health promotes interdisciplinary education,
research and partnerships to address health issues that transcend
national boundaries.
Goals:
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Develop global health education programs
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Advance global health research
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Facilitate global health partnerships and
exchanges
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Foster an interdisciplinary network of
global health scholars and practitioners
With these statements and goals
in place, the Center for Global Health looks forward to a dynamic future
of meeting the needs of our global community. |
