The University of Washington School of Medicine (SoM) and UW School of Public Health (SPH) are pleased to announce that Dr. Carey Farquhar, MD, MPH has agreed to serve as Interim Chair of the Department of Global Health (DGH) until a permanent chair is found. “We are confident that Carey will continue to provide outstanding leadership for the department” said Dean of Public Health Hilary Godwin and Dean of Medicine Paul Ramsey.  

Carey has been at the University of Washington (UW) in various roles since 1994, having completed a residency and chief residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in infectious disease at the UW SoM as well as a Masters in Public Health at UW SPH.  She has been part of DGH since it was founded.  

DGH is internationally recognized for excellence in teaching and for the support they provide globally through trainings that build capacity for local communities. Carey believes the true strength of DGH comes from the people. “Our varied backgrounds and areas of expertise allow us to challenge the status quo and conduct innovative research, as well as work closely with communities to find sustainable solutions for what they prioritize and collaborate with partners to have an impact at scale.”  

Currently, Carey’s primary appointment at UW is a Professor in the Department of Global Health. She also holds appointments in the Department of Epidemiology in the School of Public Health and the Department of Medicine in the School of Medicine, where she serves as an attending physician in Allergy and Infectious Diseases.  A dedicated mentor, Carey supports many students as Chair of their PhD and MPH committees. “Our students and trainees constantly inspire me with their idealism, perspectives, and lived experiences from every corner of the world.” 

One of Carey’s goals as acting chair is to continue prioritizing equity, diversity, and inclusion in DGH. “We must center anti-racism in our approaches to global health and decolonize global health work through development of equitable partnerships with our Global South colleagues and institutions.” 

The Provost has recently approved an international search for the permanent chair of Global Health, which will be launched in the coming months .