Director's Message
Welcome to the Duke Global Health InstituteWhen I was asked in 2006 to direct the newly created Duke Global Health Institute, I was particularly drawn to Duke’s rich tradition of interdisciplinary work and its commitment to draw on the intellectual assets of the entire University to address global challenges. The Duke Global Health Institute has the enviable luxury of being a University-wide institute. It is able to support and build on the wisdom and energy of faculty and students from every school—business, divinity, engineering, environment, graduate, law, medicine, nursing, and undergraduate. We examine not only the biomedical challenges of disease prevention and treatment, but also determinants of health, from gender and poverty to access to health services and climate change. I am truly excited at the level of passion Duke faculty and students have shown as we work to strengthen our undergraduate, graduate and professional school curricula and expand research and service in global health here locally and in many other parts of the world. |
Michael H. Merson, MD |
The surge of interest in global health at Duke comes at an exciting time. There is growing consensus that all people have a basic human right to access to essential medications and vaccines. The recognition that a healthy population is essential for economic and social development has led to increased support for global health research and programs by governments and many organizations. There is a growing understanding that improving the health of populations the world over requires participation of scholars from many different disciplines.
By harnessing the passion for global health at Duke, the Duke Global Health Institute allows students and faculty to continue to tackle one of humanity’s greatest challenges.
We have laid out in our strategic plan five goals to guide us as we grow:
- Build the next generation of global health scholars through education and training
- Encourage innovation and promote excellence in global health research
- Respond to the policy needs of decision makers
- Undertake service and service-learning in global heath
- Facilitate access to current information on global health
Meeting these goals will allow us to meet the challenge articulated by President Richard Brodhead during his inauguration speech in September 2004:
"In my dream, Duke would be the place where people from around the world come to learn and contribute to a growing understanding of our shared health future."