Global Health Diplomacy
Global health diplomacy may be defined as a political change activity that meets the dual goals of improving global health and maintaining and improving international relations abroad, particularly in conflict areas and resource-poor environments. Health diplomacy training is needed to support today’s health-sciences students, residents, scientists, and faculty and to prepare leaders in global health for the twenty-first century.
Recent outbreaks of swine flu, SARs, and avian flu, and the threat of bioterrorism have galvanized interest and demand for training in health diplomacy. The globalization of biomedical research and the need to translate this research into cost-effective health interventions for poor populations also demands attention to approaches that are ethically, politically, and culturally sensitive to a multitude of inputs.
Although there are historical precedents for health diplomacy (examples are found in early missionary work, colonial and post-colonial development aid, various private-public partnerships, and now the new global health philanthropies), the imperatives of globalization, global conflict, and domestic security call for further development of global health diplomacy as an academic discipline.
To this end, IGCC and UC San Francisco Global Health Sciences (GHS) have carried out a project aimed at development of training activities across the health disciplines. The project is led by Dr. Thomas E. Novotny (San Diego State University); Vincanne Adams (UC San Francisco); and IGCC Director Susan Shirk. Funding for project activities has been provided by UC San Francisco Global Health Sciences (GHS), IGCC, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the UC Office of the President.
Activities
Negotiating Health in the 21st Century
November 2, 2009
Washington, DC
Publications
Research
