GHP Weekly NewsletterJanuary 26, 2024Welcome back to another edition of the GHP weekly newsletter! You may notice that the newsletter has a different look this week—as the spring semester kicks off with many exciting community updates and opportunities, we've decided to take the opportunity to begin the semester with an updated format. Please keep reading to learn more about upcoming community events, open applications, and this year's GHP winter courses.
If you have any suggestions on content you’d like to see included in subsequent issues of the GHP weekly newsletter, please contact the department’s administrative team at ghp@hsph.harvard.edu. We’d love to hear from you!
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Wafaie Fawzi Named Co-Chair of the Presidential Task Force on Combating Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Bias
On Friday, January 19, Interim President Alan Garber announced the creation of two new task forces: the Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism and the Presidential Task Force on Combating Islamophobia and Anti-Arab Bias. Richard Saltonstall Professor of Population Sciences and Professor of Nutrition, Epidemiology, and Global Health Wafaie Fawzi will co-chair the latter task force with Asim Ijaz Khwaja, Sumitomo-FASID Professor of International Finance and Development at Harvard Kennedy School. The Presidential Task Force on Combating Antisemitism will be co-chaired by Derek Penslar, William Lee Frost Professor of Jewish History in the Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and Rafaella Sadun, Charles E. Wilson Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. Each task force will be responsible for exploring the history and current forms of bias at Harvard, identifying the causes of biased behaviors on campus, determining the characteristics and frequency of these behaviors, and recommending approaches to reduce bias. To learn more about both task forces, please read Interim President Garber’s announcement.
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KoboToolbox Shortlisted for 2023/24 Future of Government Awards
KoboToolbox, a data collection and management platform founded by Phuong Pham, associate professor in GHP, and Patrick Vinck, research director of the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, has been shortlisted for the 2023/24 Future of Government Awards in the Open Source Creation category! This award celebrates teams building their own solutions in government and making them available for others to use. The Future of Government Awards are a collaboration between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Public Digital, and the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Institute. To learn more about the other teams on the shortlist, visit the Future of Government Awards page. Congratulations, Phuong and Patrick!
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Public Health History Course Featured in Harvard Chan News
Last week, the Harvard Chan news featured the new public health history course “Reimagining Public Health–Historical Dimensions of Emerging Issues,” first taught last fall. Lecturer on Global Health Policy and Executive Director of the Takemi Program Jesse Bump co-taught the course along with faculty members from several other departments. The course, led by Emily Harrison, instructor in the Department of Epidemiology, examined the historical treatment of various diseases and epidemics to contextualize current issues. To learn more and hear from GHP students who took the course, check out the Harvard Chan news story.
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Hamaiyal Sana Invited to Serve as Lancet Commission Core Peer Reviewer
Hamaiyal Sana, MPH-45 student in GHP, was recently invited by the Lancet Commission on Adolescent Health and Well-Being to serve as a core peer reviewer for the 2nd Lancet Commission Report on Adolescent Health and Well-Being. In this role, she will coordinate the group of youth peer reviewers selected from a pool of 900 applicants across the globe and liaise with Lancet Commission co-chairs and commissioners to ensure the draft report reflects youth experiences and priorities. The Lancet Commission Report is expected to be launched later this year. Congratulations, Hamaiyal!
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New Training Website for Research Administrators
The Office for Sponsored Programs (OSP) has created a new website focused on training for research administrators! Users can take onboarding, foundational, or advancement courses or visit the refresher materials page for reference. We recommend visiting the website to close any gaps in your knowledge or simply to refresh your understanding of existing policies and processes. This resource will be particularly useful for administrators, coordinators, and program managers who have responsibility for spending on sponsored awards, as well as for postdocs, research associates, and PIs who want to better understand the award process and spending policies. Visit the OSP’s new website here.
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GHP 542: Harvard–Brazil Collaborative Public Health Field Course
This year, GHP 542 took place for the first time in Manaus, in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. The course was led by Marcia Castro, Andelot Professor of Demography and chair of the Department of Global Health and Population, and was carried out in collaboration with the State University of Amazonas (UEA) and the David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies (DRCLAS). Over three weeks, 16 Harvard students and 14 students from Brazil learned about the Brazilian Unified Health System and the health challenges in the region and actively participated in developing practical and creative solutions. The course covered five topics: health systems, nutrition, malaria, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis. The main disparities in disease burdens in the Amazon were addressed, as well as their interrelationship with political, socioeconomic, and environmental factors, which are further exacerbated by activities such as deforestation and illegal mining. The discussion also encompassed logistical obstacles and specificities related to the most vulnerable groups, such as indigenous peoples and riverine communities. The program included lectures and field visits to health facilities, research and surveillance institutes, government agencies, and local communities. The students were supported by the local DRCLAS office and shared meals and accommodations during the course.
