News Article
December 8, 2009
Duke Global Health Institute Launches Board of Advisors
The Duke Global Health Institute is pleased to announce the creation of a Board of Advisors comprised of leaders in global health, business and philanthropy. The Board marks a major milestone in the history of the three-year-old Institute.
Board members are appointed by the President of the University to three-year terms, and may serve more than one term. The first meeting will take place in April 2010.
“By combining global health visionaries like Duke Alumnus Paul Farmer, with business and financial stalwarts, we’ll be able to take the Institute to the next level,” said Michael H. Merson, founding director of the Duke Global Health Institute, who serves as an ex officio member of the Board. “Individuals of this caliber will be invaluable advisors on matters of strategic planning, priority setting and fundraising. I look forward to working with this dynamic group.”
The Board will eventually consist of twenty members; additional members will be added over the coming months. The Board will be chaired by Thomas M. Gorrie, current chair of the Duke University Health System Board of Directors and member of the Duke Board of Trustees.
“I am impressed by Duke’s commitment to global health and the Institute’s partnership across Duke Medicine and the schools of the University, which is required to address health disparities," said Gorrie. “The Institute continues to form partnerships with universities and institutions throughout the world.These partners are critical to fulfilling the Institute’s mission.”
Recent Duke Graduate Christine McKenna is excited to serve on the Board. McKenna earned the global health certificate in addition to her degree in Public Policy Studies. She now works as senior associate at Global Health Strategies, an international consulting company that works to ensure development and worldwide delivery of health products, technologies and information.
“I am thrilled to represent my fellow DGHI alumni and current Duke undergraduates on the board,” said McKenna. “The ability to study global health as an undergraduate – to learn about the issues and how the global health community functions as a whole – has opened doors for me that I never knew existed. The formation of this board shows that the Institute is committed not only to expanding its role in the fight against global health inequities, but also to providing more students with the opportunity to receive this unique education.”
2010-2013 DGHI Board of Advisors
- Thomas M. Gorrie, PhD, (Chair): T.M. Gorrie & Associates, LLC; Chair, DUHS Board of Directors; Duke Board of Trustees
- Leslie Bains, PA ’97, PA ’00: Managing Director, Citi Private Bank
- Chris Elias, MD: President and CEO, PATH
- Paul Farmer, T’82 MD, PhD: Co-founder, Partners In Health; Duke Board of Trustees
- US Senator William H. Frist, MD: Distinguished Professor of Business and Medicine, Vanderbilt University
- Pape Gaye: President and CEO, IntraHealth International
- Helene Gayle, MD, MPH: President and CEO, CARE USA
- Elaine Leavenworth, T’80: Vice President, Government Affairs, Abbott Laboratories
- Jack Leslie: Chairman, Weber Shandwick
- Christine McKenna, T’08: Senior Associate, Global Health Strategies
- Laura Ellen Muglia, T’76: Postulant for the Diaconate, The Episcopal Church; Co‐Trustee, The Laura Ellen and Robert Muglia Family Foundation
- Peter Piot, MD: Director, Institute for Global Health, Imperial College, London
- Alan D. Schwartz, T’72, PA ’03, ’09,’12: Executive Chairman, Guggenheim Partners; Duke Board of Trustees
- Robert K. Steel, T’73: Former President and CEO, Wachovia Corporation; former Chairman of the Duke Board of Trustees and Trustee Emeritus