The Triangle Global Health Consortium, a non-profit organization building a strong collaborative network among for-profit, non-profit and academic partners, has named Matt Epstein as Executive Director.
The Consortium was founded in 2009 by Duke University, Family Health International, IntraHealth International, North Carolina Biotechnology Center, North Carolina State University, RTI International, and University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and today includes more than 20 local members, including several of the area’s leading corporations.
Epstein comes to the Consortium with a 40-year career that spans law, politics, public policy, consulting and teaching. He sees much potential in the alliance and believes the Consortium can capitalize on the Triangle’s expertise to impact health globally.
“This is an extraordinary group of members based here in the North Carolina, each bringing its own unique perspective and vast history of accomplishment as a world leader in global health.” Epstein said.
“This is not something you find just any place. The Consortium’s ability to bring them together creates a rare opportunity for the creation of multi-sectoral approaches and meaningful impact; and one I believe the Triangle is poised to maximize as well as or better than any other region.”
The Consortium aims to create a single point-of-entry for health and information resources, to improve communications among those individuals and institutions, to foster scientific collaboration, and to develop a workforce for the future by engaging students and young professionals. North Carolina has significant assets in global health – from research to policy to logistics - and a unique opportunity to benefit from a burgeoning worldwide interest in this field. As the global health sector continues to grow in the state, it will not only bolster North Carolina’s economy but will also improve the health and wel-being of all North Carolinians.
“When we started the Triangle Global Health Consortium, we knew we could make a greater difference in the lives of people around the globe,” said Dr. Peggy Bentley, Associate Dean of Global Health at UNC-Chapel Hill and Consortium Board Chair. “We’re pleased to bring Matt on board to make that vision a reality.”
Epstein’s previous experience includes serving as Executive Director for the Center for Child and Family Health, a partnership between UNC, NC Central and Duke addressing issues related to childhood trauma. He served four years in the New Hampshire House and operated his own law firm for 20 years. He taught at the UNC School of Medicine, Massachusetts School of Law, Franklin Pierce College and the University of New Hampshire.
Most recently, Epstein was a principal consultant at Break Through Consulting and Executive Director of the American Judicature Society Institute of Forensic Science and Public Policy. He earned his bachelor’s degree in psychology at Yale University, his Juris Doctorate at the University of New Hampshire Law School, and his LLM at Boston University Graduate School of Law.
All of that experience will be put to use in bringing together partners with different approaches, experiences, and expertise, but with the same goal - improving global health.
“We have such an incredible opportunity - as a group but also for each of the individual organizations,” Epstein said.
“I can’t imagine why any organization working in global health would not be part of this organization. We are going to have a greater impact together than we could individually, and each of us will do a better job fulfilling our individual missions.”