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GHP 543: Frontline Negotiation Lab
GHP 543, an intensive five-day program, was held at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government this year. The course, led by Adjunct Lecturer in Global Health Claude Bruderlein, brought together over 50 mid-career students from all corners of the globe, each bringing their unique perspectives and expertise in fields like health, migration, environment, security, climate change, women and gender issues, the justice sector, and diplomacy. The diversity of the group enriched every discussion and learning experience, providing a multifaceted view of the global challenges we face today. One of the most rewarding aspects of the course, according to Bruderlein, was the opportunity to engage with fellow participants. Learning from their practices, sharing experiences, and discussing real-world scenarios brought to life the complexities and nuances of frontline negotiation.
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GHP 544: Health System Futures for Mexico
In GHP 544, 18 students, including three from Mexico, learned first-hand about Mexico’s health system challenges, controversial reforms implemented by the national administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and possible futures for the Mexican health system. A presidential election will take place in early June, and the campaign is now starting. In closed seminars, students heard directly from policy makers seeking to transform the health system from different political perspectives. Students spent three weeks in Mexico City, where they met with key national and state decision-makers, policy advisors from the current government and the political opposition, and top researchers to understand the scope of the ongoing reform and its achievements and challenges. They also visited health facilities in the public and private sector. As part of the course, student groups completed four highly successful applied research projects with public and private organizations such as the Mexican Health Foundation (FUNSALUD), the Fundación de Cáncer de Mama (FUCAM), and the Ministry of Health. The course was led by Adjunct Professor Martin Lajous, Takemi Professor Emeritus Michael R. Reich, and Teaching Fellow Andrea Luviano, with support from the DRCLAS and US–Mexico Commission for Educational & Cultural Exchange (COMEXUS).
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Reimagining the Childbirth Experience
Monday, January 29 / 1–1:30 pm ET / The Studio, 10th Floor Kresge / Lunch vouchers provided
With an abysmally high rate of maternal mortality, the U.S. faces an urgent need to rethink the care of pregnant people, particularly within communities of color. The solutions are not always expensive or high-tech. Our panelists will share insights into surprisingly simple—but strikingly effective—ways to save lives, including embracing the role of doulas and elevating the patient's voice at key decision points during labor. This panel will feature, among others, Jessica Cohen, Bruce A. Beal, Robert L. Beal, and Alexander S. Beal Associate Professor of Global Health.
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Career Trajectories in Public Health: Global Health Diplomacy
Friday, February 2 / 1–2 pm ET / Zoom
Join us for a conversation between Ayako Okuhama, MD, MPH, and Tamar Tchelidze, MD, MPH, moderated by Rashad Massoud, MD, MPH, FACP, visiting faculty.
Ayako Okuhama is an incoming technical officer for the Health Emergency Programme, Infectious Hazard Preparedness Unit, Eastern-Mediterranean Regional Office, World Health Organization. Tamar Tchelidze is a disease area partner at Medical and Scientific Affairs, Roche Diagnostics. Ayako and Tamar will share their experiences working in global health diplomacy and will hold a Q&A with attendees.
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Plant-Based Diets for Complementary Foods for Toddlers: Tradeoffs Between Biology and Context?
Monday, February 5 / 1–2 pm ET / Kresge 502 and Zoom
Nancy Krebs, MD, MS, will examine current recommendations for adults to choose plant-based diets to promote both health and sustainability in contrast to current guidance emphasizing animal source foods for complementary diets for infants and toddlers. Considerations for adequacy of alternative diet patterns in distinct settings to support optimal growth and meet micronutrient needs will be discussed.
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From Data to Action: Atrocity Prevention Through Spatial Methods Tuesday, February 6, and Wednesday, February 7 / 9:30 am – 12 pm ET / Zoom
Join the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative’s Atrocity Prevention Lab for their inaugural conference to explore the role of spatial methods in atrocity and conflict prevention. Through a series of expert-led presentations, panels, and workshops, participants will explore how spatial methods such as geographic information systems (GIS) can help us better understand patterns of violence, identify vulnerable populations, and develop effective conflict and atrocity prevention strategies. Questions? Please contact Saira Khan.
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2nd Annual Africa Health Conference
Friday, February 23, and Saturday, February 24 / Harvard Chan School
The Africa Health Conference, presented by the Harvard Chan Africa Health Students Forum, is an annual event that brings together experts, researchers, practitioners, and students from across the world to discuss and explore pressing health challenges in Africa. This year’s event will explore the theme “Mapping Changemakers Transforming Health in Africa.”
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Open Calls for Applications
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Humanitarian Response Intensive Course
The Humanitarian Response Intensive Course (HRIC) is offered each year to professionals from around the world. Through presentations and hands-on table top exercises offered by faculty and guest lecturers who are experts in their topic areas, participants will gain familiarity with the primary frameworks and practical issues that arise in the humanitarian field. The course will be offered in person in Cambridge, MA, from April 16 to 28, 2024, and will include a three-day fully immersive humanitarian simulation. Registration will be open until the course is full. For more information, visit the HRIC website.
