What is social justice in global health? Answering this question is more than an academic exercise. It has real world implications for the equity and wellbeing of historically marginalized communities.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022 created a largescale humanitarian crisis that is intensifying as the conflict persists. Millions of Ukrainians, mostly women and children, have fled the country in what the United Nations calls the fastest-growing refugee crisis in Europe since World War II. Tens of thousands of people still in the country are finding themselves without access to food, water, power, or heat.
March 11 marks the two-year anniversary of the World Health Organization declaring COVID-19 a global pandemic. The Department of Global Health will be participating in the Global Day of Action to advocate for the removal of pharmaceutical monopolies on COVID tests, vaccines, and treatments to allow low- and middle-income countries to produce the life-saving medicines their populations desperately need.
To advance its commitment to the principles of social justice and health equity, the University of Washington Department of Global Health created the new position of Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). James Pfeiffer, UW professor of global health and of anthropology, has been selected to inaugurate the role.
Two University of Washington experts in climate change and health are lead authors of the latest report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
When Dr. Paul Farmer passed away in Rwanda on Monday, February 21, there was a collective gasp of disbelief across the global health world. Dr. Farmer was only 62 years old and still full of energy and purpose. Many in the DGH community and beyond at the UW knew him well and had experienced his legendary charisma and vision.
Graduate students admitted to the UW Department of Global Health are invited to join department faculty, students and staff in February and March to learn more about the department's graduate programs, life in Seattle, and becoming a part of the UW global health community. Admitted students interact with DGH faculty, current students, and alumni and discuss their experiences in global health research, learning, service and career paths.
Four Visit Days events are open to DGH current students as well as 2022 admitted students:
As a child, Corrie Ortega played with circuit boards. Her father, an electrical engineer, set them up for her to nurture her natural curiosity for science and mathematics. This early encouragement and exposure sent Ortega down a path to breaking glass ceilings in healthcare technology and business.
Ortega, who grew up in Chicago, received a bachelor’s degree in public health from Johns Hopkins University. She was originally pre-med, but an independent study in a malaria research lab opened her eyes to the exciting intersection of healthcare and technology.
Each year the UW Department of Global Health is able to provide partial to full funding to recruit top applicants. In addition to financial support, some recipients also receive mentorship and real-world experience through research assistant positions. For the 2021-2022 academic year, 14 outstanding graduate students received funding to support their studies. Learn more about this impressive cohort, including their journeys to arrive at UW and the impact they hope to have on the field of global health.
A clinical practice article in the New England Journal of Medicine distills available data and clinical experience into a compendium about rapid diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19.
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