Department of Global & Environmental Health
DECEMBER 2023 NEWSLETTER
Dear All,
We are thrilled to introduce the department’s first official newsletter, a platform to share faculty- and student-related news and important updates in global and environmental health.
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Dr. Emmanuel Peprah Presents at the 2023 American Heart Association Conference
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This November, Dr. Emmanuel Peprah, Assistant Professor of Global Health and Director of Implementation Science at NYU GPH, represented GEH at the 2023 American Heart Association (AHA) conference in Philadelphia. Dr. Peprah’s talk was a part of AHA’s Scientific Session, “Moving Towards Social Justice in Cardiovascular Health: A JAHA Journal Session.” In his talk, “Designing Cardiovascular Interventions to Close Equity Gap,” Dr. Peprah described the inequitable distribution of cardiovascular disease outcomes and risk factors in the US. Dr. Peprah emphasized that reducing disparities will require dismantling thfde systemic barriers that prevent the equitable delivery of cardiovascular interventions. Moreover, he stressed that integrating policy, research, and innovation is pivotal to effectively implement equitable CVD interventions. Dr. Peprah concluded that sustainability, research, and scaling must also be considered when addressing disparities in cardiovascular health outcomes.
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| Dr. Yesim Tozan presents at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Conference
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Dr. Yesim Tozan, Assistant Professor of Global Health, took the stage as a featured speaker at the 2023 American Society for Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Conference in Chicago earlier this year. Dr. Tozan spoke about her work on the Kyaterekera Project, “Costing of a Combination Intervention (Kyaterekera) Addressing Sexual Risk-Taking Behaviors among Vulnerable Women in Southern Uganda.” This project is a five-year longitudinal study funded by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), which uses a randomized clinical trial to examine the impact and costs associated with Kyaterekera. This innovative intervention combines economic empowerment elements with traditional HIV risk reduction interventions to reduce new incidences of sexually transmitted infections and HIV among female sex workers in the greater Masaka region, ultimately providing a safe and sustainable income alternative to sex work.
Sources: https://ichad.wustl.edu/kyaterekera/
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| Highlights from Dr. Prince Amegbor
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Dr. Prince Amegbor, Assistant Professor of Global Health, participated in the 13th Annual Hilltop Conference on Current Topics in Environmental Public Health, which took place in NYC on October 7th. The conference was organized by GlobeMed@Columbia to support Gulu Women's Economic Development and Globalization (GWED-G), a grassroots NGO in Uganda that promotes work in economic empowerment and women's health. Dr. Amegbor delivered his talk titled "Air Pollution & Childhood Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa – A Geographical Outlook," which focused on the impact of early life exposure to ambient air pollution on child growth. He emphasized how, in a data-scarce context (i.e., environmental data), researchers can harness existing public data from resources such as Demographic and Health Surveys or institutions such as NASA to comprehend the growing burden of environmentally induced adverse health outcomes. His presentation also explored how geographical inquiry and methods can enhance our understanding of inequalities and how to address them.
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| I AM GPH: A Conversation with Dr. Michael Merson
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Dr. Michael Merson, interim Chair of the GEH department, shared insights from his storied career in global health on the "I Am GPH" podcast. Early in his career, Dr. Merson held influential positions at the World Health Organization (WHO), directing large programs on Diarrheal Diseases and Acute Respiratory Infections and leading the WHO Global Program on AIDS during the height of the epidemic. After 17 years at WHO, Dr. Merson transitioned to academia, serving in various leadership positions at top institutions across the country. He has also been an advisor for organizations like UNAIDS, WHO, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB, Malaria, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. He is a National Academy of Medicine member and holds two honorary degrees. Whether you're an aspiring public health professional or simply curious about global health, this episode is a must-listen. You can access the recording here.
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Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford Attends the 2023 Young Physicians Leaders Programme in Berlin
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| The InterAcademy Partnership (IAP), in partnership with the World Health Summit (WHS) and the M8 Alliance of Academic Health Centres and Medical Universities, hosted the 2023 Young Physicians Leaders (YPL) conference in Berlin, Germany. This year's conference convened 18 young physicians from 15 countries to participate in the World Health Summit, receive leadership training, and visit research laboratories in the Berlin area.
Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford, Clinical Professor of Global Health, was the lead coordinator and guiding force behind YPL's leadership training. Over the six days, participants strengthened their leadership skills, grew their networks, and expanded their knowledge of global challenges in healthcare. For more details, read about the IAP Young Physician Leaders program here.
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| First "Health Day" at COP28
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This year December 3rd marked the first "Health Day" at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference, COP 28, underscoring a growing recognition of the inextricable linkage between climate change and human health. The day featured conversations on the impact of climate change on human health as it relates to cardiovascular disease, vector-borne diseases, and mental health and its increasing contribution to humanitarian crises via extreme weather events. Speakers acknowledged the lack of funding for health-positive climate initiatives and discussed how technological advancements can drive innovative solutions in regenerative agriculture and food security.
Some Key Takeaways:
- 123 countries signed the COP28 UAE Declaration on Climate and Health, which recognizes the burden of climate change on countries' health systems and supports the development of clear guidelines on how countries can build climate-resilient health systems. Guidelines will incorporate strengthening surveillance and early warning systems.
- 70 countries and 39 organizations have backed a 'Declaration on Climate, Relief, Recovery, and Peace, which calls for enhanced financial support for climate adaptation and resilience in conflict settings.
- Several countries renewed their commitment to eliminating Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) with the UAE pledging 777 million and the US 200 million.
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Navigating Public Health Challenges in Conflict Zones
Tuesday, December 19th @ 12 PM | Online Webinar
This year marked an increase in violent conflicts, surpassing levels not seen since World War II. The concurrent humanitarian crises unfolding in Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sudan and elsewhere underscore the urgency of robust responses to address public health needs, including the indiscriminate loss of civilian life, the destruction of health infrastructure, the threat of infectious diseases, and shortage of food and essential supplies. Staff from the World Health Organization (WHO) will discuss the role and functions of public health institutions in meeting these needs in ongoing conflict zones in the Middle East and Africa regions. This webinar will be moderated by Dr. Michael Merson, Interim Chair of the Department of Global & Environmental Health and will feature Rick Brennan, Regional Emergency Director for WHO Eastern Mediterranean, Abdou Salam Gueye, Regional Emergency Director for WHO Africa, and Steve Solomon, Principal Legal Officer at WHO Geneva. The panelists will share firsthand insights, experiences, and strategies to address the complex challenges posed by conflict.
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In case you missed our Bulletin
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Applied Global Public Health Initiative
- The Mycetoma Surveillance and Control Project received an NYU GPH Research Support Grant this semester. The grant will help support this dedicated research team, led by Dr. Chris Dickey, in achieving their deliverables related to this Neglected Tropical Disease.
- Liz Carr, a current MPH/MSW dual degree student, and GPH alumni Emily Zambiazzi co-authored a paper titled, “Centering community-based knowledge in food security response and climate resilience in southern Madagascar” in the Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems journal. You can read the full paper here. Read here.
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Global Action for Urban Health
Led by Dr. Jo Ivey Boufford, The Global Action for Urban Health Lab provides a space for students to collaborate on domestic and global projects related to urban health. Students in the lab work with a range of organizations, including:
- Eminence Associates for Social Development; a nongovernmental organization that promotes health rights and access to care for all, to advance health equity in Bangladesh by addressing noncommunicable diseases.
- Marron Institute for Urban Management; an innovative applied research institute at NYU working with cities to take on critical challenges of urban living.
- FXB; a nonprofit organization focusing on climate change impacts and resilience.
Additional projects with the Pan American Health Organization and UN-Habitat will begin in Spring 2024. For more information on lab members, ongoing projects, and upcoming urban health events, email urbanhealthlabnyu@gmail.com or visit the lab’s website.
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Implementing Sustainable Evidence-based Interventions through Engagement (ISEE) Lab
The ISEE Lab celebrates the acceptance of six abstracts at the APHA Annual Meeting - a record for the highest number of presentations ever accepted for the conference by the lab. Check them out here.
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Scholarships & Fellowships
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Internships & Applied Practice Experiences
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Check out our website for more department news and updates from this past semester! Was this email forwarded to you? Click here to subscribe to GEH news and other department announcements!
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