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Call for Abstracts: 8th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research
Health Systems Global (HSG) organizes a symposium every two years to bring together its members with the full range of players involved in health systems and policy research and practice. The 8th Global Symposium on Health Systems Research will be held in Nagasaki, Japan, from November 18 to 22, 2024. It will be hosted by Nagasaki University in consortium with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The theme of the symposium is “Building Just and Sustainable Health Systems Centering People and Protecting the Planet.” The first deadline, for organized sessions abstracts, is January 30, 2024.
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2024‒2025 Home Hospital International Fellowship
The Home Hospital International Fellowship is a fantastic opportunity for clinicians and researchers in the home hospital field to contribute to advancing knowledge in hospital-level care at home and join an international network of practitioners and researchers. The fellowship is an in-person opportunity, with hybrid options considered on a case-by-case basis. The application deadline is January 31, 2024. Questions? Please reach out to homehospital@ariadnelabs.org.
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Call for Abstracts: 2024 Africa Health Conference Poster Competition
This is a formal invitation to submit an abstract for the 2024 Africa Health Conference Poster Competition presented by the Harvard Chan Africa Health Students Forum. Abstract submissions should fit the theme of the conference, “Mapping Changemakers Transforming Health in Africa.” This theme emphasizes the implementation sphere of public health in Africa to highlight the different strides that organizations and public health professionals have made in the attempt to improve health outcomes of various populations within the African continent. The deadline for submission is January 31, 2024. Questions? Contact Catherine Wambura, Lisa Matay, Shalom Sabwa, or Dennis Nyanyo.
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International Health Systems Program’s 2024 Open-Enrollment Courses
May 1–7, 2024: Strengthening Human Resources for Health
Early Bird Discount ($500 Off) Deadline: February 1
Location: On campus
Cost: $3,500
Application Deadline: April 1
August 5–9, 2024: Global Perspectives on Decentralized Health Systems
Location: On Campus (Hybrid options available)
Cost: $3,500
Application Deadline: June 18, 2024
Early Bird Discount ($500 Off) Deadline: May 1, 2024
October 21–25, 2024: High Quality Health Systems: Assessing Performance and Improving at Scale
Location: On Campus
Cost: $3,500
Application Deadline: September 1, 2024
Early Bird Discount ($500 Off) Deadline: July 1, 2024
We recommend applying early to ensure sufficient time for visa processing and to secure the best travel and accommodation rates. For more details, please reach out to ihps@hsph.harvard.edu.
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Intensive Summer Course on Migration and Refugee Studies in Greece
The FXB Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University, in collaboration with the Refugee and Migration Studies Hub at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece, and with the support of the Harvard Center for Hellenic Studies in Greece and the U.S., is offering a three-week intensive, interdisciplinary course on migration and refugee studies. The course will be taught in English and organized around a multidisciplinary, rights-based curriculum that draws on legal, medical, environmental, and broader social science approaches to migration policy and practice. The course will take place from July 5 to 28, 2024, in Athens, Nafplio, Ancient Olympia, and Lesvos. The application deadline is February 10, 2024. For additional information on the program or application process, please contact Vasileia Digidiki. Please find the application form for Harvard-affiliated applicants here, and the form for non-Harvard-affiliated applicants here.
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Global Health Delivery Intensive
The Global Health Delivery Intensive (GHDI) at Harvard Chan School is a virtual, three-week program that addresses how to design and manage programs that improve health care delivery and outcomes in low-resource settings. The course will take place from July 9 to 26, 2024, and the application deadline is February 15, 2024. Applicants should be mid-career professionals who have a demonstrated commitment to health equity and experience in health organizations. Practitioners, policy leaders, and administrators are all strong candidates, and international candidates are encouraged to apply.
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HGHI Burke Global Health Fellowship
The Harvard Global Health Institute (HGHI) has opened applications for the 2024–2025 HGHI Burke Global Health Fellowship for junior faculty members across the University. There are two categories of awards. The research award provides $75,000 to conduct foundational research that prepares the junior faculty member to be an independent investigator or conduct exploratory work on groundbreaking questions seldom supported by traditional funding sources. The curriculum development and teaching award provides $25,000 to apply innovative pedagogy to course development and teaching, particularly at the undergraduate level. All application materials are due by 5 pm on March 8, 2024. More information can be found on the HGHI Burke Fellowship website.
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Academic PositionsStaff PositionsInternships and Internal Student Positions
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Submit to the next newsletter!
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Newsletter submissions sent before close of business Wednesday will be included in that week’s edition. Submissions sent Thursday or Friday will be included in the following week’s edition.
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